Bloomipedia
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia)
Photo: John P Friel via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Red buckeye

Aesculus pavia

Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is a shrub in the Sapindaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly March–April across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrubNative in the lower 48

Red buckeye is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 32 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in March–April.

18states where USDA records it
32Bloomipedia state lists include it
18,102U.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, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Aesculus pavia, known as red buckeye or firecracker plant, is a species of deciduous flowering plant. The small tree or shrub is native to the southern and eastern parts of the United States, found from Illinois to Virginia in the north and from Texas to Florida in the south. It is hardy far to the north of its native range, with successful cultivation poleward to Arboretum Mustila in Finland.

  • 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 18 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • In Alabama, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in March–April. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as red. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 25 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 6,300 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #103 among the 169 flowers on our Texas list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,817 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #14 among the 167 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,625 research-grade sightings of it in Arkansas, ranking #9 among the 170 flowers on our Arkansas list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,368 records)
Bloom time in the 32 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Texas🌷 GardenMarch–April6,300
Alabama🌷 GardenMarch–April1,817
Arkansas🌷 GardenMarch–May1,625
Georgia🌷 GardenMarch–April1,232
Florida🌷 GardenFebruary–March1,117
Tennessee🌷 GardenApril1,090
Louisiana🌷 GardenMarch–April1,070
Mississippi🌷 GardenMarch–April760
South Carolina🌷 GardenMarch–April650
North Carolina🌷 GardenMarch–May583
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records (31)396
Virginia🌷 GardenApril–May285
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (30)218
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records (11)212
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (13)171
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (17)143
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (41)128
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (10)103
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (11)67
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenfew records (5)47
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records (4)20
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records (6)16
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (1)14
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (2)8
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (2)5
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records3
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Washington🌷 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
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 20 of our 32 states.
See each state
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. 31 TAC 69.8
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S5, secure in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Florida. FAC 5B-40.0055
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
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
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
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: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe has no Pennsylvania rank for it. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
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
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
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe has no New Jersey rank for it. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
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
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe has no Massachusetts rank for it. MESA 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
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
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
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
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
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arkansas.
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: SNR, not yet ranked in Louisiana.
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Mississippi.
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: SNR, not yet ranked in South Carolina.
Kentucky
State threatened On Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026): state threatened. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe: S2, imperiled in Oklahoma.
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: SNR, not yet ranked in West Virginia.
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.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado 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.
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: it's on Kentucky's rare plant list (state threatened); NatureServe ranks it S2 in Oklahoma. 400 KAR 3:040 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: high). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, fruits, leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Poisonous if ingested. Highly toxic, may be fatal if eaten. 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 red buckeye in 18 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia.

Texas counties with USDA records: Angelina, Austin, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Bowie, Burleson, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Hardin, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Houston, Kendall, Kerr, Marion, Matagorda, Medina, Morris, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Real, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Titus, Travis, Upshur, Uvalde, Victoria, Washington, Wichita, Williamson.

Alabama counties with USDA records: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, Sumter, Talladega, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Wilcox, Winston.

Arkansas counties with USDA records: Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Cross, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Greene, Hempstead, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Miller, Monroe, Montgomery, Nevada, Ouachita, Perry, Phillips, Pike, Poinsett, Polk, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Sevier, Sharp, St. Francis, Stone, Union, Van Buren, White, Woodruff, Yell.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Red buckeye a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 3.7 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -20 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
3.7 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-20 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
180
Annual precipitation range
36 to 65 inches
Minimum root depth
20 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Long
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for AEPA. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 441 counties across 16 states; the most are in Arkansas (60), Alabama (59), Georgia (56).

Other Aesculus on Bloomipedia (1): Bottlebrush buckeye.

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

More Texas flowers

Western soapberry (Sapindus drummondii)

Western soapberry

Sapindus drummondii

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: April–June
Mexican buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)

Mexican buckeye

Ungnadia speciosa

Native

🌼 Blooms in TX: March–April
Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)

Bottlebrush buckeye

Aesculus parviflora

🌷 Flowering shrub

🌷 Grown in Texas gardens

Sources