Although this handsome buckeye is a hardy native of the Appalachian Mountains it is seldom seen in the British Isles. In its native habitat it can achieve 43m in height. Its typical ‘horse chestnut’ leaves are a bright glossy green. The flowers are a creamy yellow. The fine specimen in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is, unfortunately, hidden among rather dense shrubbery and close to a large weeping ash. As the photographs show, the crown of the buckeye stands clear of the other vegetation.

Photos taken in Belfast Botanic Gardens in 2009. Copyright: Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens.