Silk floss tree

[amazonman]

I just got a pod off of this beautiful tree. How do i germinate these seeds? Do i need to dry them out in the sun? Any advice would help...thanks

[Gonzer]

You should wait till the pods explode open and expose the seed for max viability.

At work there are a dozen old trees really going off. Tourists will ask me what are those things hanging from the trees with all the spikes on the trunk. I tell 'em those are California Spiny Avocado Trees. They ask "Why all the thorns?" I sez, "They're to keep tourists like you from climbing the trees and stealing the fruit!" Some get it and some don't.

[epicure3]

  Gonzer said:

You should wait till the pods explode open and expose the seed for max viability.

At work there are a dozen old trees really going off. Tourists will ask me what are those things hanging from the trees with all the spikes on the trunk. I tell 'em those are California Spiny Avocado Trees. They ask "Why all the thorns?" I sez, "They're to keep tourists like you from climbing the trees and stealing the fruit!" Some get it and some don't.

Is it a Fuerte? Spikes on avocado trees are cool.

[bubba]

Got a large Silk Floss tree close by that is covered with pink flowers nearby. Looking for camera....

[ariscott]

I had 2 before grown from seeds... now I got none. For some reason, the mastotermis really go for these trees

Regards, Ari

[Geoff]

  amazonman said:

I just got a pod off of this beautiful tree. How do i germinate these seeds? Do i need to dry them out in the sun? Any advice would help...thanks

Easy to germinate... rarely even need bottom heat. One of the easiest, in fact, of all the seeds I have germinated... drop in soil. Water. Plant emerges, ususally within a week or so.

[Gbarce]

  bubba said:

Got a large Silk Floss tree close by that is covered with pink flowers nearby. Looking for camera....

Is this tree also known as the Kapok Tree?

We have a Kapok tree ( which I also know is called the silk floss tree) over here but I have never noticed its flowers which I assume are not that conspicuous when they bloom.

[Peter]

Gene, a Kapok tree over here is usually Ceiba pentandra if I'm not mistaken.

[bubba]

Gene, The Silk Floss and the Kapok are two different cowboys!

[Gbarce]

OK that explains it.

I googled "silk floss tree" and "kapok tree" and both searches came up with pictures of a tree that was completely covered with flowers when it bloomed. Gorgeous! I've never seen that tree over here.

I got a variegated kapok tree but i'll just love it for the leaves -- would have been great if it had nice flowers too as an added bonus

[amazonman]

  Geoff said:

  amazonman said:

I just got a pod off of this beautiful tree. How do i germinate these seeds? Do i need to dry them out in the sun? Any advice would help...thanks

Easy to germinate... rarely even need bottom heat. One of the easiest, in fact, of all the seeds I have germinated... drop in soil. Water. Plant emerges, ususally within a week or so.

Thanks every one for their input

[bahia]

You do realize that a Chorisia speciosa isn't likely to be hardy if you actually get to 20F in winter? They can make a good indoors plant if given bright light however. The seedling forms seem to take much longer to bloom here in the SF Bay Area, however, and if you want one that will reliably flower at a smaller size, one of the grafted forms from Monrovia Nursery is a safer best, especially if you don't have reliably hot summers and fall weather to encourage them to bloom. I've got several seed grown C. speciosa that are at least 30 feet tall by across that show no signs of wanting to bloom here in Oakland, and I attribute it to lack of real summer heat and cool summer nights.

[anthrome]

The seeds are used as hook bait for fishing in freshwater rivers.

[bubba]

Gene, Sorry it took so long and this is far from perfect:

Chorisa speciosa/Silk Floss:

Ceiba pentandra/State Champion Kapok behind the Dates:

[DoomsDave]

They're all over out here, and blooming prodigiously. Some get to be mor ethan 100 feet (33 m) tall, and nearly as wide, with bombadiers of seed pots.

The "silk floss" or "kapok" is the fiber in the seed pods, which was used for bomb fuses in World War II.

[bubba]

Dave, Do you have Kapok's on the left coast?

[Gbarce]

Bubba - Thanks for those shots. The silk floss tree sure has impressive flowers to display.

As for the Kapok - the ones that we find here might yet be another species altogether. I don't remember the roots growing as prominently as the one in the photo and the branches are not as heavily laden with leaves.

The ones that we have here have a distinctly horizontal arrangement of branches and the leaves are a bit sparse.

They're not really considered an ornamental over here and I think just grow wild.

I found a variegated one though and plan to use it to creat a canopy for my understory plants and palms. Since the leaves are not so thickly set - I expect it to let a bit of sunlight filter down. I am avoiding deep shade.

The leaves might give a clue if it is the same species as the "Kapok" that is being grown over there in the States.

The fibers from the seed pods are used for pillow fillings over here.

[ariscott]

If the fibers are used for pillow fillings, it would be Ceiba Petandra. Big tree with buttress roots.

Regards, Ari

[bubba]

Gene, That particular Kapok was planted in the 1800's. I bet you and Ari have them growing wild everywhere. I was wondering if Kapok's grew out on the West Coast?