Summary: Bombax ceiba (red silk cottontree) is a plant in the Malvaceae family. Verdica documents 0 traditional uses, 0 phytochemical compounds, and 0 herb-drug interactions for this species.
Kapok Tree, Bombax ceiba, is a fast-growing, tropical, large tree up to 20-25 m tall and spreads 8-15 m wide. It has an erect stem that develops buttresses when mature and an umbrella shaped crown. The leaves are bright green, leathery, and rounded. The flowers are cup shaped and red. The fruits are brown oval capsule. Plant parts like flowers, young root, gum, leaves, shoots, and bark have medicinal properties and are used as treatment for various conditions and diseases like cholera, fractures, toothache, coughs, urinary problems, influenza, and snake bites among others. The flowers are edible when cooked and are highly valued as a curry vegetable. Young leaves are edible as well and cooked and eaten as vegetable. Moreover, ripe seeds and young roots are roasted. Edible oil can be obtained from the seed, fibre from the inner bark, and gum containing tannins from the bark and sapling root. Seed oil is also used in soap making. Other common names include red silk cotton tree and silk cotton tree. Boichu, Bombax, Booruga, Boorunga, Bouro, Bula, Buroh, Edelsong, Illavam, Kaanti-senbal, Kantakadruma, Kantesavar, Katesawar, Kempu-booruga, Leptan, Malabulak, Mu mian, Mulilavu, Mullelava, Mullila-pula, Mullilavau, Mullilavu, Mullubooruga, Neibie, Nglo, Nuoliu, Pagun, Pan-ya, Panchu, Phakong, Pula-maram, Pulai, Rakta-pushpa, Red Silk Cotton tree, Roktosimul, Salmali, Samar, Sanar, Saur, Savar, Savri, Sawar, S?mul, Senur, Shembal, Shemolo, Shevari, Shevri, Shimla, Shimul cotton, Simal, Simalo, Simalu, Simla, Simlo, Simolu, Singi.
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Watering | Moderate — tolerates some drought once established |
| Soil | Rich, well-drained |
| Hardiness Zone | USDA 4-11 |
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