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Cotton Bush Wikimedia Commons
Apocynaceae

Cotton Bush

Gomphocarpus fruticosus

Lightness and release.

Family
Apocynaceae
Genus
Gomphocarpus
Native to
Southern Africa
Bloom season
Summer, Fall
Type
Perennial shrub
Height
100-200 cm
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
8-11
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The inflated, hairy seed pods look like small green balloons and are used in floral arrangements.
  • Cotton bush is an important host plant for monarch butterflies in parts of its range.
  • The silky seed fibers inside the pods were historically used as stuffing material.
  • Like other milkweeds, the plant produces toxic milky latex that deters herbivores.
  • It has naturalized on every continent except Antarctica, demonstrating its remarkable adaptability.

Color meanings

0

Freedom

1

Letting go

2

Simplicity

Uses

  • Floral arrangements
  • Butterfly gardens
  • Dried pods for crafts
  • Monarch habitat