Ceiba
Ceiba pentandra
Native Region
Central America, South America, Caribbean, and West Africa
Max Height
60-70 meters (200-230 feet)
Family
Malvaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-1000m
Regions
- Guanacaste
- Puntarenas
- Limón
- Alajuela
- Heredia
- San José
Season
Flowering
Jan-Mar
Fruiting
Mar-May
Ceiba
Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra), also known as the Kapok Tree, is one of the most culturally significant trees in Mesoamerica. The ancient Maya revered it as the sacred World Tree (Ya'axché) — the axis connecting Xibalba (the underworld), the earthly realm, and the thirteen heavens above.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Ceiba pentandra
- Family
- Malvaceae (Mallow)
- Max Height
- 60-70 m (200-230 ft)
- Trunk Diameter
- Up to 3+ m
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Sacred Status
- Maya World Tree
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
4215
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist's community science database. Browse all 4,200+ observations →↗
Taxonomy & Classification
Geographic Distribution
Geographic Distribution
Where to Find Ceiba in Costa Rica
Primary Habitats:
- Atlantic Lowlands — Limón Province, Caribbean slope
- Osa Peninsula — Old-growth forest specimens
- Northern Zone — San Carlos, Los Chiles
- Central Pacific — Lower elevations
- Guanacaste — Near water sources in dry forest
Elevation: Sea level to ~1,000 m (prefers lowlands)
Habitat & Ecology
Ecological Role
The Ceiba is an emergent giant that plays critical roles:
- Emergent layer — Towers above forest canopy
- Keystone pollinator resource — Massive flowering events
- Wildlife habitat — Cavity nesting, epiphyte support
- Seed dispersal hub — Kapok fibers carry seeds on wind
- Forest structure — Defines mature forest character
Wildlife Associations
Animals dependent on Ceiba:
- Nectar bats — Primary pollinators of night flowers
- Howler monkeys — Utilize crown habitat
- Scarlet macaws — Nest in trunk cavities
- Epiphyte communities — Orchids, bromeliads
- Flying insects — Kapok fibers for nesting
Unlike most trees, Ceiba flowers open at night and are pollinated primarily by nectar-feeding bats. The large, white to pinkish flowers produce copious nectar and have a musky odor attractive to bats. A single large Ceiba in flower can support entire bat populations!
Botanical Description
The Ceiba's most dramatic feature is its enormous plank buttresses — wing-like extensions at the trunk base that can extend 10 meters out and rise several meters up the trunk. These provide structural support for the massive tree and create distinctive habitat niches.
Wood Properties
Appearance
Unlike most trees featured here, Ceiba wood is not commercially valuable for construction or furniture. It's extremely soft, lightweight, and not durable. However, its very softness made it ideal for traditional dugout canoes — easy to carve when fresh.
Physical Properties
Applications
Before synthetic materials, kapok was essential for life preservers and flotation devices — its natural water resistance and incredible buoyancy saved countless lives. Kapok pillows are still prized for their natural, hypoallergenic properties.
Cultural & Spiritual Significance
To the ancient Maya, the Ceiba was the most sacred of all trees — the Ya'axché (Green Tree). It represented the axis mundi, the cosmic axis connecting:
- 🌍 **The Roots** — Xibalba, the underworld of the dead
- 🌳 **The Trunk** — The earthly realm of humans
- 🌌 **The Branches** — The thirteen levels of heaven
The Ceiba's spreading branches were seen as supporting the sky, while its roots reached into the realm of the dead. Maya rulers were often depicted with the World Tree, and Ceibas were planted in town plazas as sacred centers.
Living Heritage
Cultural significance across Mesoamerica:
- 🇭🇳 Honduras — National tree, symbol of strength
- 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico — National tree, La Ceiba town named for it
- 🇬🇹 Guatemala — Sacred Maya heritage, protected specimens
- 🇨🇷 Costa Rica — Protected as heritage trees in many towns
- Ancient trade routes — Large Ceibas marked important locations
Many Central American towns have ancient Ceiba trees in their central plazas — often centuries old and treated as living monuments. In Costa Rica, notable specimens exist in Limón, Guápiles, and throughout the Atlantic lowlands.
Sustainability & Conservation
The Ceiba pentandra is listed as "Least Concern" globally due to its wide distribution across multiple continents. However, large old-growth specimens are increasingly rare due to forest clearing, and individual heritage trees are often protected by local law.
Current Status
| Factor | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IUCN Status | ✅ Least Concern | Wide distribution |
| Old-Growth Trees | ⚠️ Declining | Forest clearing impact |
| Heritage Protection | ✅ Common | Many protected locally |
| Regeneration | ✅ Good | Fast-growing pioneer |
| Cultural Value | ✅ High | Supports protection efforts |
Why Large Ceibas Matter
While the species is not endangered, individual giant Ceibas are irreplaceable:
- Take 200-300+ years to reach full size
- Provide unique habitat for cavity-nesting birds
- Support entire epiphyte communities
- Cultural and spiritual significance
- Landmark and navigation value
Growing Ceiba
From Seed:
- Seeds germinate readily with minimal treatment
- Soak in water for 12-24 hours before planting
- Germination occurs in 7-14 days
- Fast initial growth — 2-3 m in first year possible
- Collect seeds when pods split naturally
Where to See Ceiba Trees
Recommended Locations in Costa Rica
National Parks & Reserves:
- Corcovado National Park — Old-growth giants in primary forest
- Tortuguero National Park — Lowland Atlantic specimens
- La Selva Biological Station — Research forest with mature trees
- Carara National Park — Transitional forest specimens
Urban & Accessible:
- Limón — Historic plaza trees
- Guápiles — Town area specimens
- University campuses — Planted specimens
- Rural Atlantic lowlands — Pasture survivors
External Resources
Community observations, photos, and distribution data
4,200+ observations worldwide
Global biodiversity records and specimen data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Authoritative taxonomic information from Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Silvics manual entry for Ceiba pentandra
USDA Forest Service
References
📚 Scientific References & Further Reading
Lobo, J.A., et al. (2005). Effects of pollination by bats and other visitors on reproductive success of Ceiba pentandra. Biotropica 37(3):329-339
Francis, J.K. (1991). Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. Kapok. USDA Forest Service SO-ITF-SM-39[Link ↗]
Miller, M.E. & Martin, S. (2004). Courtly Art of the Ancient Maya. Thames & Hudson
Pennington, T.D. & Sarukhán, J. (2005). Árboles tropicales de México. UNAM/Fondo de Cultura Económica, Mexico City
The Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra) stands as one of the most magnificent and spiritually significant trees of the American tropics. Rising to heights of 70 meters with buttresses that seem to grow from another world, flowering in spectacular displays that draw bats from across the forest, and holding a central place in Maya cosmology as the World Tree — the Ceiba represents the very essence of tropical grandeur.
When you stand beneath an ancient Ceiba, you stand at the center of a Maya universe.
🌳 Ya'axché — The Green Tree
