An AT:LA reader sent us this garden question about a strangely shaped tree:
Dear AT:LA,
My neighbor has this unusual tree overhanging onto my side yard, its trunk covered in sharps spikes, and its leafless branches precariously hanging large football shaped "fruits". When they fall, crack and open, they reveal a cotton-like filling and brown seeds. Do you have any idea what type of tree this is?
It's funny you ask us about that tree, as we used to work in an office complex surrounded by these strange trees, and we'd often have to watch out heads at the lunch tables for falling fruit (mostly because wild parakeets flying around Van Nuys seemed to like the seeds).
The tree is known as a Kapok, Ceiba or Silk Cotton Tree (Ceiba pentandra), a tropical tree native to South America, Africa, and the East Indies. The silky-cotton filling, also known as Java cotton, is actually a quite useful material. Traditionally, it's been used for pillow stuffing, sleeping bag stuffing, life jacket stuffing, furniture upholstery, and insulation because of its moisture-resistant and quick-drying properties. The seed oil can even be used to make soap.
We'd be tempted to harvest those fruits and make our own homemade natural fiber pillow. But if you want to go the easy route, and are looking for a eco-friendly pillow, you can order a Kapok cotton pillow online for about $32. In the meantime, watch your head.
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I think it's called a "Floss Silk Tree".
view supermodule's profile
i took a landscape design class, and the instructor said he planted Silk Floss in the tiger habitat of a zoo because the big cats kept shredding the other trees, and it worked.
view southof290's profile
Floss Silk trees are gorgeous when in bloom with huge deep pink blossoms that look like orchids and fall from trees in large numbers, making quite a noise when they hit your car. I've only seen them in pink but I hear there are white and yellow blossoms too. Have also seen more and more of them in California--typically you find them in South and Central America.
view timmy jr.'s profile
Floss Silk Trees, Kapoks, Ceibas are all in the same family, and all are found across Southern California. The great thing about these trees besides their unique appearance is they're drought tolerant, so they're a xenoscape choice.
view gregory's profile
I thought it was the Corrissa tree
view SydneyBristow's profile
I call it a dinosaur tree. It looks prehistoric!
view mar5195's profile
this tree is actually a succulent!!
view owleyes's profile
It is a chocolate chip tree. See how they ripen?
view Usbek de Perse's profile
We (South Africans) are able to take advantage of these as natural security perimeters... Nothing like a growing fence.
view Timr's profile
I love these trees! They are all over the UCLA campus and every year when the fruit ripen the trees are filled with wild parrots, who crack the fruit open, which spreads the cotton fluff all over...so cool!
I know they aren't native plants, but I don't care...along with Jacaranda, these trees make LA more gorgeous!
view midmogirl's profile
My mom calls these the Hershey's Kiss tree, but the real name is one of the above!
I agree about the Jacaranda trees--I know people who have them complain about the flowers when they fall, but they are stunning when in bloom and have beautiful leaves afterwards!
view kaanswfm's profile