that is just SO NEAT, joan! I've never tried growing it...is it hard???

Good growin' JoanM!
I still get a kick out of everyone's reaction when they realize that is what I am growing too. I cut it back and it comes back with vigor! The master gardener who inspected my yard for it's certification showed his associate and commented "you don't see this very often". I loved it!
Kat

I didn't know what I was doing when I planted it so I just let it do what it wanted. It grew straight up and I should have chopped it back to get it fuller down low I guess. That cotton is about 10 feet high! It got so tall that I didn't have the heart to chop it back but if it comes back with a vigor, what the heck I'll take the pruners to it.

They're really fun, aren't they?
Plant some seeds and start over.
Or cut 'em back and bush 'em out.
Really nice conversation plant.
Anyone grown their own clothes yet?
LOL

That's awesome!!! But...is it easy to grow and to find??

Thanks,
Tropicalfreak

It is easy to grow. I don't have irrigation yet and it has done just fine. As far as finding it goes... I mentioned wanting one and Lisa handed it to me at Rickys swap. So it was real easy to find for me. LOL

gossypium hirsutum(wild cotton) is a native plant to extreme southern forida and is listed as endagered species. It is sensitive to cold, shade, and wet feet,that is all.For an interesting and too familiar story, look up why its so rare!

There are different types of cotton. I have a pink flowering one and then sea island cotton that hasn't bloomed yet.

Growing up in Texas you see lots of cotton in fields! Most recently I saw a field of them in Georgia in November.

Oh hey - I've 2 wild (perennial) cotton plants growing alongside my driveway - partly shaded by a Live oak - they're thriving!

Blooms start pale yellow & turn pink the next day - bolls are really pretty when green too = )

I think I'm gonna need a cotton gin!

If anyone knows of where the wild cottons are still growing in Florida and/or if seeds have been collected, please let me know. At my job, we collect, propagate and distribute cotton worldwide to support conservation and cotton breeding. Cotton is derived almost exclusively from Gossypium hirsutum and the only really wild relatives of G. hirsutum are considered to grow in Yucatan, Mexico and Southern Florida. Thus it is often called race 'yucatanense'. However it is hard to conserve as the seeds have tricky dormancies.

thanks for any and all help.

James.

off topic a lttle,i got some cotton from A&M,from the side of the road last year while viviting my mother.do you think the seed could be planted next year?

I love my cotton! I got the small plants at Maple Street Nursery in Melborne and they are not small anymore.Sweet flowers,lush leaves and COTTON!
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I love my cotton plants too! I got 3 small seedlings from Mistiaggie at one of the swaps and I have had so much fun watching them grow. The leaves and flowers are very pretty. I have been collecting the cotton and I am saving the dried pods to make a Christmas wreath.

I cut mine back a little and now it is very full. It doesn't have flowers right now so I was thinking on cutting it more because once it starts flowering I won't have the heart to do it.

Thank you mistiaggie!

Carmen

I grew it too for awhile, but had it in the wrong spot for it's size and it died when I tried to move it. ;o( But it really is a fun plant to watch grow and peoples faces when they see it.

we got our first bit of cotton last week right before a torrential downpour
its seriously fascinates me
though I didn't know it would grow into a tree if u let it.
thatd be a cool way to landscape

St. Pete Times had an article on cotton in 11 Aug 2007 paper. I'd like to try cotton. If anyone has a few seeds for sale or free, I'd appreciate knowing about them. Also, are there any "rules" re: growing conditions? We go from intense sun to deep shade. I'd like to grow them in the former rather than the latter. Thanx.

jthrone@tampabay.rr.com

I have pima cotton rooted cuttings. Pima has the advantage of beautiful purple foliage and yellow flowers. I tried to find a site on the net that did it justice but there are so many agricultural and cotton manufacturing hits that I could not find a good gardening reference. If you are interested do you have anything to trade? I like unusual things.

Anita

plastchie: I have mine on the west side of a stucco wall.VERY HOT!
The soil is amended well and happy earthworms inhabit it.

Plastechie,

You've got mail.

Susan

"Posted by woodsgranny Z9 S LA. (woodsgranny3@aol.com) on Fri, Jul 27, 07 at 19:33

off topic a lttle,i got some cotton from A&M,from the side of the road last year while viviting my mother.do you think the seed could be planted next year?"

I see no reason the seed would not germinate next year. Keep them indoors cool and dry until planting. If lint is still on them it may take longer to germinate.