Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut questions and answers

Learn more about Horse Chestnut at Diet & Health.net.

Q: How could I propagate a horse chestnut tree from cuttings?
Or do I have to wait until the tree starts to produce seed? I've just been taking rose cuttings and putting them into rooting gel and wondered if I could take cuttings from my horse chestnut as well. Can this be done?

A: You may have some luck with semi-hardwood cuttings, which will be more feasible from an older tree, rather than a younger seedling. It's also potentially detrimental to take off cuttings from younger trees too, whilst they are defining their shape etc. Remove pieces around 10-12'' long, around early August, where there is some thickening of the growth, and taking it off with a heel of 'bark' may also help. Plant into well draining soil, enriched with some rotted compost and grit, submerging half to two thirds of it's length. Remove any leaves from the lower portion. Keep in a light though generally shady place, to avoid stress from full sun. Ensure it's growing medium is kept moist, though not saturated, otherwise it could cause some rot. Keeping some garden fleece over it could also help, as this will allow water to pentrate, and also keep the environment a little more humid and warmer. Use a rooting gel, as with your rose cuttings, to give you the best chance of success. Seeds are generally your best method of propagation, and the success rate is really high - the other method is meristem tissue culture, which is out of the reach of most of us (it's the same method use to cultivate a high proportion of plants, including Orchids etc). If you take a large number of cuttings you will increase your potential strike rate. Keep them sheltered over winter, and look for signs of growth the following spring time, as these are deciduous trees. Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob

Q: what is the difference between the horse chestnut tree and the chestnut tree , and how to tell the difference?
I want to know the looks of the chestnut tree and the horse chestnut tree and the fruit how does it look.

A: this link shows how the horse chestnut fruit looks like http://altnature.com/Herbs2003/pages/horsechestnut7813.html this 2nd link shows the fruit of the american chestnut tree http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/forsite/Paul/paul1.htm

Q: Can you tell a gender of a horse chestnut tree?
I am going to have a pet horse chestnut tree. But people always say look under the leaves, but look under leaves for what?

A: Probably by markings under the leaf. Straight markings would mean its a female. I think. These trees really shouldn't have a gender.

Q: How can I root a branch from a horse chestnut tree? Should I put earth in a bucket of water or something else.
I am living in England and found a branch of a horse chestnut tree that was budding. I put it in water and all the buds have opened, leaves came out etc. How can I keep it alive? Should I put it in a bucket of water and add soil to it? Or, should I add something else? Should I give it organic plant food? Will it root or will it eventually just die?

A: Your best bet is to plant the seeds (Conkers) However, you could try digging a shallow trench and laying the stem down, cover up leaving just the tip exposed, it might root that way.

Q: Horse Chestnut shoot tip broken off. Will it still grow?
I found a Horse Chestnut shoot in the park recently. Took it home to plant it, but when I got home I noted the tip of the shoot had broken off. I planted it a couple of weeks ago; the shoot hasn't exactly died, but it's gone a little brown and just doesn't appear to be doing anything (although I understand they are very slow growing!). Should the shoot continue to grow or will it die because the tip has broken?

A: No it won't die..it will in fact branch off to make two shoots where it was broken..it is a hardwood cutting type thing... it will take a month or two to show..but it will survive

Q: When do horse chestnut trees get conkers?
When I was little I planted a conker in my garden - now we have a lovely horse chestnut tree. The tree must be about 10 years old by now - when can we expect conkers? The tree hasn't had any flowers this year or any year so far...

A: Not for a long while! Horse chestnuts take a while to mature. I can't, anywhere, find out how long it does take, but even apple trees take a dozen years and they're faster-maturing than horse chestnuts.

Q: Whats the best time to move a horse chestnut (concker tree)?
I have a horse chestnut tree which Ive grown myself which needs moving. Its around 10 years old and has reached 6ft but its too close to our garage. When is the best time to move it to a better location?

A: I'd wait until the sap has stopped rising, as it were. If you wait until the autumn it will have a better chance of bedding in over the winter and surviving till the spring. Don't forget to feed it well when you've moved it.

Q: What is wrong with horse chestnut tree?
Outside my flat is a large mature horse chestnut tree. This year there were no horse chestnuts. Is there an explanation? or is the tree dying?

A: Horse Chestnut trees in the UK are currently at risk from major infections that potentially would decimate the UK population. It may be that yours has become infested, and has started to weaken as a result, hence the lack of flowering. Surveys this year show that probably around 50% of our trees are infected already. Flowering and seeding, by the way, take an enormous amount of energy from a tree, which is why many have intermittent years of heavy flowers and crops, followed by poor years - yours may have a mixture of the two. Otherwise, our peculiar weather, last winter and spring, could have affected the flowering time, as well as inducing low pollination rates - bee populations are also in decline, and this may have affected it too (though you don't mention whether it flowered or not). The main issue for our Horse Chestnut trees stems from a new bacteria that is infecting them, coupled with a leaf mining moth. You may typically see browner leaves on your tree from earlier in the year too, as well as trunk wounds that appear to be weeping. The moth that is attacking them, is a leaf miner, leaving brown leaf wounds, which critically weakens them, as they are then less able to photosynthesise. Often you'll see much of the leaf just appearing brown from these moths. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7549489.stm and here for more info on the leaf miner moth: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-68JJRC/ It's a sad time, as these wonderful trees have been around the UK for centuries, and are fairly unique in their characteristics. I hope that yours is healthy, but keep watch for it next year, when it resprouts. Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob

Q: How to Propagate a Red Horse Chestnut Tree?
Hello! I just purchased a Red Horse Chestnut tree - Aesculus carnea "Brioti". How do a propagate this tree? Even though I purchased it on sale, it was still too pricey to buy 2 of them.....so how do I make 1 tree turn into 2? Thank you.

A: Techniques of Tree and Shrub Propagation by Hardwood Stem Cuttings (from the NRCS): http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ecs/plants/technotes/pmtechnoteMT29.html#hardwood

Q: I have a large Horse Chestnut tree which is looking very sorry for itself?
I live in south london and the tree has started shedding leaves very early, a neighbour suggested that it was diseased and that it was now a common thing with Horse chestnuts, any one have any answers?

A: Have you had a unusually dry summer or hot summer? Sometimes they lose their leaves prematurly if that is the case. If you've had a normal summer the most likely problem is Leaf Blotch. This disease is most common in Europe and is caused by a fungus. I'm not sure what chemicals are available in Europe but you can go to a good lawn & garden center and they should be able to fix you up. I wouldn't spray them this years because it won't be long and the leaves will fall of the tree anyway but sanitation is very important for this disease. Rake up all the leaves and dispose of them in a land fill. Don't let them lay around the tree--they're loaded with spores to start the disease next year. Then next year I would use a preventive treatment (the fungicide you got at the L&G center) about 2-3 weeks before the date that the disease started this year. Hopefully that will fix your tree right up.

Q: How long does it usually take for Horse Chestnut pills to improve the appearance of Vericrose Veins?
I'd like to get some idea of how long it will take before i see improvement. I've taken about two a day for the last week. I'm sixteen, 115 pounds and I am very active, if any of this makes a difference. Any suggestions on dosage?

A: I've taken horse chestnut and grapeseed before, and after a couple weeks, I really did notice a difference! I have really bad varicose veins behind my knees, and spider veins as well. The varicose veins seemed a lot lighter after I was taking horse chestnut pills. The only thing is, I wasn't able to take it in the morning or empty stomach because it made me feel nauseous. I would suggest maybe taking it before bed. But, be cautious: "When properly processed, horse chestnut seed extract contains little or no esculin and is considered generally safe. However, the extract can cause some side effects, including itching, nausea, or gastrointestinal upset." So that would explain my nausea! Yeah, so it should not contain esculin. Follow the directions on the bottle, and if you notice any side effects, lower the dosage. Hope it works for you! I think I will continue taking it again..

Q: How do you grow horse chestnut trees from conkers?
Is there a specific way to germinate them and make sure they grow correctly? Do I have to pierce a conker and then soak in water and then plant in sand and peat mixture and wait? Please explain the best way to germinate conkers and how long before I see any results. Thanks

A: I dont know but it sounds like a long wait!

Q: Does anyone have a recipe for peanut butter horse chestnut candy?
I had these about 20 years ago but have never really seen anyone else make them since then.

A: horse chestnut are also referred as buckeyes! But here is a wonderful recipe enjoy!! 2 Cups Chunky peanut butter 1 stick margarine, softened 2 Cups confectioner's sugar 1 6 oz pkg. chocolate chips 1/3 bar paraffin wax Combine first 4 ingredients in large bowl, mix well. Chill. Form into walnut-sized balls. Melt chocolate chips and paraffin in saucepan. Dip balls into chocolate mixture to partially coat, leaving an eye uncoated. Place on waxed paper until firm.

Q: horse chestnut products for varicose and spider veins?
has anyone tried horse chestnut products either creams or tablets for varicose and spider veins? does it really help?

A: Sclerotherapy is the best long term solution but it hurts like hell even though the Dr. says it won't. Definitely worth it in the end though!

Q: How do I get rid of ants in a horse chestnut tree?
The bark on the tree is soggy and coming off, It looks like the ants are burroughing into thetrunk of the tree. HELP!!!!

A: You could build a reservoir around the tree, and fill it with water every few days. You'll water the tree, and keep the ants from getting to it while the water's there. Of course, you can't keep it wet all the time, but that will be a start. Be sure to trim off any branches that touch other things, like walls, or other trees. Then you can spray the ants that come to the trunk, and things will be a lot better. Many people also recommend painting the trunk white. I don't know why that would work with just paint. Probably there's an actual chemical to use. However, if they're eating into the trunk, there may not be much you can really do. I'd suggest calling in a tree surgeon to look at it if you can. If not, you might take off a small chunk of bark, and bring it down to your local plant nursery for advice. Call around first to make sure there's someone who can be of actual assistance if you do this.