Bombax malabaricum seed

LATIN NAME: BOMBAX MALABARICUM

COMMON NAME: Red Silk Cotton Tree

The red silk cotton tree flares the tall, open crown with the bold, five-petalled, crimson flowers that open before the leaves in the early spring, the whole tree turning into the blaze of red against the bare branches. The large fruits follow, and they split open to release the silky, cottony fibres. The trunk and the branches carry the stout, conical spines, and the tree grows into the massive, statuesque tree of the warm lowlands. It likes the sun, and the deep, well-drained soil.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

In the mallow family, the bombax trees have a recognised place in the studies of the tropical flowering trees and the fibre plants. The research covers the flower biology, the way the silky fibres form and the seed biology, while the fibre chemists value the kapok-like cotton. The spring flowers that feed the birds keep the ecologists interested, and the collectors of the striking flowering trees keep the species in their catalogues.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

In the warm garden, the red silk cotton tree turns the spring into the blaze of red. The crimson flowers open before the leaves and draw the sunbirds and the bees, the silky fibres from the pods have stuffed the pillows and the mattresses, and the wood serves the light construction. It thrives in the deep, well-drained, sunny ground. Bold, generous and statuesque.

The red silk cotton seeds germinate in a loose, sandy mix kept warm and moist. The seedlings show themselves within a few weeks, and they grow on fast in the warm, bright spot. Plant them out into the deep, well-drained, sunny ground once they are big enough, and keep them sheltered from the cold. The young trees grow on quickly, and the crimson flowers come within the few years.

To grow the red silk cotton tree from seed, scatter the seeds over the damp surface of the loose, sandy flat, then cover them lightly, keep the flat in the warm, bright spot and water gently. The seedlings break through within a few weeks, and they grow on fast. Stand the young trees in the deep, well-drained ground, and the crimson flowers will flare each early spring.

Bombax Ceiba Tree (Red Silk Cotton)
A unique tree that has a bulbous trunk & can grow over 40′ tall & wide. The flowers are red in color and appear in the late fall after the leaves fall off the tree for the winter. The phenomenon paints the whole landscape in an enchanting red hue. The seed pods are filled with silky white threads “kopak” that give this tree its Silk Cotton name. This substance is used for filling economically priced pillows, quilts, sofas etc. The fruit is cooked and eaten and also pickled. The fruit, the size of a ping-pong ball, on maturity appears during March and April.
Deciduous. Cold hardy to 25 degrees once established.
Bombax, native to India, tropical southern Asia, northern Australia and tropical Africa.