SafePlants

Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa)

The Silk Floss Tree, with its striking appearance and unique features, is a captivating addition to any landscape. This tree is known for its showy flowers and distinctive trunk.

Considerations for Pets

• Thorns: The trunk of the Silk Floss Tree is covered in sharp spikes, which may pose a risk of injury if pets come into contact with them.
• Seed Pods: The tree produces pear-shaped capsules filled with seeds embedded in a silky white floss. While the floss itself is not explicitly mentioned as toxic, ingestion of large quantities could potentially cause digestive upset.

Considerations for Children

• Thorns: Like with pets, the sharp spikes on the trunk can be a hazard for children.
• Seed Pods: The seed pods and their contents could be attractive to children, but the small seeds present a potential choking hazard.

Common Names

• Silk Floss Tree
• Kapok
• Floss Silk Tree
• Ceiba del Brasil
• Drunken Tree (referring to Ceiba insignis)
• Crocodile Tree
• Palo Borracho (Ceiba chodatii)

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Ceiba speciosa (formerly Chorisia speciosa)
• Family: Bombaceae (mentioned in connection with the species), Malvaceae (mentioned in connection with Chorisia (Ceiba) Insignis)
• Synonyms: Chorisia speciosa, Chorisia insignis (for White Floss Silk Tree), Ceiba insignis (for White Floss Silk Tree)
• Related Species: Ceiba chodatii

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to the subtropical forests of western South America, ranging from Columbia to northern Argentina.
• Also found in South Florida and other warm, humid environments.
• Chorisia insignis is native to Argentina, Peru, and southern Brazil.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Deciduous tree with a rounded shape.
• Can reach up to 50 feet in height with an equal or greater spread.
• Distinguished by a green trunk covered in sharp spikes.
• Produces large, showy, five-petaled flowers that are typically pink and white (Ceiba speciosa) or white (Ceiba insignis).
• Flowers measure up to 12 cm long.
• Flowers in the fall when little else is in bloom.
• Fruits are pear-shaped capsules filled with many seeds embedded in silky white floss. Pods may be about 8 inches long.
• Remains leafless until March after flowering.

Quirky Facts

• The common name "Silk Floss Tree" comes from the white, fluffy, silk-like material surrounding the seeds.
• The tree is sometimes called "palo borracho" or "drunken stick" due to its unique trunk shape.
• The silky seed floss was once used for unspecified purposes.