Botanical Name: Chorisia speciosa
Common Name: Floss Silk Tree
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape an erect, mostly single-trunk tree, with primary branches and trunk studded with large spines; trunk/branches are green-gray; plant becomes massive, developing large rounded to oval canopy
Height 20-40' (60')
Spread 2/3 to equal
Growth Rate moderate-slow
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full or partial sun (no flowering develops in shade)
Soil well-draining, moist soils preferable; tolerates most
Hardiness some frost (zones 15-24); flowers damaged below freezing
 
Morphology:
Leaves palmately compound, alternate; has 5-7 (9) elliptic-obovate leaflets; each leaflet is 2-4" long with serrate margins
Flowers pink-to-rose colored, very large, showy, somewhat resembling a hibiscus in having a large pistil; wavy petals
Fruit Capsule to 8" long; silky seed floss used in pillows
 
Propagation:
seed (collect afterfruit opens)
 
Usage:
a very distinctive large accent tree, used for its unusual form and showy flowers; suitable fo tropical or subtropical landscapes; is very messy and shallow-rooted.
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular is preferred; reduce watering during late summer-early fall for more flowers; tolerates some drought after established
Fertilizing balanced, in spring; check for chlorosis
Pruning very little; branches tend to die back if pruned
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: South America
Family: Bombacaceae

Notes:
 
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