Cotton wood trees grow in coastal regions. They are great for preventing sand, tides and winds from damaging seaside facilities or houses. The trees grow flowers from time to time throughout a year, although they bloom more in February and March. Each flower has a five-sepal calyx and five yellow petals.
Longish and bell-like, they look just like badmington balls. In the past, cotton wood trees’ aromatic giant flower petals were used as rice cake pads during the Chinese New Year. Hence the trees are also called “cake leaf” trees.