Aesculus glabra ‘J.N. Select’ – Early Glow™ Buckeye

Botanical Name: Aesculus glabra ‘J.N. Select’

The Early Glow Buckeye (Aesculus glabra ‘J.N. Select’) is an improved cultivar of the Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra). It is an enduring and beautiful, small or medium sized deciduous shade tree that provides interest through the seasons.

The Early Glow Buckeye grows to a height of 40-50 feet tall and 20-30 feet wide. The canopy has a rounded or oval shape with a strong central leader and wide open branching.

The foliage of this cultivar is superior to the Ohio Buckeye, as it shows excellent resistance to leaf scorch and leaf blotch. This means that the handsome, dark green, palmately compound leaves will hold their deep color throughout the spring and summer. Another improvement from the Ohio Buckeye is the radiant orange and red fall color this tree presents.

Early Glow Buckeye produces showy yellow-green flowers in the spring that rise on spikes above the foliage. This improved variety does not produce many, if any, buckeye fruits. Combined with its adaptability to different environmental conditions and soils, this makes it a great candidate for use as a street tree. The unusual coarse foliage and blooms provide interest and dense shade. If planted as a street tree, the crown should be raised when the lower branches are still small to avoid damaging the tree.

It should be noted that all parts of this tree are poisonous, so it should not be planted where livestock or other animals can graze on it.