Aesculus pavia aka Red Buckeye

Aesculus pavia, also known as red buckeye or firecracker plant, is a deciduous flowering plant that is native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, ranging from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south. This small tree or shrub can also thrive in areas far to the north of its native range, such as Arboretum Mustila in Finland. It has a number of local names, including scarlet buckeye, woolly buckeye, and firecracker plant. The red buckeye is a stunningly beautiful plant that can reach a height of 16-26 feet, often growing in a multi-stemmed form. Its leaves are opposite and composed of five elliptical serrated leaflets, each 4-6 inches long. In the spring, it bears 4-7-inch long clusters of attractive dark red tubular flowers that are hermaphrodite. The smooth light brown fruits, about 1 inch in diameter, reach maturity in early fall. The yellow-flowered variety, var. flavescens, is found at higher elevations in Texas, and hybrids with intermediate flower color occur. The flowers are not only attractive to hummingbirds but also to bees. The fruits are rich in saponins, which are poisonous to humans, although not particularly dangerous because they are not ingested easily. The seeds are poisonous as well. The oils can be extracted to make soap, although this is not a viable commercial option. Pavia chestnuts, also known as chestnuts-pavia, are a great way to diversify the garden palette for those gardeners who are constantly looking for something new and interesting. These compact, beautiful red-flowered hybrids of the horse chestnut come in various colors, such as red, orange, yellow, and apricot-crimson, with various yellow-white color combinations with green, yellow, red, brown, and variegated foliage. These chestnuts are usually 2-2.5 m in height, but the dense crown formed by dark, beautifully drooping leaves on long petioles turns them into a voluminous and massive multi-stemmed plant. The main attraction of the Pavia horse chestnut is the flowers of an unusual red color. Red Buckeye is a rare houseplant that is not challenging to grow and needs regular watering to thrive. It does best in long-lasting, direct light and should be less than 1 foot from a window. Red Buckeye likes soil that is well-draining, and the plant shouldn't need added fertilizers if you repot each time it doubles in size. However, it is essential to note that Red Buckeye is extremely dangerous if consumed.