Q: What is this tree? It is spectacular, blooming now at the southwest corner of Fort Lowell Road and Fontana Avenue. It’s growing right up against a building and loses its leaves in the winter. We call it the jewel of the neighborhood.
A: The tree is commonly called the silk floss tree (Ceiba speciosa). It is native to South America. There is a different one (Ceiba aesculifolia) in the Campus Arboretum next to the Mathematics Building at the University of Arizona. They are deciduous as you noticed and are famous for their spiny bark and beautiful flowers. They also produce a lot of nectar and are visited by a variety of pollinators including bats, hummingbirds and insects.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Email questions to tucsongardensage@gmail.com
