Yellow-Horn

Description

Xanthoceras sorbifolium, commonly called yellowhorn, is a deciduous, flowering tree (20-25' tall) or multi-stemmed shrub (8-10' tall) which is a native of China. Features lustrous, compound green leaves with 9-17 leaflets which persist late into the fall and five petaled, 1 inch diameter, star-shaped, white flowers with yellow or red centers which appear in terminal racemes in May. Flowers are followed by 2.5" green fruits which superficially resemble buckeyes. May be somewhat difficult to find in commerce. Genus name comes from the Greek words xanthos meaning yellow and keras meaning a horn for the yellow hornlike growths between the petals.