Kapok.

De un vistazo

Nivel de cuidados

Media

Tipo de planta

Deciduous tropical tree

Luz

Full sun

Luz en interior

Sol directo

Riego

Cada 3 a 7 días

Tamaño adulto

200 feet

Ritmo de crecimiento

Rápido

Rusticidad

USDA 10 a 12

Floración

Late winter to early spring

Cuidados

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.

Riego

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

Abonado

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

Poda

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

Trasplante

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

Suelo

Well draining, fertile soil

pH del suelo

6.0 to 7.5

Temperatura

15 a 35°C

Humedad

60 a 90%

Tolerancia a la sequía

Moderada

Longevidad

Perennial, can live for several centuries.

Fragancia

Intensa

Resistencia a ciervos y conejos

Moderada

Seguridad

Personas

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

Niños

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

Alérgenos por contacto

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

Alérgenos en el aire

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

Comestibilidad

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

Cómo identificarla

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

Altura

20 a 70m

Anchura

10 a 30m

Hojas

green, deciduous

Flores

white, pink, 2 a 4cm

Frutos

brown, Late spring

Problemas frecuentes

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

Cómo cultivarla

Propagación

seed, cuttings

Cuándo plantar

Spring, Summer

Cuidados en invierno

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

En maceta

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.

Buenas compañeras

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

Especies parecidas

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

Ciencia

Familia

Malvaceae

Género

Ceiba

Orden

Malvales

Clase

Magnoliopsida

Distribución natural

Tropical regions of the Americas and West Africa.

Conservación

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.

Valor para la fauna

nectar source, nesting site

Polinizadores

bats, abejas, polillas

Usos

ornamental, fiber production, shade tree

Taxonomía cotejada con GBIF.

Lo que más preguntan

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.

De dónde viene el nombre

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

Bueno saberlo

• 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.