Ceiba speciosa Seeds - Kapok Tree - Attract Butterflies to the Garden - New

Ceiba is the name of a genus of many species of large trees found in tropical areas, including Mexico, Central America, South America, The Bahamas, Belize and the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. Some species can grow to 70 m tall or more, with a straight, largely branchless trunk that culminates in a huge, spreading canopy, and buttress roots that can be taller than a grown person. Recent botanical opinion incorporates Chorisia within Ceiba, raising the number of species from 10 to 20 or more, and puts the genus as a whole within the family Malvaceae.

Ceiba speciosa, Kapok Tree or Floss-Silk Tree is a deciduous tree native to Argentina and Brazil. In nature, the tree will reach about 15 meters tall with a spread of about 9 meters; however trees in cultivation may be taller. The light green leaves will reach 12.7 cm long. Trunks are initially green turning grey with age, and have very stout short irregularly placed spines. They are of easy culture and make outstanding container trees. Their size is easily controlled by container size and selective pruning. The Kapok blooms from summer to winter. The flowers are creamy-whitish in the center and pink towards the tips of their five petals. They measure 10-15 cm in diameter and their shape is not unlike hibiscus flowers. They open before the leaves show. The flowers are very showy and attract butterflies to the garden.