Aesculus parviflora aka Bottlebrush Buckeye

Aesculus parviflora, commonly known as the bottlebrush buckeye, is a large suckering deciduous shrub belonging to the family Sapindaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, primarily found in Alabama, Georgia, and a small population in South Carolina. This shrub thrives in mesic forests, bluffs, and ravines. It has palmate leaves that start off bronze, then turn dark green, and finally yellow in the fall. The plant produces erect panicles of white flowers with prominent stamens, followed by smooth fruits. It is highly toxic to humans and pets if ingested, causing symptoms such as muscle weakness, paralysis, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. Aesculus parviflora prefers average, moist, well-drained soils in partial shade to full shade. It does best in rich, moist loams and is intolerant of dry soils, especially in its early years. This shrub does not require much pruning. Despite being native to woodland areas in the southeastern U.S., it is winter hardy in USDA Zone 5. The genus name, Aesculus, refers to a type of oak that produces edible acorns but was applied to this genus by Linnaeus. The specific epithet, parviflora, means small flowers. Aesculus parviflora is known for being one of the best summer-flowering shrubs for shaded areas, with its showy white flowers blooming in mid-summer. The flowers are followed by glossy, inedible, pear-shaped nuts called buckeyes, although these are rarely produced in cultivation in northern regions. In autumn, the foliage of the bottlebrush buckeye turns yellow. This shrub generally does not face significant insect or disease problems.