Aesculus hippocastanum Memmingeri

The Aesculus hippocastanum 'Memmingeri' is an interesting selection of Horse Chestnut tree for its regular habit and its unusual foliage texture. Its palmate leaves have a network of delicate dark veins on a background of very pale green that tends towards cream-white. The foliage becomes greener in summer, sometimes sprinkled with white, but retains this curious reticulated pattern. The bark of this variety, finely striped with black, differs slightly from that of the classic Horse Chestnut. Otherwise, this large tree has the same characteristics and requires the same growing conditions.

The Aesculus hippocastanum 'Memmingeri' is a horticultural selection of unknown origin described in 1855 in Germany. It is named after Gustav Memminger, a gardener from Verdun. This tree belongs to the family Sapindaceae or Hippocastanaceae, which is classified according to different classifications. Contrary to what its common name of Horse Chestnut suggests, the species is native to Macedonia, including northern Greece, Albania, and southern Bulgaria. It is a forest species.

Growing more or less rapidly depending on the soil and climate, 'Memmingeri' Horse Chestnut can reach a height of 20 to 25 m with a spread of 15 to 20 m. It develops a straight trunk, covered with brown to reddish bark, initially smooth, becoming grey with black fissures as it ages. The crown is wide, pyramid-shaped, and regular. The deciduous foliage appears in spring and falls in autumn. Large reddish buds covered with shiny resin can be seen on the branches in winter. The foliage consists of large leaves measuring 30 to 50 cm long, divided into 5 to 7 toothed leaflets, carried on a long petiole. Flowering occurs in May-June on branches that are already leafed out. It forms large upright pyramidal clusters, called thyrses, measuring 20-25 cm long, composed of numerous tiny flowers 1 cm wide, white with pink spots. After pollination by insects, the characteristic fruits form rounded and bristly. Each fruit can measure up to 4 cm in diameter and contains only one large seed. Its root system is deep and powerful.

'Memmingeri' Horse Chestnut tolerates any deep soil that remains somewhat moist, even if it is limestone. It can be planted as a solitary specimen, in a well-cleared location, on a large lawn, or as a shade tree in a park or large garden. It also looks good on the edge of a large plot overlooking the countryside. Consider its future growth before adopting it in the garden. You can plant it in all regions, but it will become taller and more beautiful if it benefits from a slightly humid climate. In the Mediterranean region, it loses its leaves prematurely without seeming to harm its health.