Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba speciosa

Family: MalvaceaeNative: Tropical and subtropical forests of South America (Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Argentina)Identified: May 3, 2026

A deciduous tree known for its bottle-shaped trunk studded with thick, conical woody prickles and large pink-to-magenta hibiscus-like flowers.

Light: Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours per day.
Water: Moderate; water deeply during dry spells. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant. Avoid waterlogged soil.
Growth: Deciduous tree with a fast growth rate, reaching 40 to 60 feet in height and 30 to 45 feet in spread.

Care instructions

Provide full sun and well-draining soil. Water regularly while young, but older trees are drought-tolerant. Prune primarily to remove dead wood.

Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours per day.

Moderate; water deeply during dry spells. Once established, it is fairly drought-tolerant. Avoid waterlogged soil.

Well-drained, fertile soil; can tolerate acidic to slightly alkaline pH.

9b to 11

Deciduous tree with a fast growth rate, reaching 40 to 60 feet in height and 30 to 45 feet in spread.

Late summer to winter; produces large, five-petaled pink or purple flowers with yellowish-white centers.

Most commonly by seed; can also be propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings.

Scale insects and mealybugs; root rot if kept in excessively wet soil.

Ceiba pentandra (Kapok tree), which has similar thorns and floss but typically white or cream-colored flowers and a more massive spread.