Floss Silk Tree

Name: Floss Silk Tree
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Ceiba speciosa

A stunning tropical tree that erupts in spectacular pink-red blooms in fall, with a distinctive thorny green trunk.

Frost-sensitive, hardy to about 25-27°F and best in low desert only; protect young trees from cold, which drops foliage.

AMWUA Notes

Needs moderate, regular water in summer heat, more than desert natives; ensure deep infrequent irrigation.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Deep-soak weekly in summer heat and every 2-3 weeks in the cooler months; needs more water than desert-adapted trees.

✂️Pruning

Prune in late winter while dormant to build a strong scaffold; wear heavy gloves for the large trunk thorns and remove crossing limbs.

🌱Fertilizing

Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring to support growth and fall bloom.

🛡️Pests

Occasional aphids or scale.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Spectacular pink-red flowers erupt in fall; deciduous in winter with heavy flower and seed-pod drop.

🪨Soil

Deep, fertile, well-draining loam or amended native soil; tolerates alkaline pH but prefers richer, moisture-retentive ground than desert natives

💧Drainage

Needs well-drained soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Moderate feeder.

🌰Propagation

Grown from seed; superior flowering forms grafted or grown from cuttings

📐Spacing

20–25 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Develops large surface roots that lift paving; keep 15–20 ft from pools, foundations, and hardscape

•Wide 25 ft canopy; give it 20+ ft from pools and patios because of the trunk thorns and heavy flower, leaf, and kapok-pod litter.
•Develops large surface roots, so keep it 15+ ft from foundations and hardscape.
•Not pool friendly; site as a stand-alone specimen with room to show the thorny green trunk and fall bloom.
•Full sun in a warm, frost-protected location.