spineless Ceiba speciosa specimen

[Eric in Orlando]

This Ceiba speciosa was grown from a batch of seeds collected off a local tree by the Central FL Flowering Tree Society. One tree developed into a spineless specimen. We planted it out 6 years ago and it still retains a smooth trunk. It is flowering for the first time but just a few. They are typical Floss Silk flowers but the trunk is cool.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

These are great flowering trees and should be used more. The thing that holds them back are the spines. Most people, especially people with children, would not select a young Ceiba because they are afraid of the spines.

Maybe this will be a good spineless variety with seedlings being spineless also. If not, it could be grafted onto Pachira or maybe even Bombax rootstock.

[BeerPlant]

Very cool! With no spikes almost reminds me of the Hong Kong Orchid......... I still like this one much better.

[_Keith]

I bought one last year in a 1 gl pot where all 4 cutting had taken. I was able to separate one out, and cut another off, leaving the two largest trunks. They were about 1/2 in diameter, one smooth and one with thorns. I planted it last year naming the yen and yang. They made it through last year's winter just fine with only tip damage.

After 1 year of growth they are well over 12 feet tall with 6 inch diameter trunks. But unfortunately, the smooth one has developed a some spines. I am wondering if it will eventually be fully thorned out like the other.

[MattyB]

Steve in SD/Urban Rainforest has a large spineless trunk version. It's beautiful green color is amazing to look at. The seedlings from this tree come out with spines. Don't know why.

[_Keith]

Here are my Silk Floss trees, named Yin and Yang. Yin was totally smooth, but had begun to grow a handful of thorns.

They were about 3 ft tall (1/2 inch diameter) in a 1 gallon pot and planted spring of last year. Didn't grow a whole that year, and made it through last winter with minimal tip damage. This year the grew to over 12 feet this year (6 inch diameter), like they were on steroids.