Ceiba speciosa or the Floss Silk Tree originates from South America and is not widely cultivated, though its spectacular canopy of blossom in autumn is a sight to behold.
Ceiba speciosa is a plant for sub-tropical and warmer temperate areas and is deciduous with a very dense and spreading canopy.
It grows very quickly and can reach a height of around 5 metres in only a few years.
The flowers of this tall tree are very variable, ranging from creamy white through to pink and dark pink.
They appear at the end of branches, making them very conspicuous to pollinators and humans alike.
The resulting seed pods are quite large and open up to reveal fluffy floss which helps it to disperse its seeds over a wide area.
This is a tree that needs a rather large garden as you'll need to step well away from it, 20-30m at least, to enjoy its full shape and colour when in bloom.