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Summary
Found in Central America, Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia) is a tropical deciduous tree with a thick, short bole and spreading crown. It reaches up to 25 m tall. Young fruit and ripe seeds are edible when cooked - ripe fruits are stewed and seeds are roasted. Seedpods are sources of floss that has various uses like as stuffing material in pillows, toys, and cushions, as tinder for starting fires, as material in weaving covers, and as an insulating material in refrigerators.
Found In: Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America. Other names: Ceibillo, Pochotte ceiba, Pochote apochote, Ceiba, Puchote.
Physical Characteristics
Ceiba aesculifolia is a deciduous Tree growing to 25 m (82ft) by 20 m (65ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Bombax aesculifolium Kunth Ceiba acuminata (S.Watson) Rose Eriodendron acuminatum S.Watson Eriodendr
Habitats
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Edible portion: Fruit, Seeds. Young leaves - cooked[ 317 ] Ripe fruits are eaten stewed[ 317 ]. The young tender fruits are sometimes cooked and eaten[ 331 ]. Seeds - roasted[ 317 , 331 ].
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.
Emetic Purgative Skin
A plant recommended for digestive disorders. In the State of Mexico it is used as a purgative and emetic and Quintana Roo only as an emetic. In Yucatan fermented bark is used for sunstroke.
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
Fibre Insulation Lighting Stuffing Tinder Weaving
Other uses rating: High (4/5). Other Uses: The seedpods contain an abundant floss that has a wide range of uses. Traditionally, it is used as a stuffing material in pillows, cushions, toys etc; as a tinder for starting fires; and can also be used to make wicks for candles[ 46 , 331 ]. The Maya used to weave covers from it[ 317 , 331 ]. In more recent times, the floss has been found to be very effective as an insulating material in refrigerators[ 317 ].
Special Uses
Carbon Farming
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Industrial Crop: Fiber Management: Standard Regional Crop
It is a tropical plant. Succeeds in poor, dry soils[ 331 ].
Carbon Farming
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Industrial Crop: Fiber
Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
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Management: Standard
Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
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Regional Crop
These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.
Shop Now
Propagation
Seed
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Pochote (Ceiba aesculifolia). Other names: Ceibillo, Pochotte ceiba, Pochote apochote, Ceiba, Puchote.
Native Plant Search
Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search
Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Found In: Central America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America.
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
(Kunth) Britten & Baker
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.
Readers comment
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Subject : Ceiba aesculifolia
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