A Ceiba speciosa flower has pink petals with pale yellow bases and red streaks around projecting white filaments

Ceiba speciosa (Silk Floss Tree)

Native from Brazil to Peru and northeastern Argentina, this deciduous tree in the mallow family grows about 35 to 50 feet tall. Its thick green trunk bears stout prickles and often develops a bottle-like shape. In Florida, pink-and-white flowers bloom in fall and winter, often when the tree is nearly leafless. Woody, pear-shaped capsules contain seeds surrounded by silky white fibers once used to stuff pillows; bark strips have been used for rope. Large surface roots can damage nearby pavement. It is naturalized on Madeira, Portugal, and listed as invasive in Türkiye. Photographed in Florida and Lima, Peru.

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A pink Ceiba speciosa flower has curled petals with red streaks at their white bases beside green leaflets

A Ceiba speciosa flower has five broad pink petals with pale streaked bases beside rounded green buds

A pink Ceiba speciosa flower has narrow curling petals surrounding a yellow throat marked with red streaks

A Ceiba speciosa flower has ruffled pink petals around a pale yellow throat with dark red markings

Magenta Ceiba speciosa flowers have narrow curling petals and yellow throats with dark markings

Two pink Ceiba speciosa flowers rise above round green buds against a blue sky

A Ceiba speciosa flower has curled pink petals and a pale streaked throat beside green leaves against blue sky

Bright pink Ceiba speciosa flowers cluster among green leaves with white streaked throats and projecting floral columns

Two Ceiba speciosa flowers have curling rose-pink petals and pale streaked centers against a blue sky

A cluster of pink Ceiba speciosa flowers has curled petals and pale streaked centers among green leaves

A Ceiba speciosa tree has a rounded canopy covered in pale pink flowers among taller green trees

A Ceiba tree has a spreading canopy of pale flowers above dense green foliage against a blue sky

A tall Ceiba speciosa tree bears clusters of pink flowers on spreading branches amid surrounding green foliage

A Ceiba speciosa tree has a broad canopy of pale pink flowers beside palms and other trees

Ceiba speciosa carries masses of pink flowers along spreading tree branches