Unknown tree with beautiful flowers.

It's hard to see properly...but the flowers look beautiful, Alex. Are they a bit like magnolia?

Karen, I don't think it's a Magnolia. I wish I had my camera with me!!! I posted a pic of a fallen flower from this tree. It was funny walking around searching the sidewalk for a fallen flower. This tree is really tall.

chorisia insignis

YES, thank you Bampy.

If the flowers have any red or pink in them, it's Ceiba speciosa, not Ceiba insignis.

Oh, right....Ceiba Speciosa it is then.

If you can get seeds from the kapok of this tree, they will grow very easy in spring. I've grown this tree from seed to 12ft/4m tall in about 3 years (it's the easiest tree I've ever germinated).

I'm not sure if I want a giant like this in my garden. Then again if I can get some seeds I will probably try anyway...

It makes a good 6 - 8 foot tree in a big pot.

Hhhmmm...walking by there again on Thursday. Will have a look for seeds.

The seeds usually cling to the kapok.

I went and had a look yesterday. I'm not sure I like the bark of this tree. Would the seeds be in what looks like a fruit?

The bark is covered with very large rose-like thorns! This is common knowledge....just kidding! :>)

The kapok pops out of the large fruit...and then the seeds are in the cottony kapok.

lol....ah, that's what I thought! Scary, they are large thorns!!....
I think I will just walk by there and look at the tree when in flower!

A common practice here, especially in the parks...they de-thorn the trunk up to about 8ft high. The same is done to Coral trees (Erythrina species).

Oh, good idea...and do the thorns grow back?

I've never seen the thorns grow back.

I like the new avatar...it that a photo of you?

It would work the same for Rose bushes then?!?

Thanks Delonix.....yeap. that's me.

Not sure about rose bushes...never tried it before.

You're very pretty! (I hope this wasn't an inappropriate comment!)

I might give it a try...

Thank you. (No but you made me blush bright red)

Good luck!

Didn't mean to make you blush.

:o)))