Spectacular Silk Floss Tree!
March 22, 2014 18 Comments
Thorny Trunk of Tree
Tree in Early Spring
Close-up of Branches and Pods
Pod Bursting Open to Reveal Silk
Cottony Silk Ball on Tree
The Silk Floss Tree is spectacular year round! It is native to Brazil and Argentina, and can be quickly recognized by its spiny trunk. In Fall the tree drops its leaves and becomes covered with clouds of pink flowers. The lily-like flowers produce rich nectar and attract abundant butterflies. By early spring (before leafing out) it is covered with avocado-like seed pods filled with cottony silk. This exotic tree puts on quite a show! It grows well in mild climates like Florida and California. I want to plant one soon!
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naturetime 
interesting!
It is a very unusual tree, and a real show-stopper!
Yes, please plant a silk tree soon, so we can follow it’s progress through your blog. I’d love that!
Will do! Can’t wait to get one started – know just where to plant it.
Upon first glance the pods look like chrysalis but must be much larger. I can only imagine the sight and aroma! Where in Orlando is it? We will be passing through tomorrow… Thanks, Pam!
Sorry Pam,
I just noticed… Disney Epcot… don’t think we’ll have time to stop by for the day. 😦 Can’t wait to see more photos from your installation!
Richard is happy I want to plant this tree!
This particular one was at Epcot, but they are all over central and south Florida. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was one at Leu Gardens.
So THAT’s the name of the tree. I see one all the time in Balboa Park and never knew the correct name. Great images.
We’ll have to look for it when we visit the park and see the zoo. It’s a really neat tree.
Just what Kongo said, except I’m in northern California (there’s one in the Arizona Garden at Stanford University) and also wondered about the name of this “mystery” tree. Thanks for teaching me something new today; I’m so glad I found your blog!
Nice to meet you! I didn’t realize there was one in the Arizona Garden, but when I visited there, I didn’t realize what a silk floss tree was. Have you been to the UC Santa Cruz Botanical Garden? I’ll start posting in the next couple of months about the flowers there. They are incredible! Right now we are getting ready for a desert trip to Palm Springs.
The UC Santa Cruz Botanical Gardens, along with Joshua Tree, are on my list of places to visit before we move back to the Midwest. So many places to see, but so little time! Have a wonderful time in Palm Springs.
See all that you can – it is worth the effort! 🙂
Wonderful.
Very cool Pam! How did I not know about this tree? And I lived in Florida! Seeing your photos I think we just saw this tree in Mexico. Could that be possible? ~Terri
You probably did see it in Mexico! I always wondered what the tree was with the spiky trunk – now I know its story. I’ve started spotting them several places around town. Can’t wait to see them bloom in Fall.
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