Silk Floss Tree

Chorisia speciosa Silk Floss Tree is an awkwardly branched large tree that is 40-60 ft tall by 20-40 ft wide with pale green leaves divided into 5-7 pointed leaflets. A young tree grows fast straight and narrow and then slowly develops a broadly spreading umbrella canopy with age. The green trunk is covered with blunt wart-like spines and turns gray as the tree gets older. Silk floss trees typically drop their leaves just before they put on their autumn display of flowers. The petals vary from pale pink to rose to purple or burgundy at the tips and grade into ivory with brownish spots or blotches at the base. The flowers are followed by pear shaped capsules filled with many seeds embedded in silky white floss.Chorisia speciosa is native to Brazil and Argentina but it is cultivated in many tropical areas. It grows well in parts of southern California. Chorisia speciosa requires well-drained soil. It blooms best when it is watered regularly most of the time but kept a bit on the dry side in late summer.