Is Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) edible?

Yes — Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) (Gossypium herbaceum) is catalogued as edible in this database. Always confirm species ID before harvest and source from clean ground.

How should Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) be stored?

Dried Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) keeps 12–18 months in an airtight glass jar away from direct sunlight and moisture. Volatile-oil constituents degrade faster — buy in small quantities and use within 6 months of opening for peak potency. Refrigerate tinctures once opened.

PlantSage.eu

ENRO

IIIFolio · plant profile№ 5ED9edible

Data provenancePermapeopleTrefleWikipedia PFAF POWOreviewed 7 Jul 2026methodology → read

Home/Plants

Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton )

Gossypium herbaceum

Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Plant identification, safety, and edibility depend on local conditions, cultivars, and correct identification. Consult a qualified botanist or forager before consuming or handling wild specimens. How we source & review →

edibleshrubsedible

Updated7 July 2026·Quick Q&A →

Gossypium herbaceum (Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton )) — botanical photograph

Pl. 5ED9 — Gossypium herbaceum

Gossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceumGossypium herbaceum

Prezentare

Cotonul american de staplă scurtă (Gossypium herbaceum) este o plantă plină de lumină provenind din regiuni precum Afganistan, Angola, Botswana, Iran, KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Mozambique și părți ale Namibia și Zimbabwe. Această specie de coton se dezvolte în condiții umide cu sucuri bine aeriate care pot fi săpate sau medium texturate. Prefere lumină plină dar toleranța sa la o umbra parțială îl face adaptabil în diverse medii. Conosciut și pentru fructele sale mănunchiabile și semințele sale, acest plant este apreciat atât ca surse de aliment, cât și pentru calitățile sălbaticale sale. Un caracter distinctiv al cotonului american de staplă scurtă este înaltele sa relativ compactă de 1,2 m, fapt care îl face potrivit pentru gardeniunde unde spațiul este limitat.

Quick answers

What is Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton )?

Full Q&A reference →

Growingconditions · propagation · uses

Cultivare

Cotonul american de staplă scurtă se dezvolte cel mai bine în lumină plină sau parțială și necesită sucuri umide cu sucuri bine aeriate care pot fi săpate sau medium texturate. Crește cel mai bine în zonele 10-12, dar poate fi durabil în regiuni temperate cu îngrijire adecvată. Pentru propagare, semințele ar trebui să fie plantate direct în grădină după ce pericolul ghearelor a trecut. Plantul atinge o înalță de aproximativ 1,2 m și este cunoscut pentru fructele sale mănunchiabile și semințele sale.

Light

Full sun, Partial sun/shade

Water

Moist

Soil

Light (sandy), Medium

Hardiness

10-12

Mature size

1.2 m tall

For first-time growers

How to grow Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) for the first time

8steps

Start with Short-Staple American Cotton for a simple and rewarding gardening experience.

1
What you'll need
Seeds, small pots or direct planting area, garden tools like a trowel.
2
Best time to plant
Plant in spring after the last frost when temperatures are consistently above 15°C (60°F).
3
Soil and container prep
Choose a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Amend soil with compost if needed.
4
Sowing or transplanting
Start seeds indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last frost, then transplant outdoors when soil is warm.
5
First two weeks
Water regularly to keep soil moist. Protect young plants from pests and extreme weather.
6
Ongoing care
Provide full sun for at least 6 hours a day. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on rainfall.
7
Harvest or pruning
Prune to maintain shape and remove dead leaves. Harvest seeds when pods turn brown.
8
Common mistakes
Overwatering, planting in heavy soil, neglecting to prune, not protecting from pests, sowing too late.

Edible & utility

Edible parts:LeavesSeed

Edible uses: Oil, Coffee

Other uses:DyeFertilizerFiberoiltextilesSoapWeaving materialCoppice

Contextrange · companions · related

VII

Distribuție

12 native · 18 introduced

Distribution across4 continents· 12 native· 18 introduced

Europe2 regions

introduced (2)AlbaniaSpain

Asia6 regions

native (2)AfghanistanIran

introduced (4)BangladeshCambodiaChinaIndia

Americas2 regions

introduced (2)Dominican RepublicHaiti

Africa8 regions

native (6)AngolaBotswanaEswatiniMozambiqueNamibiaZimbabwe

introduced (2)ChadGuinea

Broader regions

native:Caprivi Strip, KwaZulu-Natal, Lebanon-Syria, Northern Provinces

introduced:Andaman Is., Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Kriti

Specimen gallery

1 image

Explore further

Companion planting

Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) companions →

Growing zone

USDA zone 10-12

XII

About this entry

Last updated: 7 July 2026
Citation: How to cite this entry · Submit a correction

Back to the cataloguePlant id · 5ed9f5db-e1a8-4573-b30a-20c52d073586

Decision aid

Choosing between Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) and something else?

Compare with another plant

❦❦❦❦

Endpaper · archive updates

Primește digest-ul săptămânal

Un email curat pe săptămână — profile noi de plante, note sezoniere de cultivare, adăugiri în arhiva de remedii. Gratuit, fără tracking, dezabonare oricând.

🌱My garden

Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton )

Prezentare

What is Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton )?

Cultivare

How to grow Short-Staple American Cotton (Cotton ) for the first time

What you'll need

Best time to plant

Soil and container prep

Sowing or transplanting

First two weeks

Ongoing care

Harvest or pruning

Common mistakes