Deciduous shrub or sometimes small tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) with and open flat-topped crown and short trunk. It has an early leaf drop and is deciduous much of the year revealing its smooth silver-gray bark. Branchlets are reddish gray-brown when young. This plant usually breaks dormancy in late winter, but will return to dormancy during hot, dry summer months. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Bagworms, Japanese beetle and borers can be problems. It can suffer from powdery mildew, rust, and anthracnose. Responds to intense heat, wind or drought stress by dropping leaves. All parts of California buckeye are poisonous to humans if ingested. The nectar is toxic to honeybees.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Poisonous if ingested. HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN! Poison symptoms include muscular weakness and paralysis, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, paralysis, and stupor. (Poisonous part: Seeds and tea made from leaves and sprouts; however all parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested.) The nectar is toxic to honeybees.