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Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba Speciosa

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Overview

The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa), a striking deciduous specimen, reaches heights of 30-60 feet, with a canopy spread of up to 40 feet. Notable for its bottle-shaped trunk covered in thick, conical spines, this South American native blooms with vibrant, orchid-like pink flowers in fall before leaf drop. Hardy in zones 9b-11, it demands full sun and well-drained soil, and is drought-tolerant once established, providing dramatic visual interest in warm climates.

Sun FullWater Low, MediumZones 10–11Type TreeClimate Subtropical

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — it commands attention in any landscape design; where it won't interfere with nearby structures

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: Low, Medium
USDA zones: 10–11

Shape & size

Mature height: 40–60 Ft.
Mature width: 20–40 Ft.

Classification

Type: Tree
Family: Malvaceae
Climate: Subtropical

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Photos (200)

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — pink flowers in the garden; armed with woody conical prickles, image 97

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — Notable for its bottle-shaped trunk covered in thick; tree with pink blooms, image 137

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — tree for full; but it may require ample space for both aboveground and subterranean expansion

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — but it may require ample space for both aboveground and subterranean expansion; providing dramatic visual interest in warm

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — it commands attention in any landscape design; where it won't interfere with nearby structures, image 179

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — where it won't interfere with nearby structures; a striking deciduous specimen

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — providing dramatic visual interest in warm climates; this tree is suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 9b through 11, image 75

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — pink flowers in the garden; armed with woody conical prickles, image 130

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — before the foliage emerges; notable for its bottle-shaped trunk covered in thick, image 86

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa); with a canopy spread of up to 40 feet, image 100

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — these fibers can create litter when the pods open.<br><br>For best growth

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — offering a brilliant display when few other trees are blooming

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — the blooming flowers can completely cover the tree; recognizable by its unique and majestic stature, image 153

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — This tree is suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 9b through 11 and is drought-resistant once established; the, image 159

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — the tree produces oval pods filled with silky white fibers; it is tolerant of different soil types but prefers, image 89

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — tree for full; but it may require ample space for both aboveground and subterranean expansion, image 165

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — and is drought-tolerant once established; before the foliage emerges, image 74

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — scientifically known as Ceiba speciosa

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — where it won't interfere with nearby structures; a striking deciduous specimen, image 161

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — creating an unforgettable sight.<br><br>Following flowering; each flower measures about 6 inches across, image 154

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — these fibers can create litter when the pods open.<br><br>For best growth; tree for full, image 156

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — before the foliage emerges; notable for its bottle-shaped trunk covered in thick, image 152

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — This tree is suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 9b through 11 and is drought-resistant once established; the, image 126

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba Speciosa) — these fibers can create litter when the pods open.<br><br>For best growth; tree for full

Photographs by 14 contributors

Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us · source
blmurch, CC BY 2.0 · source
adi shiloah, CC BY 2.5 · source
Koppchen, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY 2.0 · source
Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 2.0 · source
H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
SeipIa Wwoods, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Asit K. Ghosh Thaumaturgist, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
mauroguanandi, CC BY 2.0 · source
Tyrrhium, CC BY 2.0 · source
Dick Culbert from Gibsons, B.C., Canada, CC BY 2.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
zeevveez from Jerusalem, Israel, CC BY 2.0 · source

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