Bombax ceiba finally flowering

[Eric in Orlando]

One of our Bombax ceiba, Red Silk Cotton Trees, are flowering for the first time. This tree was planted in May 2006. It was a small 2-3ft. seedling (about a year old). It has since grown to over 30ft tall, they can reach 60-70ft. The flower early spring with large red flowers. I thought it might flower last year but it didn't but finally this year. The trunks have conical spines similar to Floss Silk Trees, Ceiba speciosa (Chorisia). So far just a few flowers. I can't tell yet if more buds are coming. Since it is its first year flowering there might not be many. In a few years this will be a spectacular sight. The palm to the right is an old Livistona chinensis.

[Eric in Orlando]

[Kumar]

The bombax can get immense with age. I doubt there are too many dicots that grow faster than this. Lovely photos.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I have one in my back yard that is one or two years behind yours. It is, supposedly, the orange flowered variety, "Orange Glow" (I think). I am eagerly awaiting a nice canopy tree.

[Kumar]

The bombax can get immense with age. I doubt there are too many dicots that grow faster than this. Lovely photos.

Here is the link to a large one whose photos I had put up

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=28200

[virtualpalm]

Very nice, y'all. I just received this photo of a tree that is for sale here in Florida. If we can find a job to put it on, we may actually end up buying it. When I first saw it with no leaves or flowers, I would have sworn it was a kapok (Ceiba pentandra).

Also check out the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) behind it. It is the largest I have seen anywhere in Florida... and it is for sale as well.

Jody

[Eric in Orlando]

That is a great specimen !

The opposite happened at Disney's Animal Kingdom. They planted a huge, what they thought at the time was a Bombax ceiba. Big mature specimen dug and brought up from SoFL. It established well and finally bloomed a few years ago. Small whitish flowers, turns out it is a Ceiba pentandra. But they do have some Bombax ceiba there. When they flower they are dozens of some small dark colored birds feeding on the nectar.

[Eric in Orlando]

The bombax can get immense with age. I doubt there are too many dicots that grow faster than this. Lovely photos.

Here is the link to a large one whose photos I had put up

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=28200

Ours is in a spot where it can get immense !! I actually planted 2 others out last summer.

[BigFrond]

Very Nice! I saw a decent size tree at the SD Zoo right next to the giant tortoise area. The flowers were very nice. However, the color was deep orange and not red like the one in your picture.

[Eric in Orlando]

So far there is about a dozen floweres opened. Can't tell if more buds are coming or if that is it. It may be all since this is it's rookie year.

[fastfeat]

Very nice, y'all. I just received this photo of a tree that is for sale here in Florida. If we can find a job to put it on, we may actually end up buying it. When I first saw it with no leaves or flowers, I would have sworn it was a kapok (Ceiba pentandra).

Also check out the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) behind it. It is the largest I have seen anywhere in Florida... and it is for sale as well.

Jody

Good luck on moving one that big! I've heard they're fairly easy to move as large trees, but I seriously doubt one this size could be moved successfully. If someone else wanted to spend their money to move it to my property, then I'd consider it.

[Moose]

Very nice, y'all. I just received this photo of a tree that is for sale here in Florida. If we can find a job to put it on, we may actually end up buying it. When I first saw it with no leaves or flowers, I would have sworn it was a kapok (Ceiba pentandra).

Also check out the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) behind it. It is the largest I have seen anywhere in Florida... and it is for sale as well.

Jody

Good luck on moving one that big! I've heard they're fairly easy to move as large trees, but I seriously doubt one this size could be moved successfully. If someone else wanted to spend their money to move it to my property, then I'd consider it.

I have no doubts that the Lane people could move this tree successfully.

[Alan_Tampa]

Mine is flowering also. Started as as volunteer I picked up at Jungle Gardens in Sarasota in about 1996 or 1997 (I think fast feet said these don't set seen in Florida, but I definatly got these from beneath the parent tree).

Any copmments on that? Anyway, tree is about 50 to 60 ft tall now. Shows a good deal of damaged branches from jan 2010. But keeps on trucking.

Some photos when I'm off during daylight hours.

Alan

[virtualpalm]

Very nice, y'all. I just received this photo of a tree that is for sale here in Florida. If we can find a job to put it on, we may actually end up buying it. When I first saw it with no leaves or flowers, I would have sworn it was a kapok (Ceiba pentandra).

Also check out the dragon tree (Dracaena draco) behind it. It is the largest I have seen anywhere in Florida... and it is for sale as well.

Jody

Good luck on moving one that big! I've heard they're fairly easy to move as large trees, but I seriously doubt one this size could be moved successfully. If someone else wanted to spend their money to move it to my property, then I'd consider it.

I have no doubts that the Lane people could move this tree successfully.

Yep. Size is never an issue with the right equipment and ingenuity!

Jody

[Moose]

Jody - it would take some major equipment and ingenuity to move this "mama jama". A few root prunings over time, perhaps two cranes and a very large capacity flatbed trailer? This tree is growing two blocks south and two blocks west from the Moose Land. The property is a double lot, this tree is on the 50' X 100' side lot. The tree is located towards the front of the lot, dominating the front half. There is a very large oak tree 10 ft adjacent to this tree. The oak competes with this tree for nutients and sunlight. Don't think these trees compete for water since their roots probably found the water table a long time ago. This area is around 17 ft above sea level which is considered high in So. Florida. I am speculating it would be much larger if not for the oak.

Not sure if this is a Bombax Ceiba. I don't see any flowers. This may be some other species since it appears that flowering may have happened in late summer to early fall. The trunk is in excess of 6 ft in diameter. Calling all flowering tree aficionados, can we get an ID?

Silk floss found littering the ground beneath the tree.

[Moose]

Photos in previous post and this one were taken yesterday morning.

Here are some shots of the fruit (seed pods)? I don't know when they will be ready to harvest. I may be able to get permission from the owner if Eric in Orlando or Jerry@TreeZoo was interested in seed?

This photo is for scale. The front of my truck is 48 ft from the base of the tree. It is immense for a tree in So. Florida and continues to get larger …

Jody - I know we have been talking about it for some time. You really need to make a visit to the Moose Land.

[Kumar]

Photos in previous post and this one were taken yesterday morning.

Here are some shots of the fruit (seed pods)? I don't know when they will be ready to harvest. I may be able to get permission from the owner if Eric in Orlando or Jerry@TreeZoo was interested in seed?

This photo is for scale. The front of my truck is 48 ft from the base of the tree. It is immense for a tree in So. Florida and continues to get larger …

Jody - I know we have been talking about it for some time. You really need to make a visit to the Moose Land.

If you want a few seeds from here, let me know - I'll keep a lookout on one of my walks. It's surprising how such a large tree produces tiny seeds.

[fastfeat]

Photos in previous post and this one were taken yesterday morning.

Here are some shots of the fruit (seed pods)? I don't know when they will be ready to harvest. I may be able to get permission from the owner if Eric in Orlando or Jerry@TreeZoo was interested in seed?

This photo is for scale. The front of my truck is 48 ft from the base of the tree. It is immense for a tree in So. Florida and continues to get larger …

Jody - I know we have been talking about it for some time. You really need to make a visit to the Moose Land.

This is Ceiba (Chorisia) speciosa. Bombax ceiba doesn't set seed (or VERY rarely at best) in the US.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I agree. Ceiba speciosa or maybe insignis.

[virtualpalm]

Very nice tree, Moose. Being so close to the street, it would actually be pretty easy to move. Let me know if the owner ever wants to sell it!

I do, indeed, need to make a visit to Mooseland.

Jody

[Moose]

Thanks Jody

[Alan_Tampa]

Here is my Bombax ceiba

with some birds of prey hanging out:

The split trunk abouit 20 feet up or so is courtesy of Hurricane (tropical storm by the time it got here) Frances.

Alan

[Alan_Tampa]

Detail of armament.

[Central Floridave]

I took this photo Sunday at Legoland (cypress gardens). I didn't know what it was but do now!