Floss Silk Tree / Silk Floss Tree

Scientific Name: Ceiba speciosa

Light Requirement: Full sun. It performs best in bright, open locations with plenty of space for the canopy and trunk to develop.

Height: Typically 30–50 ft. tall in Florida landscapes, with a canopy spread of about 25–40 ft. when mature.

Growth Habit: Fast-growing deciduous to semi-deciduous ornamental tree with a broad canopy, green trunk, and large cone-shaped thorns. It is known for its dramatic trunk and showy pink flowers.

Hardiness: USDA Zones 9b–11; moderately cold hardy once established but young trees may be damaged by frost or hard freezes; moderately drought tolerant once established; low to moderate salt tolerance and best protected from heavy direct salt spray.

Maintenance Info: Moderate maintenance. Give this tree plenty of room away from walkways, driveways, patios, and play areas because the trunk and branches can have sharp thorns. It may drop leaves, flowers, seed pods, and silky seed fiber seasonally, so some cleanup should be expected. Prune young trees to develop good structure and avoid planting too close to buildings or tight spaces.

Best Uses in the Landscape: Excellent as a large specimen tree, front-yard focal point, tropical accent tree, commercial landscape feature, flowering shade tree, or dramatic seasonal color tree. It works best in open lawns or large landscape beds where its trunk, canopy, and flowers can be appreciated from a distance.

Plant Info: Floss Silk Tree is native to South America, especially Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia. It is famous for its large pink hibiscus-like flowers and its unusual green, thorny trunk. After flowering, it can produce seed pods filled with silky white fibers, which is where the name “floss silk” comes from. This is a bold, eye-catching tree that can add a tropical and exotic look to Florida landscapes, but it should be placed carefully because of its thorns and mature size.