Cochlospermum vitifolium aka Bototo

Cochlospermum vitifolium, or Brazilian rose, belongs to the Bixaceae family. Its native range runs from Mexico into tropical South America, including Cuba. It grows in tropical regions with a marked dry season. Wild trees occur in dry, rocky scrub and savannah. They also grow below the canopy in dry tropical forests.

This fast-growing tree sheds its leaves and can reach 49 feet [15 metres]. The evidence does not give a separate garden height range. Its open crown has a long outline and few thick branches. The trunk is slender for the tree's height. It measures about 0.7–1.6 feet [0.2–0.5 metres] across. The sources describe its leaf-shedding habit but give no leaf details. They also give no clear account of bark colour or texture.

Flowers appear near the close of the dry season. Gardeners grow the tree as an ornamental for this display. Bees and other insects pollinate the flowers. The fruit opens to release seeds with floss. People use this floss to fill pillows and other soft items. The evidence does not describe flower colour or fruit size. Nor does it give fixed flowering months across the range.

In cultivation, the tree needs full sun and dry soil with good drainage. Established trees can withstand drought. Its needs suit the dry tropical conditions of its native habitats. The supplied sources give no cold-hardiness limit or frost guidance. They also name no pests or diseases. The tree can help start woodland gardens or restore native woodland. Its fast growth supports this use as a pioneer tree.

Local people gather the tree for drinks, fibre, gum and wood. They brew a beer-like drink called Chica from its juice. Bark fibres provide material for cordage, while the inner bark yields gum. The pale wood is soft, coarse and very light. It decays readily and has limited uses beyond pulp and cheap boxes. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards or medicinal uses. That does not establish that every plant part is safe to eat. Fresh ripe seed can be sown in a partly shaded nursery bed. Germination is often poor, with sprouts appearing after 30–40 days. Leafy shoots can provide cuttings when new growth starts. Even large cuttings can take root.