Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Malvaceae

Genus:

Gossypium

Species:

Gossypium tomentosum

USDA Symbol:

GOTO

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

300 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Colors:

yellow

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, bees

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained

pH:

6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to coastal regions of Hawaii

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Scarification:

Seed coat scarification required before sowing

Germination Time:

7–21 days

Notes:

Seed coat is hard; mechanical scarification or hot water treatment improves germination rates significantly.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI