Tree Cotton, Creole Cotton, Sea Island Cotton

Gossypiumbarbadense

Family
Malvaceae (mal-VAY-see-ee)
Genus
Gossypium (gos-SIP-ee-um)
Species
barbadense (bar-buh-DEN-see)
Synonym
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Foliage
Evergreen
Succulent
Height
8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
10-12 ft. (3-3.6 m)
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Spacing
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Bloom Color
Pale Yellow
Bloom Time
Blooms all year
Blooms repeatedly
Other Details
Category
Shrubs
Trees
Water Requirements
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Blue-Green
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Flowers are good for cutting
Flowers are good for drying and preserving
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size
Other details
May be a noxious weed or invasive
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
Direct sow as soon as the ground can be worked
From seed; germinate in vitro in gelatin, agar or other medium
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Rincon, Georgia

Kihei, Hawaii

Vieques, Puerto Rico

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

0
positive
2
neutrals
0
negative
Sort By:
Sort By:
S
Rincon, GA | September 2009 | neutral

I don't want to make this "negative" because the cotton plant I bought is growing so amazingly tall- almost 6 feet tall- beautiful big gr...Read More

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | October 2004 | neutral

globoid shrub to tree that is used in medicine a lot for its production of Gossypol, which has antifungal, antitumor and other medicinal uses.

Featured
Walnut Sphinx Moth
(Amorpha juglandis)
Speckled Warbler
(Chthonicola sagittatus)
Featured
Walnut Sphinx Moth
(Amorpha juglandis)
Speckled Warbler
(Chthonicola sagittatus)