The original home of the horse chestnut is in the mountains and gorges of the Near East and Southeast Europe. But long ago, the deciduous tree with its spreading crown and candle-shaped flowers also became native to Central and Western Europe.
The horse chestnut prefers bright, warm locations
As a location, the horse chestnut prefers a sunny spot, just like the sweet chestnut, to which it is not related at all. A well-drained, deep soil is best. It should also be slightly acidic to alkaline. Due to its spreading crown, the horse chestnut needs a lot of space and should not be planted directly at the house.
The essentials in brief:
- needs a lot of space
- Location: preferably sunny
- Soil: permeable and deep, slightly acidic to alkaline
- reacts sensitively to road salt in winter
tips
To ensure that your horse chestnut comes into its own during the flowering period, you should plant the tree as a solitary tree (individually) with sufficient space around it.