Ceiba pentandra Family: Malvaceae - Lee County Extension ...

Stephen H. Brown, Horticulture Agent 

Lee County Extension, Fort Myers, Florida 

Danielle Ammeson, Intern, Florida Gulf Coast Univ. 

(239) 533-7513 brownsh@ufl.edu 

http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/GardenHome.shtml 

Ceiba pentandra Family: Malvaceae 

Danielle Ammeson 

Fort Myers, Florida Mid July 

Common Names: Kapok, cotton-tree, Ceiba, 

silk cotton-tree, pochote, fromager, bongo 

Synonyms (Discarded names): Bombax pentandrum, 

Bombax guineense,Cebia caribaea, C. 

casearia, Eriodendron anfractuosum, E. ocidentale, 

E. orientale, Xylon pentandrum 

Origin: Caribbean, Central America, Northern 

and Western South America, Brazil, Western 

Tropical Africa 

U.S.D.A. Zone: 10A-11 (30°F minimum) 

Growth Rate: Fast 

Plant Type: Large Tree 

Leaf Persistence: Briefly deciduous in winter 

Flowering Months: Mostly February to early 

March 

Light Requirements: High 

Salt Tolerance: Medium 

Drought Tolerance: High 

Wind Tolerance: Moderate 

Soil Requirements: Wide 

Nutritional Requirements: Medium 

Major Potential Pests: None in Florida 

Typical Dimensions: 120’x80’ 

Propagation: Seed, cuttings 

Human Hazards: Spiny 

Uses: Shade, specimen 

The buttressed trunk and surface roots of C. pentandra Black River, Jamaica

Geographic Distribution and Ecology 

Ceiba pentandra grows in the dry, humid, and very humid tropics. It has worldwide tropical distribution 

growing scattered with no large concentrations of trees. Kapok is considered native to the Bahamas and 

the Caribbean, Northern Mexico to Northern South America. It is also native in many countries of tropical 

West Africa from Cape Verde, eastward to Chad and south to Angola. One explanation for its transcontinental 

nativity is that sea currents might have carried the trees’ floating seed capsules to new locations. 

There is strong ecological, botanical and cytological evidence that the trees’ original distribution 

may have been in western and central Africa. The controversy is not yet settled. 

Kapok is now seen throughout the tropics mainly because it was extensively cultivated for the fibrous 

kapok found in mature fruit capsules. The tree has become naturalized on many Pacific Islands. It is 

occasionally seen in South Florida where in some places its growth is restricted by low winter temperatures. 

It occurs in rainforests and in gallery forests in drier areas. It is a pioneer in secondary forest and 

riverine forest, and is rarely found in primary forest. In Costa Rica it is found in areas with 0 to 6 months 

of no precipitation. The tree requires abundant rainfall during the vegetative period and a drier period for 

flowering and fruiting. It is not tolerant of strong wind and raging fire. 

North America 

Mexico 

23˚N 

Africa 

Central 

America 

5˚N 

Atlantic 

Ocean 

South America 

23˚N 

Atlantic 

Ocean 

23˚S 

Considered native range of C. pentandra (Chinea-Rivera, 1990) 

Natural and introduced distribution in Africa 

(Brink, et al) 

Growth Habit 

The Trunk: The species is a gigantic, fast-growing tree and is one of the largest trees in the tropics. Under 

ideal conditions, the tree reaches a height of 16 to 19 feet within two years. It is common for this tree 

to grow anywhere between 100 to 200 feet tall. The trunks of young trees can take on various appearances. 

Trunk and branches of some juvenile trees are covered with heavy conical spines on brown or 

silvery bark. Others are mostly spineless with silver or green bark. Yet others have smooth green bark. 

Older trees of whatever types have gray trunks and those with spines lose most or all of them with age. 

Buttressing of Trunk: Older kapok trees can be identified by their very large buttress or flanged trunks. 

The buttress grows out from the base of the tree and can be many feet above ground. It gives greater stability 

to the tree’s massive trunk which can reach up to 9 feet in diameter.

Young tree with silvery gray bark 

and conical spines 

Boca Raton, Florida 

Negril, Jamaica 

Young tree with a mostly spineless 

trunk 

West Palm Beach, Florida 

Young tree with a smooth green 

bark 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Danielle Ammeson 

Fort Myers, Florida 

Black River, Jamaica Savanna-La-Mar, Jamaica 

New Providence Island, Bahamas

Tree Forms: Trees seem to develop two noticeable forms. Firstly, trees grown in competition with other 

trees become the emergent vegetation and develop a long, cylindrical bole above the buttress. The moreor-less 

horizontal branches come out high on the trunk and provide a noticeably flat base for the crown 

of the tree. Secondly, trees grown without significant vegetative competition are less inclined to have a 

trunk free of mid-level branches. The width of these trees are usually noticeably greater than the height. 

Young trees grown in the open have recognizable tiered branches. 

Tiered branches of a young tree 

West Palm Beach, Florida Late January 

An emergent tree left standing after clearing the forest 

Costa Rica Late October 

Savanna-La-Mar Mid September

Black River, Jamaica Late January 

Near Savanna-La-Mar, Jamaica Late March

Leaves 

Kapok is deciduous during part of the dry season. Trees can be leafless at different times in the same 

general location. Leaves are alternate, palmate with 5 to 9 entire leaflets. They are 3 to 8 inches long on 

slender green petioles 3 to 9 inches long. Leaflets are glabrous, oblong in shape, 3 to 8 inches long, and 

droop from short stalks. In South Florida, the leaves are shed in the months of November to January. 

New leaf growth is rapid and begins occurring while the tree is still in flower. This takes place for about 

two weeks sometime in February or March. The dry season in Florida persists into June well after the 

trees have refoliated. 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Late December Black River, Jamaica Late January 

Flowering and Flowers 

Flowering of Ceiba pentendra occurs at different times throughout the world but within the dry season 

of each location. It flowers when it is deciduous or when it is almost without foliage. In Mexico flowering 

occurs from January to March. In Trinidad and Tobago kapok flowers from February to May. In the 

Dominican Republic it’s from December to February. In Java, it’s during the month of May. In South 

Florida, kapok blooms for 2 to 3 weeks from January to March. However, bloom time is unpredictable 

from year to year and for some trees, annual flowering does not occur. 

Kapok is considered to be a hermaphroditic species (flowers contain both reproductive parts). Flower are 

rather small and numerous. They are found near the branch end in dense pendent axillary clusters. The 

five petal flowers take on various hues of white and pink and have brown hairs on the surface. The 5 

stamens are joined at the base and project beyond the recurved petals. The flowers give off a noticeable 

odor and attract pollinating insects. Bats, birds and bees are major pollinators. Pollination is inhibited 

when nighttime temperatures fall below 60°F. Consequently, many trees in Florida do not set fruit. 

Shortly after flowering, the tree refoliates. 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida Mid February Unpollinated flowers Fort Myers, Florida Mid February

Tree coming into bloom 

Antigua, Eastern Caribbean Late January 

Tree in full bloom 

Near Burnt Savanna, Jamaica Late January 

Tree with fading flowers and emerging pods Westmoreland, Jamaica Late January

Fruit 

Woody seed capsules mature in spring and summer. Capsules are usually 4 to 8 inches long, and 2 

inches in diameter. They are oblong or elliptic tapering off at the ends. In spring and summer, the mature 

capsules split into five segments releasing the characteristic “silk cotton” also known as kapok. Many 

black seeds found within the capsules are widely and freely dispersed by the wind. The kapok allows the 

seeds to parachute or float for long periods of time before settling and perhaps germinating. 

Both Pictures: New Providence Island, Bahamas, Late March 

Uses 

Ceiba pentandra is planted as a shade or specimen tree. The flowers are numerous but the bloom is not 

prominent enough for it to be considered a worthwhile ornamental flowering tree. The tree is sometimes 

left by farmers after clearing the forest for agricultural land, to serve as a shade tree for cultivation of 

crops such as coffee and tea. 

It is reported that leaves, buds, and fruit are edible when cooked. In Java the young pod is eaten and in 

West Africa the seeds are eaten roasted or in soups. Leaves are readily consumed by cattle, goats and 

sheep. 

Kapok was an important commercial fiber before the Second World War, with Indonesia being the most 

important producer. The use of kapok fiber declined in the late 20th century after the introduction of 

synthetic substitutes. A growing tree produces about 600 to 900 seed capsules or 6 to 9 pounds of clean 

floss annually known as kapok. This fiber is fine, lightweight, elastic and does not matt under pressure. 

The fiber is brittle and inflammable and not suitable for spinning into threads. Kapok was used for stuffing 

pillow, lifebuoys, life-jackets, mattresses, saddles, sleeping bags and protective clothing. 

The wood is now seldom used on the islands of the Caribbean. It is very light brown but nearly always 

turned to blue gray by sap-staining fungi. Exceedingly light weight (specific gravity 0.23), it is very soft, 

weak, coarse-textured and straight-grained. The heartwood is not clearly demarcated from the sapwood. 

Despite the lack of durability, the wood was the common material used for long dugout canoes by Aboriginal 

Indians. It is suitable for making tubs, basins, stools and for carvings of all types. 

Similar Appearing Species 

Two other trees seen more frequently in South Florida are easily confused for C. pentandra. The silkcotton 

tree (Ceiba speciosa) and the red silk-cotton tree (Bombax ceiba) are described by clicking on the 

blue words.

References 

Barwick, Margaret. 2004. Tropical & Subtropical Trees An Encyclopedia. Timber Press, Portland, 

Oregon 

Brink, M. and Achigan, Dako. Editors. Ceiba pendandra. Porta 16. Fibres/Plantes a Fibres. PROTA 

Network Office Europe. Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands 

Broschat, Timothy, K and Meerow, Alan W. 2002. Betrock’s Reference Guide to Florida Landscape 

Plants. Betrock’s Information Systems, Inc. Davie, Florida 

Chinea-Rivera, Jesus Daniel. 1990. Ceiba pentandra: Ceiba, kapok. SO-IDT-SM-29. US DA, Forest 

Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station, 4. New Orleans, LA 

Gill, Tom. 1931. Tropical Forests of the Caribbean. The Read-Taylor Company, Baltimore, Maryland 

Kirk, Kent. 2009. Tropical Trees of Florida and the Virgin Islands. A guide to identification, characteristics 

and uses. Pineapple Press, Sarasota, Florida 

Little, Elbert and Wadsworth, Frank. 1964. Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Agriculture 

handbook No. 249. USDA, Washington D.C. 

Llamas, Kristen.2003. Tropical Flowering Plants: A guide to identification and cultivation. Timber 

Press, Portland, Oregon 

Quesnel, V.C. and Farnell, T.F. 2000. Native Trees of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago Field 

Naturalists’ Club, Port of Spain, Trinidad 

USDA, ARS. Ceiba pentandra. Germplasms Resources Information Network. 

Useful Links 

Tropical Flowering Trees Fact Sheets 

Small Tree Fact Sheets 

Jacaranda Fact Sheet 

Native Plants Fact Sheets 

Shavingbrush Tree Power Point 

Intense Blooming Days Power Point 

The Effects of Temperatures on the Flowering of 5 Ornamental Trees 

Red Silk-Cotton YouTube 

This fact sheet was reviewed by Peggy Cruz, Lee County Extension; Celia Hill, Lee County Extension; 

Karen Headlee, Lee County Extension; Tom Hecker, EcoBotanics Designs, Inc., Naples, Florida 

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information 

and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, religion, age, disability, 

sex, sexual orientation, martial status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension 

Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M.. 8/2012.

Ceiba pentandra Family: Malvaceae - Lee County Extension ...

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