Native to tropical Northern Australia, the Yellow Kapok is a deciduous small tree, losing its leaves in the dry season. Growing to a height of about 6 m, it produces masses of large yellow, star-shaped flowers before the new leaves appear. Flowers are followed by ovalshaped green pods which, when mature and dried out, are filled with cotton- or kapok-like material, hence the common name. Occurring naturally in many areas of the NT, this tree is quite hardy and performs well under varying conditions.