Tree cotton (Gossypium arboreum)
Care, watering, light and tips for Tree cotton on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Malvaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Tree cotton
Gossypium arboreum, commonly known as Tree Cotton, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to Asia and Africa, producing showy flowers and cotton bolls. Its leaves are lobed, and its flowers, typically yellow or cream, add an ornamental touch before the characteristic cotton bolls form. This plant is ideal for botanical gardens, tropical plant collections, or as a unique specimen in warm, frost-free climates.
Native range
Indian Subcontinent
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal flowering and cotton production, at least 6-8 hours daily. Watering should be regular and abundant during the growing season, but allowing the substrate to dry slightly between waterings; it is sensitive to waterlogging. It prefers well-drained soils, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic to neutral. A common mistake is the lack of pruning, which can lead to a leggy plant with reduced flower and cotton production.
How to save a dying Tree cotton
- Warning signs
- Yellowing or premature leaf drop, aborted flower buds.
- First aid
- Check soil moisture. If dry, water deeply. If waterlogged, aerate roots.
- What kills it
- Under or overwatering, or exposure to intense cold.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if roots aren't rotted or main stem isn't severely damaged.