What is a red horse chestnut tree?

Discovered in Europe in 1812, the red horse chestnut tree is a deciduous tree that grows between 30 and 40 feet tall. While its fall color is not notable, the tree does have showy red flowers, which are followed by prickly capsules containing two or three poisonous nuts in each.

Although it is a suitable shade tree, it requires ongoing maintenance and cleanup due to the falling of its leaves, twigs and nuts. Leaf scorch, powdery mildew and leaf blotch can all cause problems with the red horse chestnut tree. The tree prefers moist, fertile soil and requires full or partial sun to thrive.