A couple years ago I bought a fantastic native plant at a local native plant nursery. It was a red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) and is great for attracting everyone’s favorite tiny garden visitor, the hummingbird. The flower clusters are red (you probably expected that from the name: red buckeye), tubular, and bloom in early spring.
Red buckeye trees grow best in partial shade as an understory tree. I planted ours near the shed in an area that receives shade most of the day. It had some blooms this year and I discovered today it had produced four ripe seeds to plant this fall. Which of course meant I now had to try growing buckeye from seed.
Growing buckeye from Seeds
I’ve been watching the seeds form over the summer. Today the seed pods were splitting to reveal light brown seeds almost the size of a golf ball. The outer coating was smooth and shiny. 3 of the four seeds were still on the plant being held by the seed pods while the fourth had fallen on the ground at the base of the red buckeye.
I gathered and sowed the seeds immediately after picking them. Sowing fresh seed is the ideal scenario when planting red buckeye seeds. I put the seeds into four individual pots and made sure to cover them completely with soil.
Then I watered them and put them outdoors to overwinter. In the spring they should germinate once the temperatures get in the 50 to 59 degree range (Fahrenheit). It’s really simple!
Scarification
To help them along I could have nicked the seed coat (scarification) to help speed things along but allowing it to germinate in its own time in the spring fits its natural schedule best. I would try the scarification technique if I had stored these seeds over the winter and was planting them in the spring.
Planting native plants as a part of our gardens is a big deal. Our native wildlife is dependent on the flora that has developed over thousands of years. When you can try to plant native plants to help you local wildlife!
Protect Your Potted Seedlings
I’ve learned over the years that wildlife enjoys the buckeye seeds. I’ve had quite a time with squirrels digging from my pots. If you want to insure that you get some trees to grow put the pots in an area with some protection. You can build a small cage with wire mesh and keep the squirrels from digging them out of their pots. I learned the hard way!
The Results of Planting a Buckeye Seed
Here is what your red buckeye seedling will look like in the spring. After the roots begin to appear from the holes in the pot it is time to plant it in the ground or upsize the pot. Remember, red buckeye likes to be planted in a part shade to full shade situation. Think of it as an understory tree that thrives on dappled sun and shade.
How to Start Buckeye from Seed
The video below shows you how I start buckeye plants from seed. Please protect your pots from pests like squirrels, chipmunks, and other rodents otherwise you may lose your seeds before they start!
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