Scientific Name
Aesculus glabra v. arguta
Texas buckeye is a petite version of the Ohio buckeye but is no longer considered a separate species. It is native to Texas and has evolved with slightly different foliage and adaptations to warmer and drier environments. A notable trait is that it is also tolerant of temperatures below minus 20°F. This was discovered from a tree planted many years ago at the former USDA experimental station near Cheyenne, Wyoming. It survived for decades in a climate much harsher than Denver’s, even after the facility’s irrigation was terminated in 1974.
We believe this tree may grow no larger than 15 to 20 feet tall. It is sited in relatively infertile soil, and irrigation is planned to be gradually reduced in future years, consistent with the other xeric-adapted species in the area. The foliage is more resistant to leaf scorch, which affects the standard Ohio buckeye in late summer. The palmate leaflets are also somewhat smaller and narrower than those of the Ohio buckeye and come to sharper points. Likewise, the fruits are somewhat smaller.
The plant has already been producing its upright spring flowers and classic buckeye nuts at a relatively young age. This buckeye could deserve greater use in stressful urban sites where a smaller tree is appropriate.