Portrait shot of a Cotton tree flower. Bombax ceiba, is commonly known as cotton tree. More specifically, it is sometimes known as red silk-cotton; red cotton tree.This Asian tropical tree has a straight tall trunk and its leaves are deciduous in winter. Red flowers with 5 petals appear in the spring before the new foliage.It produces a capsule which, when ripe, contains white fibres like cotton. Its trunk bears spikes to deter attacks by animals. its wood is too soft to be very useful.