Upland Cotton
Gossypium hirsutum
- Native to:
- Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Marianas, Marquesas, Mexican Pacific Is., Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Society Is., Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Tuamotu, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Venezuelan Antilles, Virgin Islands
iNaturalist: © guerillafarmer99 (iNaturalist #517185)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Malvaceae
- Genus:
- Gossypium
- Species:
- Gossypium hirsutum
- USDA Symbol:
- GOHI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Subshrub , Tree
- Height:
- 180 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream, yellow, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American plum borer (Euzophera semifuneralis), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), black-tipped pyralid moth (Moodna ostrinella), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Ephestiodes gilvescentella, garden webworm moth (Achyra rantalis), stored nut moth (Paralipsa gularis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Prefers fertile soils with good organic content
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 5–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at soil temperatures of 65-85°F. Prefers warm soil conditions for optimal germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI