What is kapok?

Kapok is a deciduous tree of Kapok family, also known as red cotton and Panzhihua, which is a traditional ornamental tree species. Kapok is big and beautiful, with majestic tree potential, and can be planted as garden ornamental trees and street trees. In addition to viewing, the wool in kapok fruit can also be used as a filling material for pillows, mattresses and lifebuoys. Wood cottonseed oil can be used as lubricating oil and soap. Kapok wood is light and soft, and can be used as steamer, box board, matchstick, paper making, etc.

Growth habit of kapok

Kapok is born in the dry-hot valley and savanna below 1400~ 1700 meters above sea level, and can also grow in the rain forest in the valley season.

It is best to choose neutral or slightly alkaline alluvial soil with sufficient sunshine, good drainage and rich soil layers, which is easy to cause poor growth in arid and barren places with heavy soil.

In dry and hot areas, kapok has flowers and leaves first, but in monsoon forest or rainforest climate, there are flowers and leaves at the same time.

The fruit of kapok ripens from the end of May to the end of June. When it matures, the exocarp changes from cyan to light brown, the fruit splits, and cotton wool and seeds are scattered.