Native to northern China

Yellowhorn — Xanthoceras sorbifolium
Native to northern China this nut-bearing shrub has white buckeye flowers with reddish purple dots. The marble sized nuts are edible but they have a kind of soapy flavor. Other references indicate they taste like macadamia nuts when roasted. Fast growing. Begins to flower in two to three years when only 3 ft. tall. Tolerant to a wide variety of soils including alkaline soils. Best in full sun. It is surprising this plant isn't more widely used. Seed collected from productive plants in Michigan. Large shrub to 5-10 ft. tall and wide. Hardiness -30 °F.

Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Xanthoceras (zan-tho-KER-as) (Info)
Species: sorbifolium (sor-bee-FOH-lee-um) (Info)

Category:
Shrubs

Height:
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)

Spacing:
6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m)

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4° C (-30° F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6° C (-25° F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8° C (-20° F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1° C (-15° F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3° C (-10° F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5° C (-5° F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7° C (0° F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9° C (5° F)

Sun Exposure:
Full Sun

Danger:
Unknown - Tell us

Bloom Color:
Chartreuse (Yellow-Green)
White/Near White

Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer

Foliage:
Deciduous
Aromatic

Other details:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater

Soil pH requirements:
Unknown - Tell us

Propagation Methods:
Unknown - Tell us

Seed Collecting:
Unknown - Tell us
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Profile:

1 positive
No neutrals
No negatives
Regional...

This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:

Palatine, Illinois
Louisville, Kentucky
Taylorsville, Kentucky
Omaha, Nebraska
Gardeners' Notes:

Rating Author Comment
Positive Artdeco On Jun 19, 2006, Artdeco from Palatine, IL wrote:

In part-shade (Zone 5) it's very slow-growing, maybe 3' high in 5 years. But started blooming when small - not much flowers, just enough to remind me why I planted it. The flowers are beautiful & dainty.