Anne Frank Tree

This tree was grown from a sapling of the original horse chestnut tree that grew behind the Anne Frank residence in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

Native to the Balkans but widely planted across Europe and North America, the horse chestnut is known for its showy white flowers with pink or yellow centers, arranged in upright panicles in spring. It produces large, spiny fruit capsules containing glossy brown seeds, commonly called conkers. Although toxic to humans, these seeds were historically used in traditional medicine.

Horse chestnuts have a broad, rounded crown, dark green palmate leaves, and rough, fissured bark. The species is often found in parks and along streets, but it is susceptible to leaf blotch and bleeding canker disease, symptoms of which can be seen on the horse chestnuts found on the U.S. Capitol Grounds from mid-June though the fall.

Plaque Text

U.S. Capitol Grounds
Memorial Tree

Aesculus hippocastanum
(Horse Chestnut)

Sponsored by
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

To Honor Anne Frank

NO ONE NEED WAIT;
START RIGHT NOW TO IMPROVE THE WORLD

April 30, 2014