How to Grow a Buckeye Tree in a Pot

Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is noted for its glossy, chocolate-colored seeds that feature a tan "eye." Native Americans likened the seed to the eye of a buck, hence the name buckeye. It grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 7, and seeds require a chill period to germinate, making September and October the ideal time to collect ripened seeds and pot them. Leave buckeyes in seed pods until ready to plant to prevent them from drying out.

5-gallon container

Drill with 1/4 inch bit

Gravel golf ball size or smaller

Potting mix that is loose and drains well

Several ripe buckeye seeds

Screen mesh

10-10-10 fertilizer

Turn the container upside down and drill seven to 10 drainage holes in the bottom. When finished, turn the tub right-side up.

Fill the bottom of the container with gravel 1 to 2 inches deep. The gravel prevents drain holes from plugging with soil, which will result in the pot flooding.

Add potting mix to within 4 inches of the top of the container.

Peel the husks from the buckeyes and discard them. Place two to three seeds in the container on top of the potting mix. Buckeyes have a 50 percent germination rate, so planting extra will ensure at least one germinates.

Cover the seeds with 3 inches of potting mix. (If you have squirrels, cover seeds with 2 inches of potting mix, cut screen mesh to fit inside the diameter of the pot, and place the screen on top of the potting mix to prevent squirrels from digging up the seeds. Finish by covering the screen with 1 inch of potting mix.)

Place the pot in a shady location protected from wind so when seeds sprout, seedlings will not burn or suffer wind damage.

Water the soil until it is wet but not waterlogged. Keep the soil evenly wet, not allowing it to dry out, until seeds sprout.

Remove all sprouts except one when seedlings appear, keeping the most vigorous plant. Water a total of 1 inch per week. Be sure to not overwater.

Fertilize seedlings lightly once a month with 10-10-10 fertilizer, beginning in the spring. Stop fertilizer and water about mid-August so the tree can prepare for dormancy.

Seeds take 90 to 120 days to sprout and need cold stratification to germinate.

Never use buckeyes picked directly from the tree; they are not ripe and will not sprout.

Transplant the tree into the ground when you can see roots growing out of the drain holes.

Use a potting mix that does not contain compost. Compost is not well-suited for growing plants in pots.

Seeds allowed to dry out will not germinate.

This tree’s nuts, branches and leaves are poisonous to cattle and some domestic animals. Deer avoid this plant because of its toxic nature.