Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Silk floss tree.
Ceiba speciosa
Pronounced SAY-buh spee-see-OH-suh
Also known as Silk Floss Tree, floss-silktree, silk-floss tree
The silk floss tree is a stunning tropical specimen known for its dramatic, thorny trunk and vibrant pink flowers. It makes a bold statement in large landscapes where it has room to spread its canopy. You will love watching it bloom in the cooler months when other plants start to fade.
At a glance
- Care level
- Moderate
- Plant type
- Deciduous tree
- Light
- Full sun
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 30 to 60 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Give this tree plenty of sun and well draining soil to keep it happy. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate overwatering or poor drainage. It is quite drought tolerant once established but appreciates regular moisture while young.
- Watering
- Water deeply when the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
- Pruning
- Prune only to remove dead or crossing branches during the dormant winter season.
- Repotting
- Repot young trees every few years until they reach a size suitable for permanent ground planting.
- Soil
- Well draining sandy or loamy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 7.5
Safety
- Pets
- This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
How to identify it
- Large, sharp thorns on trunk
- Palmate leaves with five leaflets
- Showy pink flowers with white centers
- Large, pear shaped seed pods
- Fluffy white fibers inside pods
Science
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Genus
- Ceiba
- Order
- Malvales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Is your silk floss tree looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.