Kapok Tree Silk Cotton Tree Ceiba pentandra 20 Seeds

Ceiba pentandra, commonly known as the kapok tree, is a massive, fast-growing tropical tree native to Central and South America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, widely recognized for its towering height and striking appearance. Reaching heights of up to 200 feet, with a broad, umbrella-shaped canopy and a straight, cylindrical trunk that can span over 10 feet in diameter, the tree often features large buttress roots at its base, providing structural support and stability. The bark is typically gray and may be covered in conical spines. Ceiba pentandra is deciduous, shedding its leaves during the dry season, and produces large, showy flowers that are cream-colored and pollinated by bats. These flowers develop into elongated pods filled with seeds embedded in a silky, cotton-like fiber known as kapok, which is buoyant and water-resistant, traditionally used for stuffing mattresses, pillows, and life vests. In many cultures, the kapok tree holds deep spiritual and cultural significance, often regarded as sacred or symbolic of life and fertility. Ecologically, it serves as a habitat and food source for a variety of wildlife, including birds, monkeys, and insects. Due to its rapid growth and ability to thrive in tropical climates, Ceiba pentandra is also planted for reforestation and shade.

Growing Instructions

The seeds have a hard seed coat that has to be treated, or scarified, in order for water to enter the seeds so that they can sprout.

1. Scarify the seeds by nicking or sanding the seed coat.
2. Soak the seed in water for 24 hours.
3. Prepare a mixture of half potting soil and half sand, perlite or vermiculite.
4. Water the mixture so that it is moist but not wet.
5. Sow the seeds ¼ inch deep in the soil.
6. Water the seeds.
7. Place the pots in an area with warm temperatures in full sun or part shade.
8. When the seedlings are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.