DESCRIPTION:

NAME: Red Silk Cotton

OTHER COMMON NAMES: Cotton Tree / Red Cotton Tree / Silk-Cotton / Kapok

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Bombax Ceiba

COLOR: Red Flowers / White Cotton Balls

PLANT SEEDS: Outdoors after frost / Indoors weeks before last frost

BLOOM TIME: Early Spring - Spring (Feb - April in the N Hemisphere)

HARDINESS ZONE: 9 - 13

PLANT HEIGHT: 60 - 80'

PLANT SPACING: 40'

LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: Sun

SOIL & WATER PREFERENCES: Average

QUANTITY: 10 Seeds

OTHER: This stunning tropical tree is native to Australia & Southeast Asia. Introduced to the US over 100 years ago, they can also be found in Florida & other warm US states. The huge bright red 5 - 7” flowers bloom before the leaves appear making for a very impressive display! They have a long bloom period, & the cup shaped flowers attract bees & butterflies. Birds & squirrels will visit later for the seeds. The show continues throughout the season as the flowers turn into cool 6” long seed pods. These pods are filled with silky white fibers that burst out like fuzzy balls of cotton when they begin to open & soar through the air.

The trees have spikes on their trunks which are more prevalent on younger trees, as they tend to wear off as the tree ages. Red Silk trees are able to handle heat & humidity well. Being native to areas where monsoons occur, they are adapted to tolerate both wet & dry spells. The leaves of the cotton tree are also impressive, measuring 24” long. Full of character, the beautiful Red Silk Cotton Tree will is delightful in all seasons!

* Love the tropical look? Check out our Blue Jacaranda, Magnolia, and Golden Rain Tree seeds! *