Pachira aquatica (Malabar Chesnut)

This tree has a distinctively swollen trunk base - even when young. A medium height specimen tree with attractive foliage. Its showy flowers, among the largest tree flowers in the world, have long, narrow petals that open like a banana peel to reveal hairlike yellowish orange stamens.

Grow in full sun for best flower production. Used for making braided Money Tree bonsai.

In some sources Pachira aquatica is indicated as synonim of Pachira glabra (Bombax glabrum). To help identify, the leaflet shape is slighly different with the P. glabra being a bit more long and pointy and the P. aquatica a bit more round and less pointed.