California Buckeye - bonsaiTALK Community

4-Sep-2003	#1
acousticco Old at heart Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Calgary Country: Canada USDA Zone: Zone 3 AHS Heat Zone: 3-4 Posts: 312	California Buckeye Greetings, I found a wonderful new species to investigate! It’s called a California Buckeye (Aesculus californica). Is there anyone here who can give me some specifics on this type of tree, or point me in the right direction? I did some quick searches on the net but didn’t see anything bonsai specific. But I did find an excellent example of one here, (this is the picture that prompted me to investigate further). Thanks, Cody

Sponsor Message	California Buckeye
Advertisement Forum Sponsor	<a href='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adclick.php?n=ac8bc944' target='_blank'><img src='http://adserver.bonsaitalk.com/adview.php?what=zone:4&n=ac8bc944' border='0' alt=''></a>

4-Sep-2003	#2
Carl_Bergstrom Old Mister Crow Join Date: May-2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 3,197	Hi Cody, That does look like a great species to investigate! I haven't worked with it myself, but I've been playing a bit with the closely related horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) and despite its large leaves and rather coarse form, I find it quite a pleasing subject. The main downside is that the leaves on both bonsai and full-sized horse chestnuts tend to go a muddy sort of golden-brown by mid August if not earlier. The brilliant spring green makes up for that in part, though. I've only been playing around with these for a couple of years, and I only have two small ones, at that - so I can't really give you much by way of cultivation advice. My understanding is that the California buckeye is a bit smaller and more delicate? That would be terrific! Best regards, Carl __________________ In love with trees Last edited by Carl Bergstrom : 4-Sep-2003 at 12:42 AM.

4-Sep-2003	#3
acousticco Old at heart Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Calgary Country: Canada USDA Zone: Zone 3 AHS Heat Zone: 3-4 Posts: 312	Hi Carl, After a little more intensive searching, I found some interesting tidbits here: http://www.ruthbancroftgarden.org/pages/plants/california-buckeye.html . Not bonsai related but interesting none the less. But I’m not too sure I want a tree that kills bees… Horse chestnut? That sounds interesting. Is that the type of chestnut tree that makes the spiky green globes that sort of look like ship mines? Those things are hazardous! -Cody

4-Sep-2003	#4
acousticco Old at heart Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Calgary Country: Canada USDA Zone: Zone 3 AHS Heat Zone: 3-4 Posts: 312	http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~s.../3000/02652.jpg That's a link to a picture of those dangerous spike balls. I remeber having a tire swing in one of those trees when I was a kid, and them raining down all over the place... The bigger hazard for me was falling on the ones on the ground, (I was a clumsy, accident prone kid). Not quite fond memories... -Cody

4-Sep-2003	#5
Carl_Bergstrom Old Mister Crow Join Date: May-2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 3,197	Yep, that's the plant. I remember these from childhood as well. As kids, we threw them at one another all the time, of course. Then you could peel off the husk there and was this beautifully shiny nut on the inside. I haven't gotten either of mine to flower, let alone produce chestnuts, so I can't vouch that this is what I've got...but I think so, judging from the leaves. Best regards, Carl __________________ In love with trees

4-Sep-2003	#6
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,742	I thought it was interesting to follow the progress of a couple of trees from the Critique with Dennis Makishima a couple years ago. 1. an Maple went from this http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/yabbuse...baba001_adj.jpg to this http://www.evergreengardenworks.com...cs/baba0220.jpg 2. An elm from this http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/yabbuse...baba004_adj.jpg to this: http://www.evergreengardenworks.com...cs/baba0213.jpg Regards, Matt __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

11-Sep-2003	#7
BrianBay9 Trunk Collector Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Loveland, CO Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 or 5? AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,362	I have one California buckeye in a bonsai pot - notice I didn't claim it was a bonsai because I haven't really decided on that point myself. It was given to me by a nurseryman because of a big gash it the trunk. He didn't think he could sell it like that. Leaves are still very out of scale, althoug the nebari is developing well. It seems to take to pot culture pretty easily, but no flowers yet either. Mine is probably too small to ever fit the leaves. I'll try to post an image of it soon. Brian __________________ There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.

11-Sep-2003	#8
Robert bonsaiTALK Adept *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Mar-2002 Location: Sta.Cruz, CA Country: usa USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 212	Dear Accousticco, Buckeyes grow naturally in the Sta.Cruz Mountains, near where I live. I HAVE seen one or two in bonsai pots, but I've never been impressed with them as bonsai.....the leaves are way too large......another peculiarity is that they bloom in spring, (flowers smell terribly), then they set their fruit, (which looks something like a cashew nut, if you've ever seen cashews growiing), and they lose their leaves, go deciduous in early July. Certainly they are a curiousity.....but I'd be surprised to see one as an attractive bonsai. Robert.......in Sta.Cruz Maby in Calgary they'd behave a little differently, (but I suspect they'd freeze)..... __________________ Robert.........in Sta.Cruz

12-Sep-2003

BrianBay9

Trunk Collector

Join Date: Sep-2003

Location: Loveland, CO

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 4 or 5?

AHS Heat Zone: ?

Posts: 1,362

Here's a California buckeye. The leaves are large, but it's not that bad. Depends on your perspective.

Attached Images

cnv0010.jpg (51.8 KB, 70 views)