Plant search results - Ceiba

Bombax ceiba, Salmalia malabarica, Bombax malabaricum

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Kapok tree is a remarkable tree with spectacular display of bright red flowers, which bloom during the spring season. The flowers are large, showy, and have a sweet fragrance, making them popular with birds and insects. The tree's blossoms are also used in traditional medicine for their medicinal properties.

Red Kapok tree is valued for its strong and lightweight wood, which is used for making furniture, canoes, and even musical instruments. Its bark and leaves are also used for various purposes in traditional medicine and textiles.

Red Kapok tree is significant in Hindu mythology, where it is believed to be a symbol of Lord Indra, the god of rain and thunderstorms. In some regions, the tree is also considered sacred and worshipped during festivals and ceremonies.

Overall, the Bombax ceiba, or Red Kapok tree, is a magnificent and culturally significant tree that is cherished for its beauty, utility, and spiritual importance.

Bombax ceiba typically grows up to 20 to 30 ft tall and wide, but can reach up to 40 ft in the right conditions. It has a heavily buttressed trunk, which may have spines on young trees. It has large, lobed leaves and large, red, crimson or vinous lily-like flowers which appear in the winter. At that time masses of large appear and the tree is then completely void of leaves. The woody fruits contain silky floss used in pillows, etc.

This tree is best grown in full sun and likes regular water. This hardy plant is cold tolerant to at least 30s F for a short period of time, making it suitable for USDA Zones 9-11. It is a great addition to gardens as it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

For planting in cold regions, it is best to use a large pot to ensure the tree doesn't experience cold shock from any sudden shifts in temperature. The pot should be kept in a sheltered area to protect it from the cold, and it should be watered regularly throughout the winter season. Additionally, mulch can be used to help insulate the root system.

Ceiba boliviana

Native to Bolivia, Ceiba boliviana can reach over 50 feet tall. Ceiba boliviana requires full sun to partial shade, and moderate to low water use. It prefers well-drained soil and can tolerate drought conditions.

Ceiba is a beautiful ornamental tree. Its thorny branches are covered with large, leathery, dark green leaves and make a great accent to any landscape. Every summer, the tree produces pink flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The flowers turn into slender seedpods that are filled with downy seeds.

Ceiba can be grown in USDA Zone 9-11 and in colder regions it can be grown in a pot. When planting Ceiba in a pot, it is important to make sure that the pot is a large one and keep it well-drained with regular applications of fertilizer.

Ceiba insignis, Chorisia insignis

The trunk becomes bottle shaped as it ages, and it is covered with stout spines, more decorative than really frightening. Can make a shade tree in warmer areas, or an interesting patio tree. Many bonsai them in large pots. In deep soil this can become a good shade tree, otherwise it is grown for its spectacular flowers and interesting shape. Pear shaped fruits containing a silky floss coming out of the seeds. Need a good drainage. Abundant water in the growing season can make a large tree quickly as they have been recorded to grow 5 meters (15 feet) a year in optimum conditions. Hardy to about 20 degrees F, although hardiness varies with individuals.

Ceiba pentandra

The ancient Maya of Central America believed that a great Ceiba tree stood at the center of the earth, connecting the terrestrial world to the spirit-world above. The long thick vines hanging down from its spreading limbs provided a connection to the heavens for the souls that ascended them. Even today, these grand trees are regularly spared when forests are cut it is a common event to see lone, isolated Ceiba trees proudly spreading their shady branches high above a pasture or agricultural field, a relict of the great forests that once were there. The giant limbs of the umbrella-shaped crown are laden with epiphytes (aerial plants) and provide a home for countless species of animals. Birds feed and nest in the tree's high perches, mammals use the enormous limbs as aerial highways, frogs raise their tadpoles in the tiny pools that collect in bromeliads, and insects reach the peak of their diversity in the canopy of giant trees like the Ceiba. Ceiba flowers open in the evening and are pollinated by pollen- and nectar-feeding bats. Their kapok-surrounded seeds are adapted for dispersal by wind.

Some varieties / cultivars have spiny trunks, others smooth.

See Article about this tree:

Ceiba pentandra, Kapok Tree - Maya's Sacred Tree at the Center of the Earth.

Ceiba samauma, Ceiba burchelli, Eriodendron samauma

Ceiba samauma is similar to Ceiba insignis.

Ceiba schottii

Ceiba sp.

Due to their size, Ceiba trees are mostly seen as a symbol of strength and are often associated with ancient cultures and beliefs, such as Mayan mythology. However, this majestic species can also be appreciated for its beauty. The plant typically produces large clusters of showy seed pods, which, in turn, develop flowers of different colors. Depending on the species, the flowers can be white, off-white, pink, red, crimson, vinous, yellow or even orange.

Ceiba is a deciduous tree and some varieties are known to possess thorns or spines. This genus of plants prefers to grow in full sun and with moderate water. Ceiba trees can adapt to a variety of different climates. Most species are rated at USDA Zone 9 to 11.

Growing Ceiba trees in pots while in cold climate areas is possible. The container should be shallow and wide to accommodate the long taproot. Choose one that is large enough to hold the actual size of the tree. Place your Ceiba in a sunny location and water regularly. Keep in mind that this plant is fairly drought-tolerant so do not over-water it. Ceiba trees should be well drained as to avoid root rot. Every two to four weeks for mature plants, apply a water soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength to give it an extra boost of nutrients. Be aware that the tree can easily outgrow its pot and will require re-potting.

In conclusion, Ceiba sp. is a majestic plant often associated with strength and ancient cultures. Its size is impressive with some species growing up to 250 ft. Its white, off-white, pink, red, crimson, vinous, yellow or orange flowers come in large clusters and are quite attractive. Finally, depending on the climate, Ceiba can be successfully grown in a container, requiring full sun exposure, moderate water and regular feeding with a water soluble fertilizer.

Ceiba speciosa, Chorisia speciosa

This spectacular tree is rated among the most beautiful trees in the world. Silk Floss is a zone 9-11 tree that does well in humid states but also is very happy in dry areas such as California. It is known to be hardy in Phoenix, AZ, for example, down to 20'F. Silk Floss blooms in early fall in South Florida with abandon. In full bloom, there are almost no leaves. You see a huge mass of color with 10's of thousands of flowers. The blooms are actually highly variable, lily-like flowers in various combinations of white, pink, often with purple to red striations on the petals. The older the tree, the better the flower display. After blooming, pear shaped fruits appear which have a silky floss on the seeds, hence the name. Floss Silk Tree is also well known for the large spikes protecting the trunk and limbs. More decorative than frightening, spikes are very much more prominent when the tree is young. It is happy in most soils with good drainage and does not have any pest problems, Floss Silk is an premier tree choice for your landscape.

One of the most beautiful trees in the world. In full bloom, there are almost no leaves. You see a huge mass of color with 10s of thousands of flowers. Premier tree choice for your landscape.

See article about Ceiba speciosa.

Elateriospermum tapos

Elateriospermum tapos, better known as Kra, is a small tree native to the lands of Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Standing at heights of 10 to 20 feet and boasting large, ornamental leaves, Kra enjoys full sunlight, semi-shade, and regular watering - all of which, according to some local cultures, gives Kra important ethnomedical properties.

Kra can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 9 to 11, and appreciates soils that are moist and rich, however it is important to ensure that the soil is not waterlogged. Pruning back branches in the fall will help promote new growth, but due to the irritating sap of the tree, gloves should be worn when touching or pruning the tree. For those who live in climates with short summers, Kra can be grown in pots. When potting the tree, soil should be kept moist but not waterlogged, and the potting mix should allow for proper aeration and quick drainage. In addition, plenty of light should be provided to the plant, although direct sunlight should be avoided. The use of fertilizer can help promote vigorous growth. Although Kra can survive light frost, it cannot last in freezing or intensely cold temperatures.

Kra is characterized by white, off-white, pink, red, crimson, vinous, yellow and orange flowers that come in clusters of abundance and beauty. Ultimately, Ceiba can be grown successfully in a container, requiring full sun exposure, moderate water and regular feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer. It should also be noted that pests and diseases could infect the plant, so taking notice and rapid measures to prevent their spread should be a priority.