Kapok.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Mittel

Pflanzenart

Deciduous tropical tree

Licht

Full sun

Licht im Innenraum

Direkte Sonne

Gießen

Alle 3 bis 7 Tage

Endgröße

200 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 10 bis 12

Blütezeit

Late winter to early spring

Pflege

Ensure this tree has plenty of space to reach its full potential in full sun. Watch for yellowing leaves, which may indicate poor drainage or nutrient issues. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged to support its rapid growth.

Gießen

Water deeply whenever the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.

Düngen

Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season to support its vigorous development.

Schneiden

Remove dead or crossing branches once a year to maintain a healthy structure.

Umtopfen

Only repot young specimens when they become rootbound, as this tree prefers to stay in the ground.

Boden

Well draining, fertile soil

Boden-pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatur

15 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

60 bis 90%

Trockenheitstoleranz

Mittel

Lebensdauer

Perennial, can live for several centuries.

Duft

Stark

Wildverbiss-Resistenz

Mittel

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is not considered toxic, but the fine hairs from the seed pods can cause significant respiratory irritation.

Kinder

The trunk spines are sharp and pose a significant injury risk to children climbing or playing near the tree.

Kontaktallergene

The sharp spines found on the trunks of younger trees can cause skin abrasions.

Allergene in der Luft

The kapok fiber released from mature pods is a potent airborne irritant.

Essbarkeit

The seeds are not considered edible for humans and contain cyclopropenoid fatty acids.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Massive buttress roots at base
• Spiny trunk on younger trees
• Palmately compound leaves
• Large, fluffy seed pods
• Tall, straight, grey trunk

Höhe

20 bis 70m

Breite

10 bis 30m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

white, pink, 2 bis 4cm

Früchte

brown, Late spring

Häufige Probleme

• Leaf spot — Fungal infections can cause spotting on leaves during periods of high humidity.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

seed, cuttings

Pflanzzeit

Spring, Summer

Überwinterung

Keep in a frost free environment with high light levels. Reduce watering significantly if temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius.

Im Kübel

Not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size.

Plant shade tolerant tropical ferns at the base to utilize the moisture trapped by the buttress roots.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Tillandsia — These epiphytes naturally colonize the large branches of the tree.
• Orchidaceae — Orchids thrive in the dappled light provided by the high canopy.

Ähnliche Arten

• Baobab — Both are massive tropical trees with significant water storage capabilities.

Botanisches

Familie

Malvaceae

Gattung

Ceiba

Ordnung

Malvales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Tropical regions of the Americas and West Africa.

Artenschutz

This species is widely cultivated and not currently threatened in its native range.

It acts as a giant emergent tree in rainforests, providing a massive canopy for diverse epiphytes and animals.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source, nesting site

Bestäuber

bats, Bienen, Nachtfalter

Verwendung

ornamental, fiber production, shade tree

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Can I grow this in a pot?

Only as a very young specimen, as it quickly outgrows any container.

Does it need full sun?

Yes, it requires bright, direct sunlight to thrive.

Woher der Name kommt

Ceiba is derived from the Taino word for the tree, while pentandra refers to the five stamens of the flower.

Gut zu wissen

• The tree is sacred in Mayan mythology.
• It can grow up to 3 meters in a single year when young.
• The buttress roots can extend several meters from the trunk base.
• It is often called the Kapok tree.