Ohio Buckeye

 These are Catskill Ecotype Ohio buckeyes. They are rare but present here in the Catskills. The buckeye produce a large inedible/toxic nut that is similar in appearance to chestnuts. While many historical cultures, including native Americans of the eastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest  have used these nuts for food, the methodology and preparation knowledge is not well documented. For now, these serve as a great tree for shade, pollinators, and other wildlife. Eventually, through breeding and processing techniques, they may yet again be useful as a food plant. They can be distinguished from chestnuts by their burs which are spiky but NOT painful to touch, and their nuts which are fully round with no point. 

They are easy to grow in typical well-drained moist soils of the Catskills. The leaves are often worn out by the end of the year and younger trees do better in part shade. 

Scientific Name: Aesculus Glabra

Moisture: medium

Sun: full to part