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Load video: Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Load video: Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree
Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree

$6,050.00
$6,050.00
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Size: 100L

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Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree

About Your New Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree

Ceiba speciosa, the Silk Floss Tree, is a broad deciduous feature tree from South America with a swollen bottle shaped trunk, green bark and stout conical spines on young wood. Large pink flowers with cream throats, shaped much like a hibiscus, cover the thinning canopy through late summer and autumn.

It needs full sun and free-draining soil, and grows fast at 60 centimetres to 1.2 metres a year while young. Heat, drought and urban conditions suit it once established. Young trees are frost sensitive and established trees take only light frost, so it belongs in subtropical, warm temperate and frost-free coastal gardens.

Use it as a specimen in parks, on large residential blocks, in resort and civic landscapes and along wide avenues where the trunk and the flowering can both be seen. Site it back from paths and play areas because of the trunk spines. Few trees give this much presence in so few years.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Silk Floss Tree

What is the Silk Floss Tree?

Ceiba speciosa is a deciduous South American tree in the mallow family, related to the baobabs and the kapok tree. It is grown for three things: a swollen green trunk studded with conical spines, large pink flowers in late summer and autumn, and seed pods that split open to release silky white floss.

When does it flower?

Late summer into autumn, broadly February to May, with the peak usually in March and April. The tree often sheds much of its foliage as it comes into flower, so the blooms sit on near bare branches and read from a long way off. Trees generally need several years in the ground before flowering begins.

Is it frost tolerant?

Only marginally. Young trees are damaged by frost and should not be planted where frosts are regular. Established trees with thickened bark handle light frost, but a heavy or repeated frost kills the growing tips and can take out a young tree entirely. Warm coastal and subtropical positions are the safe choice.

How fast does it grow?

Fast. It puts on 60 centimetres to 1.2 metres a year in warm conditions with reasonable water, so it reaches a useful size within five or six years. Growth slows once the trunk starts to thicken. The soft, quick growth means young trees need staking and shelter from strong wind while they establish.

How big does it get?

In Australian conditions it usually reaches 10 to 15 metres tall and 8 to 10 metres wide, with older specimens in warm districts going higher. The trunk thickens dramatically with age and can exceed a metre across at the base. Allow generous room, since the canopy spreads almost as wide as the tree is tall.

Does it have thorns?

Yes. Young trunks and branches carry stout conical spines, which is a distinguishing feature of the species and also a planning consideration. Keep it away from footpaths, playgrounds, driveways and anywhere people brush past. The spines become less prominent as bark thickens on very old trees, though they do not disappear.

How do I care for a Silk Floss Tree?

Plant in full sun with good drainage, stake young trees and water regularly through the first two summers. After that it is largely self sufficient in a warm climate. Prune in late winter to lift the canopy and remove crossing limbs, wearing gloves. Avoid heavy fertiliser, which pushes soft growth at the expense of flowering.

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Uses in my Garden
  • Avenue Planting
  • Shade Tree

Ceiba speciosa – Silk Floss Tree works in an:

  • Contemporary / Architectural Garden – striking forms for bold design statements.
  • Tropical Garden – lush, leafy planting for a resort-style atmosphere.
  • Mediterranean Style Garden – timeless courtyard look with stone, pots, and bold greenery.
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