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Horse Chestnut

Horse chestnut is native to southeast Europe. Trees are deciduous and reach a height of 50 to 75 feet. Flowers appear on branches in clusters and incorporate several different colors, usually pink white and yellow. The fruit is a nut encased in a leathery, spikey capsule. The origin of the name is odd. These nuts were believed to cure horses of chest pain, although the fruits are actually poisonous to the animals.

Close-up of leaf buds Emerging leaves surrounding floral buds Quilt-like leaves surround floral buds A flower cluster showing horse chestnut flowers are usually pink, white and yellow Whole horse chestnut tree