Floss-Silk Tree Chorisia speciosa 20 Seeds USA Company

Chorisia speciosa, commonly known as the silk floss tree, is a striking and distinctive tree native to South America. Here's a detailed description:

Appearance:

The tree typically grows to a height of 50 to 60 feet (15 to 18 meters), although it can sometimes reach up to 80 feet (24 meters).

It has a relatively short, stout trunk with a swollen, bottle-shaped appearance, often covered in large conical spines.

The trunk is typically greenish-gray in color and becomes more swollen as the tree matures.

Chorisia speciosa is deciduous, shedding its leaves in the cooler months before producing new foliage in the spring.

The leaves are palmate, meaning they radiate from a central point like the fingers of a hand, and are composed of multiple leaflets. Each leaflet is elliptical and glossy green in color.

Flowers:

One of the most striking features of Chorisia speciosa is its large, showy flowers, which bloom from late summer to early winter.

The flowers are typically pink or white in color, and each bloom measures around 3 to 5 inches (7.5 to 12.5 centimeters) in diameter.

They have five petals with ruffled edges and a cluster of prominent stamens in the center.

The flowers are pollinated by bees and hummingbirds, attracted by their vibrant colors and sweet fragrance.

Fruit:

After flowering, Chorisia speciosa produces large, woody seed pods known as follicles.

These pods are typically green when young, turning brown and woody as they mature.

Each pod contains numerous seeds embedded in fluffy white or yellowish fibers.

The fibers, resembling cotton or kapok, are lightweight and water-resistant, providing buoyancy and insulation for the seeds.

Habitat and Cultivation:

Chorisia speciosa is native to subtropical and tropical regions of South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.

It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, tolerating a wide range of soil types.

The tree is drought-tolerant once established but benefits from regular watering during dry spells, especially when young.

It is commonly cultivated as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens, and urban landscapes in frost-free regions around the world.

Growing Instructions for the floss-silk tree.

1. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours.
2. The seeds like moist, well-drained soil. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite. Put the soil in a pot. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
3. Put the seeds on the soil.
4. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
5. Water the seeds.
6. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade. The seeds take 2-6 weeks to germinate.
7. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.