Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Succulent
Origin
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, China, Melanesia, Australia
Southern Africa
Types
Ceiba casearia, Bombax pentandrum
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Number of Varieties
1030
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,830.00 cm250.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,830.00 cm121.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Orange Red
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Moderate
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune when young, Remove dead branches
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Allergy
Headache, Pulmonary oedema, Respiratory distress, wheezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing, Skin irritation
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, soil stabilisation
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aphrodisiac, Diuretic
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Oil is used as an industrial solvent, Used as Ornamental plant
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
Ceiba pentandra
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
Cotton Tree, Red Kapok, Red-silk-cotton Tree
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
सफ़ेद सेमल / शाल्मली
Elephant Bush
In German
Kapok baum
Elephant Bush
In French
Fromager
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Ceiba
elefante Bush
In Greek
Ceiba
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
Mafumeira
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Puchowiec pięciopręcikowy
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Ceiba
bush elephant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Caryophyllales
Family
Bombacaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Ceiba
Portulacaria
Clade
Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Number of Species
101
1
27800
👆🏻