All flowers
Red Silk Cotton Wikimedia Commons
Malvaceae

Red Silk Cotton

Bombax ceiba

Strength and resilience.

Family
Malvaceae
Genus
Bombax
Native to
India, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Australia
Bloom season
Winter, Spring
Type
Deciduous tree
Height
20-25 meters
Sunlight
Full sun
Soil
Well-drained, sandy loam
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • The tree blooms spectacularly when completely leafless, making the red flowers highly visible.
  • Its trunk is covered in large conical thorns that protect it from animals.
  • The silky cotton fiber from its seed pods was historically used to stuff pillows and mattresses.
  • In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, almost every part of the tree is used medicinally.
  • A single mature tree can produce over 500 flowers in a season.

Color meanings

0

Courage

1

Passion

2

Natural beauty

Uses

  • Ornamental
  • Timber
  • Traditional medicine
  • Fiber production