Ceiba pentandra kapok tree seeds

Common name: White Silk Cotton Tree, True Kapok Tree, Kapok, silk cottontree, white silk cottontree, capoc, fromager, kapokier, samauma, ceiba, pochote

Ceiba pentandra, or the Kapok tree, is a medium-sized deciduous tree and attain a height of 60-70mt., growing to a height of 100-150 feet in height, with horizontal whorled branches and broad buttress-based trunk. The tree is a India, Indoneasia, and the USA and is now also found in the rainforests of Africa and East Asia. The branches are prickly when young and bear digitately compound leaves, with 5-9 leaflets, measuring 7-8 cm in length. Ceiba pentandra flowers are generally clustered on new and small branches, with 5 petals, measuring about 2.5 cm in length. The pale pink or creamy white flowers give off a stinking odour, to attract bats, that assist in pollination. The pods are oblong capsules, measuring 6 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter. Ceiba pentandra seeds are black and obovoid, being enveloped in copious, shining, silky hairs arising from the inner walls of the capsules. The hairs allow seeds to be dispersed far away with the wind. The wood of Ceiba pentandra is very useful for construction, due to its great length, straight grain and beautiful color. The hairs around the pods are used for numerous uses including heat insulation, and as a substitute for down feathers of birds. The decoction of bark is diuretic, aphrodisiac and to treat headache. It has some potential as a biofuel, also used in paint preparation.

Hardiness zones 9-11 (-5°C/25°F,4°C/40°F) in winter. The Kapok Tree can tolerate colder climates, as long as its environment is humid. Ideally, it is cultivated in a hot and humid environment. The Kapok Tree’s soil must be rich and well-drained. It needs to be watered abundantly, because its soil must always be humid. Reduce watering during winter. It can tolerate full sun.

GROWING GUIDE

Soak the seeds in tepid water for 24 hours or until seeds start to swell.

Sow at any time of the year. Sow 10mm deep in trays or pots of moist, good quality seed compost mixed 50:50 with vermiculite or perlite. Place in a propagator or seal inside a polythene bag. Maintain an optimum temperature of 25C.

5,000 - 6,000 seeds/kg