Horse chestnut

Scientific name: Aesculus hippocastanum

Family: Hippocastanaceae

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Origin: non-native- introduced to UK from Turkey in late 16th century

Maximum height: 40 metres

Lives for:  up to 300 years

Famous for their shiny mahogany seeds (conkers) encased in spiky green cases, horse chestnut trees were first introduced to the UK in the 16th century. Conkers used to be fed to horses as a remedy for coughs and when leaves fall, their stalks leave a scar on the twig in the shape of an inverted horseshoe with nail holes.