What Are The Flowers Called On A Horse Chestnut Tree?
The flowers on a horse chestnut tree are large showy creamy white spikes which are known as “candles”. This is thought to be because of their upright appearance and colour. The trees flower in early summer and fruit in the Autumn. Horse chestnuts are inedible for humans and used mainly in the infamous childhood game of conkers. These glossy brown nuts should not be confused with edible chestnuts. The Common Horse Chestnut is widely grown in temperate climates and the genus to which it belongs Aesculus was named by Linnaus after the Roman name for an edible acorn. The term “horse” is thought to be a reference to the strength of the nut rather than its usefulness as a food for horses. In North America the species is known as “Buckeye” also in reference to the nut, this time to its lustrous brown colour which is thought to be like that of a deer.
