Both come in green shells, but horse chestnut cases have short, stumpy spikes all over. Inside, the conkers are round and glossy. Sweet chestnut cases have lots of fine spikes, giving them the appearance of small green hedgehogs. Each case contains two or three nuts and, unlike conkers, sweet chestnuts are edible.
What are conkers called in America?
In the US, many people refer to conkers as ‘buckeyes’ – which is the North American name for horse chestnuts, as they resemble an eye of buck or male deer (apparently!).
What tree does a conker come off?
A tall, broad tree of woodlands, roadsides and parks, the introduced horse chestnut is familiar to many of us the ‘conker’ producing tree – its shiny, brown seeds appearing in their spiny cases in autumn.
Can I grow a horse chestnut tree from a conker?
The horse chestnut can also be grown from seeds or conkers. The spiny seedpods drop from the tree in fall when ripened and crack open to reveal the horse chestnut seeds inside. Horse chestnut seeds should be planted as soon as possible. Do not allow them to dry out.
Are chestnuts and conkers the same? – Related Questions
Why are horse chestnuts not edible?
Sweet chestnuts are edible, but horse chestnuts are poisonous. If eaten, they can cause digestive problems such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and throat irritation. More than one in 10 cases of poisonous plants being mistaken for edible plants involve horse and sweet chestnuts.
Are horse chestnuts good for anything?
Today, horse chestnut seed extract is promoted for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI; poor blood flow in the veins of the legs, which may lead to leg pain, swelling, itchiness, and other symptoms), irritable bowel syndrome, male infertility, and other conditions.
Can you plant a conker to grow a tree?
Conkers are always a good seed for planting. Check their seeds do not have any holes in them – if they have, it means insect larvae will be inside eating! 2 Place some crocks at the base of a pot, then nearly fill it with soil, mixed with some compost.
What happens if you plant a conker?
The conker nuts will germinate and grow the next spring after you plant them.
How do you get a conker to sprout?
Chill them over winter in the fridge or in an unheated area, such as an outdoor building. These seeds need at least two to three months of chilling time, called cold stratification, to germinate. When you’re ready to plant, dunk the conkers into a glass of water. Those that float are not viable and should be discarded.
Can you propagate a horse chestnut tree?
Propagating horse chestnuts can also be achieved through softwood and hardwood cuttings. Cuttings of horse chestnut can be taken in spring, for softwood, or during fall for hardwood cuttings. These cuttings should be 4-6 inches (10-15 cm.) long and placed into well-draining soil media.
Can you peel off a horse’s chestnuts?
Don’t try to remove them entirely, and don’t trim any deeper than skin level or above. Just peel them off layer by layer with your hands or fingernails. You could use a knife or similar sharp tool. However, they trim relatively easily by pinching them off (not twisting) with fingernails.
Does a horse chestnut tree produce fruit?
The horse chestnut is prized as an amenity tree because of its striking flowers, which can be seen in early June each year, and its characteristic conker fruits that are produced in September.
What can you do with conkers?
But apart from the ancient game, played by so many generations of children, there are some other age-old uses for conkers:
- Keeping spiders at bay.
- Natural moth balls.
- Treating a sprain.
- Washing liquid.
- Flour.
- Decorative display.
- Happy Autumn!
Why do you put conkers in vinegar?
Soaking your conker in vinegar will essentially pickle it, naturally removing some of the moisture from the inside, whilst at the same time hardening the outside (without 100% drying it out).
How poisonous are conkers?
More about conker poisoning
If swallowed, they can get lodged in the stomach or intestines (gut), requiring emergency surgical removal to clear the obstruction. Poisoning: Conkers contain a chemical called aesculin, which can be toxic to dogs if eaten.
When did conkers get banned?
In 2004, several schools banned conkers due to fear of causing anaphylactic shock in pupils with nut allergies. Health advisers said that there were no known dangers from conkers for nut-allergy sufferers, although some may experience a mild rash through handling them.
Are conkers and Buckeyes the same?
Conkers and Buckeyes
Technically they are different trees, but their nuts look very similar. Aesculus glabra is the state tree of Ohio while Aesculus hippocastanum is the European tree, the horse chestnut.
Can you touch conkers?
Conkers are not a nut so do not pose a threat for those that are nut allergic. Minimise contact with walnuts, however the risk is minimal if they remain in their shells. Make sure that any prescribed allergy medications are on hand if required.
Why are they called conkers?
It is unclear how the game came to be called conkers – it may have come from a local dialect word for ‘hard nut’, or from the French ‘conque’ (conch shell) when the game was originally played with seashells, or ‘cogner’, meaning ‘to hit’.
Why do conkers keep spiders away?
Answer: Conkers contain a naturally-occurring substance called saponin, which repels spiders, lice, fleas and ticks.