Buckeye and horse chestnut
Aesculus spp.
- Plant type
- tree; shrub
- Settings
- Landscaped and ornamental, Rangeland
- Risk
- Moderate risk Our rating from the cited sources.
- Review
- Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian.
Photos
Planned.
How to tell it
Opposite leaves with 5 to 7 leaflets spread like fingers; large glossy brown seeds with a pale scar (Merck).
Look-alikes: Planned.
What to do on a site walk
- Limit time.
- Rake up fallen seeds.
Why it matters
- Toxic principle
- Glycosides (aesculin), saponins
- Toxic parts
- Seeds, young shoots, leaves
- Basis for our rating
- Chewgrass rating. Cornell lists goats; Merck: rarely fatal. Langston lists horse chestnut for goats.
Signs in goats
Twitching, staggering, weakness, paralysis (Merck).
If you think an animal has been poisoned, call your vet right away.
Season
Young spring shoots and fallen seeds in fall (Merck).
Sources
Links last checked: 2026-10-31