Chorisia speciosa

The flowers are pink with touches of white, with the spectrum ranging from light pink to intense shades of purple or red. The trunk is unique with an inflated sculptural appearance that is sometimes bottle-like, as is typical of plants in the Bombax genus. The trunk is green when the tree is young, and it grays as it matures. Chorisia speciosa usually flowers from the middle of summer to after fall. Propagation from seeds has created tremendous diversity in the species in the colors of flowers and when they grow, up to gaps of several months from tree to tree. The diversity is also reflected in how thorny the tree is. There is a large variety of options – from a smooth, completely thornless trunk to trunks with lots of large thorns. Apart from the genetic factor, heat and dryness also encourage an increase in the number of thorns and affect their size.

Chorisia speciosa is resistant to heatwaves and survive cold spells that are not too long or very cold. It is well-suited for all types of soil, including chalky and saline. Therefore, it can be grown in most areas of the country, except for high mountains. The tree’s roots grow downward, so there is no concern with planting it nearby buildings and sidewalks. This is why it is handsome as a street tree, including boulevards in urban spaces, and is also suitable for relatively dense gardens.

In the same family: Chorisia insignis »