Japanese Horse-chestnut

The giant tree of Japan

The Japanese horse chestnut originates from the north of the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido where they grow in mountain forests up to about 2000 m in altitude. Although the glossy brown buds and leaves of the Japanese horse chestnut are smaller than the buds and leaves of the European, or common, horse chestnut, in all other respects the two species closely resemble one other. The flowers appear in May usually a little later than those of the European horse chestnut. The inflorescences comprise smaller, more delicate 'candles' of creamy white flowers each bearing a red spot. The conkers of the Japanese horse chestnut sit inside more or less smooth shells, which open to reveal the conkers - shiny and dark brown in colour.

The Japanese horse chestnut in the Leiden Botanic Garden was planted in 1860.