Massive buttressed tropical tree producing pods filled with fluffy water-resistant fibre around the seeds. The fibre — kapok — was the standard life-jacket and mattress filling before synthetics.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 10–12 | −1.1 °C to 15.6 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H1c | 5 °C to 10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 5–7 | 5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Fibre is the seed floss inside the pods — extremely light, water-resistant and naturally buoyant
- Eight times lighter than cotton — historically the standard filling for life jackets, marine flotation, and mattresses
- Sacred or ceremonial tree in many West African and Mesoamerican cultures
- Massive tree — eventually 60 m with characteristic plank-like buttress roots, demands space and a frost-free climate
- 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 Kapok against your zones