The upper number in the zone range is useless since the USDA zone only tells you the average coldest temperature, so if it is hardy to my zone, of course it is hardy to your warmer zone. Unfortunately, the zone number tells nothing about chill hours or maximum temperature, so really doesn’t help you judge whether a plant is appropriate for your area as far as heat tolerance or need for chill hours, and nurseries including an upper zone number is misleading since folks naturally assume that it is helpful info.

So that is a long rambling way to say that I hope that someone with similar hours of chill and maximum temperatures weighs in for you with some experience growing this plant. In my area it is lovely!

Here is a link to info on its native range which reaches well into Florida and across the Gulf states into TX.

http://bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Aesculus

If you click on the map for A. pavia, it will enlarge and you can see how close its native range is to your area. From what I read it should be fairly shade tolerant, especially in your area.

Since I'm not even for sure about whether what I've been seeing is a buckeye, I probably shouldn't even comment. But there's a road near me that has these red flowers all along it around May-June. It's very tall woods all around so if it is buckeye shade shouldn't bother it. The only reason why I haven't stopped and looked closer is that the road is very narrow and winding and the shoulders are soft, don't want to take the chance. It's either a buckeye or a coral bean, similar red flower spike. Anyway I'm in Brooksville.

I'm in 9a N. Central and I don't remember seeing any buckeyes up here, although the map says they aren't rare. I don't usually go trail walking in May-June, though, because it's too hot. My coral bean has just finished blooming.

I'm not familiar with this as a Fl plant, but perhaps if it doesn't take you could try firebush instead?

It actually isnt the flowers I care about - I like the leaf structure. I have seen some other buckeyes (not sure what kind, but NOT red) at Rainbow Springs, which is like 30 miles from here. I could have lots of issues - wrong provenance, too much shade, just too darn far south, not sure. Was hoping someone might have had some experience with this or knew a good source.

Corkball, z4 western WI is probably not where you thought you’d be hearing from. I saw this tree growing without restraint in the western part of the Texas Piney Woods. Where Palmettos grew this tree seemed to be in the vicinity. I have no idea if this matches with your conditions, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Mine is with leaves and flowered already.

Here in Arkansas 7b my red buckeye plants leaf out mid Feb, waaaaay before anything else gets going.

well that is good to hear - maybe I just have a dud. :)

small, green buckeyes formed on mine at this time in east central alabama. our winter was only about three weeks long this year. the a. parviflora is just now begininning to flower, though. the red ones are normally some of the first flowers of our february springs here and attract the early hummingbirds. all of mine are in summer shade and winter sun, beneath deciduous trees.