Wouldn't the flowers be too large for bonsai - fruit and flowers won't 'reduce' as leaves do, so only trees with small fruit are used, and only rarely would a somewhat large flower be tried, and then only a couple of blooms allowed to open (as with hibiscus) so as not to be completely out of proportion to the rest of the tree, even a relatively large one.

Good point Lucy! Maybe just dwarfing the tree is a better idea than trying to make a full fledged bonsai out of it.

-Ray-

I say go for it! Its worth a try...But its best to make it a large one for reasons already said,but if u want the tree to be small and completely clustered with colors this is the tree for it! =D just keep your distance as the tree will smell! Come on as a bonsaist as long as you shape it as art and grow it respectively at once he is on the right path! Good Luck! P.S. I am going to do the same thing when i move to florida =D

I found this site. I thought it was interesting.

http://plants.guidestobuy.com/silk-cotton-tree-10-seeds-ceiba-tropical-or-bonsai-free-shipping-on-additional-hirts-seeds

Hope it can help.

Gardener Guy

does anyone know when this tree matures? I wanted to know so when i bonsai it i know when to expect the first blooms.

I do own a kapok bonsai wich was grown from seed and is about 3 years old I've had no problemes with the tree has is quite a hardy plant my first kapok tree looked horrible becuase it was thin and long but my second one i kept in a shallow pot for about 2 years and kept feeding it water so it started to swell very fast and is now in a deeper pot so that it can gain length becuase the leaves are big so i'm trying to keep it in proportion

I know your post was from 9 years ago but by chance you see this: did give it a go?