Gossypium arboreum, commonly called tree cotton, is a species of cotton native to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and other tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World. There is evidence of its cultivation as long ago as the Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley for the production of cotton textiles. The shrub was included in Linnaeus's Species Plantarum published in 1753. The holotype was also supplied by him, which is now in the Linnean Herbarium in the Swedish Museum of Natural History.
Tree cotton has good disease resistance and is generally not prone to disease. In terms of care, this plant is relatively low-maintenance. When grown outdoors it requires minimal watering, and larger plants typically do not need pruning. Smaller plants, however, should be pruned after they have finished blooming. Tree cotton is suitable for anyone with an outdoor space, such as a garden or deck, and does not require extensive care experience.
How to keep Gossypium Arboreum.
Light
Tree cotton is native to open habitats, such as sunlit meadows and forest margins, which offer abundant light. It performs best in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, showing good adaptability to varying light conditions.
Temperature
Tree cotton comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Therefore, it is well-suited to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature changes and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It usually cannot withstand cold and needs higher temperatures to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.
Fertilizer
Fertilizing is essential for the care of Tree cotton. Feeding it regularly during the growing season preserves the energy needed for its showy leaves and promotes overall growth. If fertilization is neglected, leaves can become unhealthy, the plant's ornamental appeal can decline, and growth may be stunted or weak and prone to breaking.
Botanical profile.
- Plant Type
- Shrub
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Gossypium
- Family
- Malvaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 8-11
- Mature Height
- 0.91 m to 2.13 m
- Mature Spread
- 49 cm to 91 cm
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Size
- 5.08 cm to 6.35 cm
- Bloom Time
- Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Harvest Time
- Late summer, Fall, Early winter
- Native Area
- Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh
Other names.
