Horse chestnut is a deciduous tree native to the Balkans, but widely cultivated in temperate regions of Europe and North America.
It belongs to the Sapindaceae family. Known for its white to pink flowers and spiny fruit containing shiny brown seeds, the horse chestnut is often planted in parks for its majestic appearance. Unlike real chestnuts, their seeds are not edible and can be toxic.
However, extracts from the seeds, leaves and bark have medicinal applications, particularly for vein health.
