Bloomipedia
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)
Photo: Tom Norton via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Bottlebrush buckeye

Aesculus parviflora

Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is a shrub in the Sapindaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–July across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrubNative in the lower 48

Bottlebrush buckeye is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 34 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–July.

6states where USDA records it
34Bloomipedia state lists include it
1,348U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Aesculus parviflora, the bottlebrush buckeye or small-flowered buckeye, is a species of suckering deciduous shrub in the family Sapindaceae. It is native to the southeastern United States, where it is found primarily in Alabama, locally in western Georgia, and with a disjunct population in South Carolina along the Savannah River. Its natural habitat is in mesic forests, on bluffs and in ravines.

  • It belongs to the Sapindaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 6 states. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 239 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #121 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 236 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #116 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 209 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #111 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (82 records)
Bloom time in the 34 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (9)239
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (12)236
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records (21)209
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (5)104
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (4)72
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (2)67
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (2)57
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (6)50
New Jersey🌷 Gardenno flowering records43
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (1)34
Missouri🌷 Gardenno flowering records31
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (1)29
Illinois🌷 Gardenno flowering records25
South Carolina🌷 Gardenno flowering records24
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records (5)16
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records11
Arkansas🌷 Gardenfew records (1)10
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (1)8
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records7
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records7
Vermont🌷 Gardenfew records (5)6
West Virginia🌷 Gardenno flowering records5
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenfew records (3)4
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
Tennessee🌷 Gardenno flowering records4
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (1)2
Maine🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Iowa🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Mississippi🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Florida🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Louisiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Texas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G3 Vulnerable worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 25 of our 34 states.
See each state
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe has no New York rank for it. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe has no North Carolina rank for it. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe has no Maryland rank for it. COMAR 08.03.08
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe has no Massachusetts rank for it. MESA list
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe has no Ohio rank for it. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe has no Virginia rank for it. 2VAC5-320-10
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe has no Missouri rank for it. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe has no Delaware rank for it. DE rare plants 2024
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe has no Illinois rank for it. IL E&T checklist 2025
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe has no Wisconsin rank for it. NR 27.03
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe has no Connecticut rank for it. CT E/T/SC list
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe has no Michigan rank for it. R 299.1028
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe has no Nebraska rank for it. 163 NAC 4-004
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe has no Vermont rank for it. Vermont E&T list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe has no New Hampshire rank for it. NH Ncr 312
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe has no Rhode Island rank for it. RI rare plants 2016
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe has no Tennessee rank for it. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe has no Kentucky rank for it. 400 KAR 3:040
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe has no Maine rank for it. Maine rare plant list
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). NatureServe has no Iowa rank for it. IAC 571-77.3
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe has no Florida rank for it. FAC 5B-40.0055
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe has no Texas rank for it. 31 TAC 69.8
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Alabama.
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in South Carolina.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe has no Arkansas rank for it.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Indiana rank for it.
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe has no West Virginia rank for it.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe has no Mississippi rank for it.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks. NatureServe has no Louisiana rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: NatureServe ranks it S3 in Alabama, S2 in Georgia and S1 in South Carolina. NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Poisonous if ingested especially the nuts. Symptoms may include muscle weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Buckeye” (Aesculus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Severe vomiting and diarrhea, depression or excitement, dilated pupils, coma, convulsions… ASPCA

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records bottlebrush buckeye in 6 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Westchester.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Berks, Lancaster, Montgomery, Northampton.

Alabama counties with USDA records: Autauga, Blount, Calhoun, Chilton, Choctaw, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dale, Dallas, Etowah, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Monroe, Perry, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Wilcox.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 36 counties across 7 states; the most are in Alabama (24), Pennsylvania (5), Georgia (2).

Other Aesculus on Bloomipedia (1): Red buckeye.

More from the Sapindaceae family (3 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Western soapberry, Mexican buckeye.

More New York flowers

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)

Red buckeye

Aesculus pavia

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in New York gardens
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)

White snakeroot

Ageratina altissima

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: August–October
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Common milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: June–July

Sources