Plant Profile: Bombax ceiba

Taxonomy: Bombax ceiba

Names

Kapok Tree, Red Silk Cottontree

  • Photo of Bombax ceiba (Bombax ceibas)

Phonetic Spelling:BOM-baks SEE-buh

Genus:Bombax

Species:ceiba

Family:Malvaceae

The Red Silk Cottontree is a sizable flowering tree belonging to the marshmallow family, found in the tropical areas of Asia and northern Australia. It features striking red blossoms and has a smooth, white trunk.

Bombax ceiba Feature Summary

Bombax ceiba Image Gallery

Tags

#showy flowers
#shade tree
#drought tolerant
#red flowers
#orange flowers
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#showy fruits
#early spring flowers
#mid-spring flowers
#dry soils tolerant
#late winter flowers
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Bombax ceiba Feature Summary

Attributes
Tropical Asia to Northern Australia
Flowers
Large red-orange flowers from late winter through mid spring.
Red/Burgundy
Orange
Spring
Winter
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Landscape
Winter Garden
Shade Tree
Specimen
Flowering Tree
Recreational Play Area
Lawn

Bombax ceiba Attributes

Bombax ceiba: Country Or Region Of Origin

Tropical Asia to Northern Australia

Bombax ceiba: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Bombax ceiba Flowers

Bombax ceiba: Flower Description

Large red-orange flowers from late winter through mid spring.

Bombax ceiba: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Bombax ceiba: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Bombax ceiba: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Bombax ceiba Whole Plant Traits

Bombax ceiba: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Bombax ceiba: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Bombax ceiba Cultural Conditions

Bombax ceiba: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Bombax ceiba Fruit

Bombax ceiba: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Bombax ceiba Leaves

Bombax ceiba: Leaf Color

spa
Green

Bombax ceiba: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Bombax ceiba Stem

Bombax ceiba: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Bombax ceiba Landscape

Bombax ceiba: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Bombax ceiba: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Bombax ceiba: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Bombax ceiba: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland