Aesculus x carnea ‘Fort McNair’ – Fort McNair Red Horse Chestnut

Botanical Name: Aesculus x carnea ‘Fort McNair’

The Fort McNair Red Horse Chestnut (Aesculus x carnea ‘Fort McNair’) is a beautiful accent tree, ideal for use in smaller landscapes. This selection originates in Fort McNair in Washington D.C. It is a small, deciduous tree, which develops a rounded, dense crown as it matures. This hybrid has good branching structure and consistent growth and grows to a height of 35 feet tall and a width of 25 feet.

As is typical of buckeyes, the Fort McNair Red Horse Chestnut has densely growing, coarse foliage. The leaves are made up of 5-7 leaflets in a palmately compound arrangement. They emerge light chartreuse green in the spring and then deepen into a darker, rich green in the summer. In autumn, the leaves turn a vibrant golden yellow for an attractive fall display.

Fort McNair Red Horse Chestnut produces deep pink or red flowers with light pink and yellow centers. This horse chestnut blooms in late spring, providing an eye-catching display. The flowers are typical of other Aesculus species – they are borne on upright panicles that are 6-8 inches long. The flower spikes grow at the end of the branches, rising like candles above the foliage. Hummingbirds love this selection of horse chestnut. Typically, these birds are attracted to red-colored flowers above all other colors.