Nice looking tree in the streets of Buenos Aires. Actually worlds widest road: 22 lanes!  

My plant and the place I bought it.

Serious plant from Fachjan Project Plants, Nl.

This member of the Malvaceae (some might say: Bombacaceae) was described by St. Hil in 1828. It is found in Brazil and Argentina, growing on the foothills in well drained soil with lots of water in October to December and lots of sun. The trunk can get more than one meter in diameter, and it can reach for op to 18 meters. The flowers goes from crème to red. It can only be reproduced by seeds. I got some in Buenos Aries 2003.

Close related to C. insignis, which almost has no spines, and has only crème flowers, and those I have seen are slimmer.