Pink in the Trees: Must Be Fall in Southwest Florida!
October 30, 2018
Every year around this time the floss silk trees in the Ft. Myers and Naples area start blooming, showing off a brilliant display of color from blush to bubblegum to hot pink. And after the trees lose their fall color, they will produce “snow”, which is actually white silky fibers from avocado-like seedpods that drift down and can turn the ground white from a distance.
The pink silk floss, Ceiba speciosa, is native to South America but can handle some brief freezing temperatures in Florida. It is drought tolerant, making it an excellent choice for our dry winters in Southwest Florida. It needs some space, however, as it can reach to heights and a spread of 50 ft. Young trees tend to have green bark and sharp spines but the trees may darken to gray and the spines tend to fall off with age.
If your landscape could use a shade of pink, come by our Garden Shoppe and buy a floss silk tree of your own. Curious about other flowering trees in your neighborhood? Check out this book on trees of South Florida to help you identify what’s growing in your neighborhood.
Light pink flowers of the loss silk tree at Alcazar Ave and McGregor Blvd in Ft. Myers.
Hot pink flowers of the floss silk tree at Cortez Blvd and Cleveland Ave in Ft. Myers.
