This is such a cool tree to me. I am pushing the zones trying to grow this, but it is about 8 or 9 tall and doing well. I really love the thorns on the trunk.
silk floss tree
The tree
I like it!
does this seed cause I want one....
ely
hey.. that looks great... I'll keep my fingers crossed for a mild winter
Rylaff,
I've seen those thorny trees a lot lately. They are planting them in front of the barrier walls by I-95 down here. I wondered what they were. A very sweet name for a wicked looking tree. (Not a good choice for climbing lol)
Oh they absolutely seed. And grow very easily from seed. I am hoping I have it in enough of a microclimate that it will survive here. I started this one from seed last year. It grew rapidly. I had it in a pot and brought it in over the winter. It dropped its leaves, but came right back this spring.
Those grow here and are beautiful when they flower. I have my eye on one at a nursery, just have to figure out where to put it first.
Hmmmm.....I have tried for the past three months to get seed to sprout, and all they seem to do is rot.
I've tried the paper towel method, soaking, light soil mix, and still nothing. Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Maybe I should just plant a few seeds directly out and see if that works.
Rikerbear, I was reading your last post and lost track of where I was and who was talking (it coulda been me).
What you said sounds like me about all seeds I put in flats, papertowels water etc. And the ones I just sowed freely are growing, (albeit, they are not this tree)
:^)))
Molly
:-) I have the most trouble with tree seeds it seems. I have been trying to grow a purple orchid tree since January, and now this silk tree. No luck, unless bad luck counts.........
Gonna toss a couple seeds in the ground this afternoon and see what if anything I get.
Rikerbear, I just ran across this thread: http://davesgarden.com/t/439178/
Maybe you two should talk. It couldn't hurt.
This message was edited Jun 22, 2004 3:33 PM
WOW! Thanks for the link to that thread Molly....at least I now know they 'do' grow from seed.....just not for me. LOL
(sorry for the slight hi-jack rylaff)
Common name: kapok tree, silk cotton tree, ceiba de lana, bois coton, kapokier, pacae, sumauma, kankantri.
Family: bombacaceae (balsa tree family).
A very large majestic tree, with a conspicuously buttressed trunk. The kapok tree grows more than 200' tall: with widely spreading branches, it is the tallest tree of the Amazon rainforest. The trunk can become more than 9' in diameter.
This deciduous tree is host to numerous aerial plants, insects, birds, frogs and other animals.
The silk cotton tree is deciduous and all the leaves are shed during the dry season.
The silk cotton tree is cultivated for kapok.
This floss is light and fluffy, resistant to water and decay. It is used as a stuffing in life jackets.
This tree is held sacred by the ancient Mayas.
In Suriname the Maroons and Amerindians have that same tradition.
While still on the tree, the fruits burst open exposing the cotton like substance, which is the kapok of commerce.
The small, brown seed, inbetted within the fluffy kapok, is blown away in the wind for many miles.
Oil from the seeds is used in edible products and the ground seeds in animal feed.
In Suriname's traditional medicine, the seeds, leaves, bark and resin, from the kapok tree are used for: dysentery, fevers, venereal diseases, asthma, menstruation bleedings and kidney diseases.
Hardiness: USDA zone 9B - 11.
Propagation: seeds.
Culture: full sun / party shade, organic rich soil. Plant in a frost free locations; can be used in landscaping as a specimen tree.
Rikerbear, if you liked that one, try this one here: http://davesgarden.com/t/439193/
:^)))
Molly
I got my seeds for this one from
nsexotics.com
I had almost 100% germination rate. The seed need to be soaked overnight.
Thanks! I posted regarding one......
Here is some really great info on this wonderful tree
http://www.floridata.com/ref/C/chor_spe.cfm