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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Gossypium_hirsutum is a SHRUB growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Many
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Seed - cooked. The seeds contain up to 40% protein, they have a nutty flavour when roasted and can be eaten as a snack[301 ]. They are also boiled and used like rice in casseroles and soups[301 ]. Ground into a powder, they can be added to flour when making bread, cakes etc[301 ]. They can also be made into a spread similar to peanut butter[301 ]. Some forms of this plant produce seeds containing the toxin gossypol, which needs to be removed before the seed is eaten[301 ]. The seeds of glandless cultivars do not contain this toxin[301 ]. An oil obtained from the seed is used for salads, in cooking and to make margarine etc[301 , 418 ]. Carbon Farming - Staple Crop: oil.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The boiled leaves are applied to skin rashes on children[348 ].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Agroforestry Uses: Low-grade seed cake, after the oil has been expressed, is used as manure[418 ].. Other Uses A good quality fibre is obtained from the seed floss[46 ]. Cotton fibres have a wide range of used including making clothes; rubber-tyre fabrics; stuffing material for pillows, cushions etc; surgical dressings; making twine and ropes; carpets etc[46 ]. An oil is obtained from the seed. Low-grades of the oil are used in the manufacture of soap, lubricants, sulphonated oils and protective coatings[418 ]. The seed hulls and the dry stalks are used as fuel[418 ]. Carbon Farming. Industrial Crop: fiber. Other Systems: strip intercrop.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Sea Island cotton can be grown in the dry to moist tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,250 metres. For commercial production it requires a climate that has a long, hot growing season with abundant moisture, followed by a drier period for harvesting the seed floss[200 ]. Low temperature increases the production of vegetative branches and extends the cropping period, while high temperature increases the number of fruiting branches and reduces the cropping period. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 36°c, but can tolerate 15 - 42°c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 750 - 1,200mm, but tolerates 450 - 1,500mm[418 ]. Prefers a very sunny position in a light, fertile soil[200 ]. Plants can tolerate a range of well-drained soils, including moderate levels of salt[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 9.5[418 ]. Requires a position sheltered from strong winds[418 ]. The plant is usually cultivated as an annual, taking 150 - 220 days to mature a crop[418 ]. Seed-cotton yields vary between 0.8 - 3 tonnes/ha, or 0.2 - 1.1 tonnes/ha of fibre[418 ]. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard, coppice. Perennial cotton has longer fibres and is considered superior to annual cottons. Perennial cottons are suited to arid and humid conditions while annual cottons were bred for colder climates and for mechanical harvesting. Perennial cottons are cultivated in the tropics on a smaller scale and include Gossypium arboreum burmanicum, Gossypium arboreum indicum, Gossypium arboreum soudanense, Gossypium barbadense braziliense, Gossypium barbadense darwinii, Gossypium herbaceum acerifolium, Gossypium herbaceum africanum, Gossypium hirsutum marie-galante, Gossypium hirsutum punctatum, Gossypium hirsutum taitense. Currently perennial cottons are harvested by hand. Researching perennial cottons varieties and production methods would help develop them as good carbon farming plants and help to alleviate the terrible problems caused by annual cottons.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed. In zones 8-10 it can be sown directly after the last frost. In zones 5-7, treat like tomatoes. Seed germinates in 7-21 days at 70 F. Plant 18-30 in. apart in rows 5 ft. apart. Plants start flowering in mid-summer.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Upland cotton or Mexican cotton,
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: Mexico (Yucatán (wild populations in the Yucatan peninsula)) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Belize, Guatemala (Petén (wild populations)), Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
None Known
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
L.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.
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Subject : Gossypium_hirsutum
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