Aesculus glabra (Ohio Buckeye)

First tree to leaf out in spring and shade tolerant. Fruit is called a buckeye due to its resemblance to a deer eye.

Associates: Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple), Aquilegia canadensis (Columbine), Aster shortii (Short’s Aster), Carex pensylvanica (Common Oak Sedge), Carya ovata (Shagbark Hickory), Celtis occidentalis (Hackberry), Cercis canadensis (Red Bud), Claytonia virginica (Spring Beauty), Dentaria laciniata (Toothwort), Euonymus atropurpureus (Wahoo), Geranium maculatum (Wild Geranium), Hydrophyllum virginianum (Virginia Waterleaf), Juglans nigra (Black Walnut), Ostrya virginiana (Ironwood), Podophyllum peltatum (Mayapple), Polygonatum canaliculatum (Smooth Solomon’s Seal), Quercus alba (White Oak), Quercus rubra (Red Oak), Prunus serotina (Wild Black Cherry), Ribes missouriensis (Missouri gooseberry), Sambucus canadensis (Elderberry), Tilia americana (American Linden), Trillium recurvatum (Prairie or Red Trillium), Viola sororia (Blue Violet), Zizia aurea (Golden Alexanders)