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California Gardening

riddle me this Bay Area native tree

17 years ago

Can you help me to identify?

grows in foothills of Bay Area, grows by creeks or in the vicinity, does not get tall but can be wide, nice proportional rounded shape, drops golf-ball sized brown fruit or seeds that will root where they fall and send out foliage and become new trees, these fruits or seeds fall at this time of year and seem to like moist conditions to germinate, the leaf shape appears to be palmate.

I noticed these brown seeds or fruits while riding my bike recently and decided to try to grow one by my creek, so I found a sprouted one and "transplanted" it, although really it was just lying by the side of the road.

Thanks for ideas on the identity.

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Comments (7)

lusty
17 years ago
Sounds a lot like a buckeye (Aesculus californica). Does it have bare white branches this time of year? Showy flower spikes in spring? Frequently loses its leaves mid-to-late summer?
arvind
17 years ago
Indeed, it sounds like a buckeye (Aesculus californica), one of my favorite local trees. Beautiful palmate leaves in bud are as pretty as flowers. White fragrant flower candles draw butterflies in spring. Leaves turn orange/red/brown (California summer color) and drop by July. Gray branches have wonderful form. Leafing out now.

Here is a link that might be useful: California Buckeye
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lusty
17 years ago
My baby buckeye is still only in twig form ;-)
wanda
17 years ago
Yep, I agree. It sounds like a CA Buckeye to me too. Very easy to germinate from seed. It will keep it's leaves through summer if it gets irrigation otherwise it goes dormant as stated. A very beautiful tree.

wanda
youreit
17 years ago
I LOVE this tree! I, too, found one "just lying by the side of the road," although mine was about a foot tall when I "found" it about 3 years ago. :D

I'm hoping this is the year it'll bloom for me! I agree about the leaves in bud being as beautiful as flowers. Mine are just about ready to burst forth. :)

Brenda
deep___roots
Original Author
17 years ago
pats on the back all around.
you all are good.

I checked on my little seedling this morning. It is doing fine, leafing out. I put one of my little wire cages over it to protect it from disturbance.

If anyone wants to "find" some likely sprouting babies, check the "non-creek" side of Moody Road, just past its intersection with Old Snakey Road in Los Altos Hills. Cheers!
lusty
17 years ago
After this thread started, I took a closer look at my Buckeye this morning and realized it has little leaf buds half open. Yippee! I've been head-down pulling all the elm sprouts all over the place and never noticed :-)

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