Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Connecting with the Nature. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Connecting with the Nature

👍 Connecting with the Nature...

🍀 "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🔠 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

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It's never too many powderpuffs! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Its never too many powderpuffs!

🍬 It's never too many powderpuffs!

💖 One more Powderpuff beauty - Calliandra surinamensis - is a large vigorous shrub that can be trained into a cute little standard tree.

📚 More Calliandras from previous posts:

🛒 Shop Calliandras - Powderpuffs

#Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants

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How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie
How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

  • ✅ Ingredients:

  • · 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
  • · 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
  • · ½ cup plain yogurt (optional for creaminess)
  • · 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar (optional, to taste)
  • · 1 cup ice cubes (adjust for desired thickness)


✅ Instructions:

  • · Add mango chunks, milk, yogurt, honey (if using), and ice cubes to a blender.
  • · Blend until smooth and creamy.
  • · Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
  • · Pour into glasses and serve immediately.


For a tropical twist, you can add a splash of orange juice, a banana, or a pinch of cardamom. Enjoy!

🛒 Plant a Mango Tree today for a happy crop tomorrow

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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This is why it's called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

This is why its called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible!

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, tree

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, tree

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower close-up

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, flower close-up

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, fruit

Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus, fruit

💐 This is why it's called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible!
  • Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus - is a stunning, small tropical tree from Brazil that looks like it stepped right out of a tropical paradise. The spectacular, perfumed flowers resembling Lotus are as beautiful as they are unique.
  • These large, striking blooms with white-and pink petals and a magic sweet fragrance are so eye-catching that the central crown almost looks good enough to eat!
  • Straight, often unbranched trunk, with a single cluster of leaves at the top, gives it a palm-like vibe. As it grows older, it may sprout a few large branches, each with its own leafy crown. The leaves are huge - no other tree around has leaves quite as big, except maybe a palm. They're long, narrow at the base, and broad at the top, making them a real showstopper.
  • The rounded, pear-shaped fruit grow directly on the trunk (a trait called cauliflory, see earlier post) and contains delicious yellowish-orange pulp that can be boiled and resemble meat in taste. The leaves, when boiled into a decoction, are said to cure intoxication.
  • Truly an exciting, one-of-a-kind tree, a gem for collectors! Can be grown in containers.


🛒 Enjoy your own Heaven Lotus Tree

#Container_Garden #Trees #Nature_Wonders #Perfume_Plants

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Is Sapphire Gem really a ginger? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Is Sapphire Gem really a ginger?

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem

💎 Is Sapphire Gem really a ginger?
  • 💎 Despite its name, Blue Ginger is not a true ginger but a member of the Commelinaceae family, closely related to the well-known Tradescantia houseplants.
  • 💎 Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger, Sapphire Gem is a clump-forming perennial enchants with its deep sapphire-blue blooms - a rare and striking color for the tropics.
  • 💎 Growing 2-5 feet tall, it features dark green stems with leopard-like spots at the leaf axils and shiny, horizontally held foliage.
  • 💎 Native to Brazil and Peru, Blue Ginger thrives in semi-shade or partial shade with moist, well-draining soil, making it an ideal addition to shade gardens, patios, or indoor collections.
  • 💎 Its vibrant blue, lavender, or purple flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, creating a lively display.
  • 💎 In warm climates it remains evergreen and can tolerate brief dips into the low 30s. In cooler regions, it grows beautifully in pots and can be overwintered indoors in a cool, bright location. For best results, keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, maintain good air circulation, and fertilize moderately during the growing season.
  • 💎 In warm environment, the plant is evergreen and doesn't go dormant (unlike true gingers). Close relative - Dichorisandra pendula - Weeping Blue Ginger


🛒 Plant exotic Blue Ginger

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden

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Is it Cashew nut or Cashew Apple? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Is it Cashew nut or Cashew Apple?

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) fruit

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) flowers

Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) flowers

🌰 Is it Cashew nut or Cashew Apple? 🍏
  • Cashew Tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a small, fast-growing marvel that gives us both the crunchy cashew nut and the juicy, quirky "cashew apple"
  • It's a tropical multitasker, thriving in poor soils, drought, and salty winds, and can even fruit in a pot within two years!
  • Cashew #Fun_Facts:

  • ♦️The Fruit Switcheroo: The true fruit is the nut, while the brightly colored "apple" is actually a swollen stem. Talk about a fruit with an identity twist!
  • ♦️The cashew apple has a sweet-astringent flavor and can be eaten fresh, stewed, or turned into delicious fragrant juice. A tangy treat!
  • ♦️Nut Know-How: Raw cashews are caustic and must be roasted outdoors because their fumes are anything but friendly.
  • ♦️Whether in sandy soils or salty winds, this tree keeps thriving, proving it's as tough as it is tasty.
  • ♦️The cashew tree is not just a food source; it's a conversation starter! Perfect for gardeners who love both practicality and personality.


🛒 Get your own Cashew Tree

#Food_Forest

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How soon will Persimmon tree fruit? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How soon will Persimmon tree fruit?

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

🍑 How soon will Persimmon tree fruit?
  • 🍑 Persimmons (Diospyros sp.) are fast-fruiting trees, perfect for gardeners seeking quick results.
  • 🍑 Grafted varieties begin producing fruit immediately, even on young, container-grown trees as small as 2-3 feet tall, often flowering in their first year.
  • 🍑 When planted in the ground, persimmons grow into compact, space-efficient trees that reliably produce a bountiful harvest every year.


📚 Learn more from previous post:
Native American Persimmon
Persimmons: best varieties for container culture
How to grow Persimmon tree

🛒 Shop Persimmon Trees

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

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Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear?

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

🐵 Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? 🙉
  • 🍊 Besides bizarre Monkey Ear Tree that we mentioned earlier, there is another interesting Monkey Tree -
  • 🍊 The Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa) is a captivating fruit tree from tropical Africa and Madagascar, known for its vibrant yellow fruits and wide range of uses.
  • 🍊This small to medium-sized tree, has glossy leaves and thorny branches that make it visually striking.
  • 🍊What does the Monkey Orange taste like?

    • The fruits, size of an orange, have a hard shell that protects their sweet-tart pulp with interesting pleasant taste somewhat similar to mangosteen. Some people say it tastes like a mix of citrus and pineapple with a hint of fermentation.
  • 🍊Rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, the fruit can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into jams, juices, and even wine.
  • 🍊Its durable wood is prized for carvings, and its leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine and as natural insecticides.
  • 🍊Slow-growing yet resilient, this hardy tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, offering beauty, nourishment, and practicality - an excellent choice for tropical or subtropical landscapes.


🐒 Why is it called Monkey Orange?
The "monkey orange" likely gets its name from its appeal to monkeys that eat the fruit and distribute the seeds in their habitat in Africa.

🛒 Plant Monkey Orange

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter

⭐️ What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter

  • 🍬 Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) - is a blooming star for a shade garden! It is a cheerful, fuss-free shrub that can brighten up shady spots with its trumpet-shaped flowers.

  • 🍬 Standing about 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly as a hedge or can be trimmed into neat shapes for a tidy look.

  • 🍬 Its flowers, in lovely shades of lilac purple, mauve, white, or even striped, burst into clusters from November to mid-December, adding a pop of color when many plants take a rest.

  • 🍬 Each flower lasts a couple of days, only to be replaced by fresh blooms from its many buds. The fallen petals create a gorgeous purple blanket around the plant, making it a visual treat even on the ground.

  • 🍬 This plant thrives in both sun and full shade! It doesn't ask for much - just a little pruning now and then to keep it bushy and happy.

  • 🍬 Add this eye candy to your shade garden, and let these Winter flowers steal the show!

  • 🍬 Philippine violet is also a perfect exotic plant for container culture or even an indoor collection.


🛒Shop Barleria varieties

#Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden

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What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter

Philippine violet (Barleria cristata)

⭐️ What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter
  • 🍬 Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) - is a blooming star for a shade garden! It is a cheerful, fuss-free shrub that can brighten up shady spots with its trumpet-shaped flowers.
  • 🍬 Standing about 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly as a hedge or can be trimmed into neat shapes for a tidy look.
  • 🍬 Its flowers, in lovely shades of lilac purple, mauve, white, or even striped, burst into clusters from November to mid-December, adding a pop of color when many plants take a rest.
  • 🍬 Each flower lasts a couple of days, only to be replaced by fresh blooms from its many buds. The fallen petals create a gorgeous purple blanket around the plant, making it a visual treat even on the ground.
  • 🍬 This plant thrives in both sun and full shade! It doesn't ask for much - just a little pruning now and then to keep it bushy and happy.
  • 🍬 Add this eye candy to your shade garden, and let these Winter flowers steal the show!
  • 🍬 Philippine violet is also a perfect exotic plant for container culture or even an indoor collection.


🛒Shop Barleria varieties

#Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
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