Silk floss trees: the thorned trunks and pink autumn flowers

A mature silk floss tree can look improbable on a Mediterranean street. Its trunk broadens like a bottle and remains green on younger wood, with stout conical prickles across the surface. Above it, an open crown carries large pink flowers when many other trees are moving into autumn.

The accepted name is Ceiba speciosa, although older signs and books may use Chorisia speciosa. It is native to subtropical South America and is planted as an ornamental in frost-free and mild parts of Spain.

How to recognise the tree

Leaves are palmately compound, with several narrow leaflets radiating from one point. Flowers have five spreading petals, commonly pink with a paler centre. Large green capsules later dry and open around masses of silky fibre which once gave the tree its English name.

The prickles are a reason to admire street specimens without leaning on them. Fallen flowers and floss can also make paved areas slippery or untidy, so the tree needs space and a realistic maintenance plan.

Before planting one

This is not a patio tree for a narrow bed. It can develop a broad crown, a substantial trunk and strong surface roots. Choose a warm, sunny site well clear of walls, drains, paths and overhead services. Young trees are more vulnerable to frost and water stress, while established specimens tolerate dry periods better.

Free-draining soil is preferable to a constantly wet root zone. Water deeply during establishment and avoid frequent shallow irrigation which keeps roots near the surface. Pruning should preserve sound branch structure rather than repeatedly cutting the crown back to fit an undersized space.

Seeing silk floss trees in Spain

Public parks and broad avenues offer the best chance to read the whole tree, including its relationship with buildings and paving. Flowering time varies with weather and locality. Capsules, leaf fall and flowers may appear in overlapping stages, so one visit should not be treated as a fixed calendar.

Sources and review

This guide was reviewed in August 2026 using the Kew Plants of the World Online record for Ceiba speciosa and the València municipal garden catalogue.