Kapoktree
Ceiba pentandra
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
iNaturalist: © brieuc-fertard (iNaturalist #19994722)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Ceiba
- Species:
- Ceiba pentandra
- USDA Symbol:
- CEPE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 7000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jan,feb,mar
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bats, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers deep, fertile soils in tropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Fresh seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; viability decreases rapidly with storage.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI