Aesculus californica is a deciduous shrub or tree, growing up to 12 meters tall. Leaves are made up of 5 to 7 palmate leaflets, each 6 to 17 centimeters long. Flowers are white to pale rose colored, with petals 12 to 18 millimeters long. They are arranged in an erect inflorescence with many showy flowers. Only the flowers at the tip of this inflorescence are fertile and produce fruit. Each fruit contains one large (2 to 5 centimeters) glossy brown seed. This species is endemic to California. It is found in dry slopes, canyons, and the edges of streams at elevationsless than 1700 meters. The CPP four letter code for Aesculus californica is AECA.
This species is currently being monitored at John Muir National Historic Site and Sequoia and Kings Cayon National Parks.
Download the USA-NPN datasheet for Aesculus californica here.
Download the CPP species profile for Aesculus californica here.
For additional information about this species, visit these pages:
Aesculus californica on the USA-NPN website
