Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, China, Melanesia, Australia
North America
Types
Ceiba casearia, Bombax pentandrum
Water elm
Habitat
Tropical regions
Floodplains, Hillside, stream banks, Swamps, Upland
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
3-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Red, Orange Red
Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Yellow
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Oblique base
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
Early Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Cold climate, Drought, Pollution, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
In Summer
Moderate
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune when young, Remove dead branches
Remove dead branches, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Fertilize every year, fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot
Bark beetles, Beetles, Borers, Mites, Moth, Red blotch, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
-
Allergy
Headache, Pulmonary oedema, Respiratory distress, wheezing
allergic reaction, Asthma
Aesthetic Uses
-
Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing, Skin irritation
-
Environmental Uses
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, soil stabilisation
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Food for birds, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Aphrodisiac, Diuretic
Antispasmodic, Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Bark, Stem, Tree trunks, Wood
Other Uses
Oil is used as an industrial solvent, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as firewood, Used for woodware, Used in biomass, Used in construction, Used in Furniture, Used in paper industry, Used in pulpwood and lumber production, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building, Wood is used fore making tools, Wood is used in construction, Wood log is used in making fences
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
Ceiba pentandra
ULMUS americana
Common Name
Cotton Tree, Red Kapok, Red-silk-cotton Tree
American Elm
In Hindi
सफ़ेद सेमल / शाल्मली
अमेरिकी एल्म
In German
Kapok baum
amerikanische Ulme
In French
Fromager
orme d'Amérique
In Spanish
Ceiba
olmo americano
In Greek
Ceiba
American Elm
In Portuguese
Mafumeira
olmo americano
In Polish
Puchowiec pięciopręcikowy
Amerykański wiązu
In Latin
Ceiba
Latin ulmo
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Bombacaceae
Ulmaceae
Clade
Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Kapok and Elm
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Kapok and Elm. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Kapok and Elm as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Kapok is Aphrodisiac and Diuretic whereas of Elm is Antispasmodic and Astringent. Kapok has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing and Skin irritation while Elm has beauty benefits as follows: Improve skin tone, Making cosmetics, Moisturizing and Skin irritation.
Compare Facts of Kapok vs Elm
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Kapok vs Elm and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Kapok are Headache, Pulmonary oedema, Respiratory distress and wheezing whereas of Elm have allergic reaction and Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Kapok has showy fruits and Elm has no showy fruits. Also Kapok is not flowering and Elm is not flowering . You can compare Kapok and Elm facts and facts of other plants too.