Ceiba pentandra
 
Common Names Kapok Tree, Silk-Cotton Tree, Ceiba, Samauma, Yax Che (Maya)
 
Zones 10B–11 (outdoors); Zone 9B with protection
 
Ceiba pentandra is a towering tropical tree native to Central and South America, the Caribbean, and West Africa. Revered by the ancient Maya as the “World Tree,” it symbolized the connection between the heavens, earth, and underworld. Known for its massive buttressed trunk, spiny bark, and cotton-filled seed pods, this species is both ecologically vital and culturally iconic. It’s one of the tallest trees in the tropics, with a crown that can span over 200 feet2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Fast-growing; upright with wide-spreading crown
Height: 75–125 ft. in cultivation; up to 230 ft. in native rainforest habitats
Trunk: Buttressed base; smooth to spiny bark; mottled gray and brown
Leaves: Palmate compound; 5–9 leaflets; deciduous in dry season
Inflorescence: Creamy white to pink flowers; bell-shaped; bloom late dry season (Feb–Mar)
Fruit: Woody capsule filled with silky kapok fibers; seeds dispersed by wind and water
Ecology: Nectar attracts bats, moths, and bees; kapok used by bees for propolis; host to diverse epiphytes and fauna
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun
Watering: Moderate; prefers moist soil during growth phase, less during dormancy
Soil: Deep, well-drained loam; neutral to slightly acidic pH
Temperature: 55–95°F (13–35°C); frost-sensitive
Humidity: High humidity preferred; thrives in tropical climates
Propagation: Seeds (scarify for better germination); cuttings possible
Tolerance: High wind tolerance; not salt-tolerant
 
Landscape Use Best suited for large estates, botanical gardens, and tropical restoration projects. Not recommended for small urban lots due to size. Pairs dramatically with Ficus citrifolia, Tabebuia rosea, and Swietenia mahagoni for layered canopy compositions.