The growing and caring for Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa)

Silk Floss Tree is commonly known as Chorisia speciosa. The Silk Floss Tree is a conical deciduous tree, that can grow up to 60 feet (18 m) tall, with somewhat irregular branching. The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa) is native to tropical and sub-tropical forested areas of Brazil and Argentina. The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa) is now grown as a showy flowering tree in many tropical areas around the world.
The Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa) will typically develop an attractive, rounded, umbrella-like crown over time. The trunks and branches of the tree are armed with stout triangular spines. The trunks are actually green in youth, although may eventually mature to gray. Also each palmate, compound, light green leaf has six to eight serrate, lanceolate leaflets, each up to five inches (12.5 cm) long. Silk Floss Tree leaves typically drop in fall before it blooms. Open, 5-petaled, funnel-shaped flowers are up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) in diameter and appear in late fall to early winter. They are quite showy, featuring pink to rose-purple petals with creamy white to yellowish-white throats. Flowers are followed by pear-shaped capsules filled with seed embedded in silky white floss, hence the common name.
Furthermore, In its native territory, this plant has been harvested for a number of uses. The cotton inside the capsules has been used as stuffing. The wood can be used to make canoes, as wood pulp and to make paper. The bark has been used to make ropes. From the seeds it is possible to obtain vegetable oil.

The growing requirement and general care

If you are planting a Silk Floss Tree, care should be taken to situate at least 15 feet (4.5 m) away from the eaves to account for growth and well away from foot traffic and play areas due to the thorny trunk.
The Silk Floss Tree planting should occur in full sun, also with a consistent moisture in humus-rich, well-drained soil. The Silk Floss Tree tolerates some light shade, but flowers best is in full sun. The trees with established root systems have some drought tolerance. Silk Floss Tree leaves can drop when temperatures sink below 27 °F (-3 °C).
The care for this plant should include moderate irrigation with a reduction in the winter. Transplants are readily available in climate suitable areas or seeds can be sown from spring to early summer.
If you are planting the Silk Floss Tree, the eventual size must be kept in mind, as leaf drop and fruit pod detritus can be hard on lawn mowers. These trees are also often affected by scale insects.

The propagation of the plant

Silk Floss Tree is difficult to propagate from seed or cuttings. Make sure you sow seeds from spring to early summer. The germination may take from two to six weeks.