Pseudobombax ellipticum

Shaving brush tree

When it blooms, the shaving brush tree becomes one of the garden's most striking features. Its spectacular flowers, composed of long, silky pink or white stamens, resemble a barber's shaving brush, giving it its common name.

Visible au jardin

Our Species

Shaving brush tree

Nom scientifique :

Pseudobombax ellipticum

Nom vernaculaire :

Shaving brush tree

Carte d’identité
de l’espèce

Native to Mexico and Central America, the Powder Puff Tree is prized for its extraordinary bloom. Its flowers often appear when the tree has shed some of its foliage, offering a particularly striking display in the landscape. It is now grown in many tropical gardens for its unique ornamental qualities.

Famille :

Malvaceae

Origine géographique :

Mexico and Central America

Taille :

Tree from 6 to 15m

Floraison :

January to April

Habitat :

Tropical dry forests and tropical gardens

Classe :

Magnoliopsida

Ordre :

Malvaux

A spectacular pompom-shaped bloom

The Shaving Brush Tree is best known for its stunning flowers, which are made up of hundreds of long stamens grouped into pompoms. Depending on the individual tree, these can be bright pink or white. Their delicate appearance contrasts with the tree's massive trunk and robust branches.

Flowering often occurs when the foliage becomes less prominent. This strategy makes the flowers particularly visible to pollinators. They attract various insects, as well as certain nocturnal visitors, in their natural habitat.

Beyond its flowering, the species also features a swollen trunk capable of storing water, a valuable adaptation in regions prone to periods of drought. Like the desert rose, it thus possesses characteristics that allow it to withstand the sometimes harsh climatic conditions of dry tropical zones.

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