A large deciduous shrub, the California Buckeye grows in a variety of habitats—oak woodland, mixed—conifer forest, redwood forest, and riparian zones. The buckeye's distinct fruits—large bulbous nuts with shiny, smooth skins—are scattered on trails and hillsides in the fall.
Fun Fact Ohlone fishermen ground buckeye nuts, which contain toxic tannins, into a pulp to catch fish. They threw the pulp into the rivers, stunning the fish for easier harvesting.