Tropical cotton species producing the longest, finest and silkiest cotton fibres in cultivation. The source of premium extra-long staple cottons including Sea Island, Pima, and Egyptian.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9–11 | −6.7 °C to 10 °C | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| RHS hardiness rating | H2 | 1 °C to 5 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 5–7 | 5 °C and warmer | Zones where it can be grown as an annual — not a frost-tolerance rating |
As a tender annual, Sea island cotton doesn't overwinter — the zone range shows where the growing season supports it. See the RHS rating for its actual cold tolerance.
Growing notes
- Extra-long staple fibre (35–40 mm) produces the smoothest, strongest, finest cotton cloth — the premium of the cotton trade
- Demands a longer, warmer and more humid growing season than upland cotton — historically grown on the Sea Islands of Georgia and the Carolinas, now mainly in Egypt, Pima country in Arizona, and parts of Peru
- Heavier water demand than upland cotton
- Yields significantly lower than upland cotton, but premium price compensates
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Sea island cotton against your zones