Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Why every collector wants the Gothic Black Dragon Anthurium. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Black Dragon Anthurium

🐉 Why every collector wants the Gothic Black Dragon Anthurium
  • 🌑 A living shadow

  • Anthurium Black Dragon is one of the most prized centerpieces of the Top Tropicals plant collection. This rare and exotic hybrid is celebrated for its deep, dark foliage that looks as if it were painted with charcoal or ink. It belongs to the coveted "dark foliage" group of anthuriums - a favorite among collectors for its dramatic, gothic elegance.
  • 🌑 It changes color with light

  • This plant changes color like magic! What sets Black Dragon apart is its ability to transform. In bright filtered light, the leaves darken dramatically - almost jet black. But in lower light, they fade to a mysterious greenish-maroon. It's like having two plants in one, depending on how you position it.
  • 🌑 Its spadix and spathe are weapons of style

  • Unlike many anthuriums that flaunt bright reds or whites, Black Dragon keeps it sleek and sinister with a brown spadix and dark-brown spathe - adding a sense of surreal drama when it flowers. But wait to see the real show when is sets fruit - cascades of bright red berries!
  • 🌑 Tropical but tough

  • Though exotic-looking, it's surprisingly resilient. With the right humidity and warmth (typical of most anthuriums), it's a slow but steady grower - ideal for collectors who want something dramatic yet manageable indoors.
  • 🌑 A collector's hybrid, not found in the wild

Black Dragon is likely a man-made hybrid created by crossbreeding dark-leaved species like Anthurium watermaliense or Anthurium forgetii. It doesn’t grow in the wild, which makes it even more of a sought-after trophy in aroids circles.

🛒 Get your own Black Dragon

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The most unique plant in your collection

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders
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Big color in a small tree: Maroon jacaranda and why Jacaranda trees are so popular. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Maroon jacaranda - Jacaranda jasminoides

👏 Big color in a small tree: Maroon jacaranda and why Jacaranda trees are so popular
  • 💜 Jacaranda jasminoides (Maroon Jacaranda) is a charming, compact tree that brings a touch of drama to small gardens and patios. It grows 10-12 feet tall, with a bushy habit that makes it perfect for tight spaces or even containers.
  • 💜 What really steals the show are its deep maroon to dark purple trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters from late spring through summer. In warm climates, it may surprise you with blooms at other times too!
  • 💜 The fine, fern-like leaves add a delicate, lacy texture to the overall look.
  • 💜 This jacaranda loves full sun but will tolerate a bit of shade, and it is happiest in fertile, well-drained soil. Water it regularly when it is young or during dry spells, but once established, it is fairly easygoing. It s best suited for USDA zones 9 to 11, and while mature plants can handle brief cold snaps down to 20F, younger ones appreciate a little extra protection when the temps dip.
  • 💜 Whether in the ground or in a pot, the Maroon Jacaranda is a low-maintenance beauty. A little pruning here and there keeps it tidy, and its elegant blooms make it a standout wherever it s planted. In warm places it may keep its foliage year-round, giving you a long-lasting touch of tropical color. A great pick for anyone who wants big color in a small footprint!


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Shop Jacaranda trees

#Trees #Container_Garden

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Bleeding Heart Vine surprised everyone this year! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Bleeding Heart Vine - Clerodendrum thomsoniae

💞 Bleeding Heart Vine surprised everyone this year!
  • ❣️ Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) is not just a winter bloomer! Despite the common belief that it blooms only in winter, this beauty actually flowers year-round in warm climates, putting on a continuous display of red and white "hearts". It bloomed in winter, then in spring, and now - it's a summertime - it is still full of flowers!
  • ❣️ The "bleeding heart" look comes from the striking contrast between the white calyx and the deep red flower inside - like a heart bursting with color.
  • ❣️ It's a vigorous vine, perfect for trellises, arbors, or containers. It can even be trained as a shrub!
  • ❣️ Grows best in bright filtered light or partial sun, and appreciates regular watering - but it's not fussy.
  • ❣️ Pollinator magnet! The blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding motion and life to your garden.
  • ❣️ Tough and tropical - i'’s hardy, low maintenance, and stays evergreen in frost-free areas.
  • ❣️ It's not shy, not seasonal, and definitely not boring!


📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒Get your own Bleeding Heart

#Butterfly_Plants #Shade_Garden #Fun_Facts #Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden

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What is the most wanted fragrant plant ever? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

🏵 What is the most wanted fragrant plant ever?

  • 💮 We are revealing a secret, because this plant... was a creator of Top Tropicals: fragrant Jasminum Sambac.

  • 💮 Here is the reason why every gardener wants to have this plant: the fragrance is so wonderful, it will attract you like a bee to a honey and make you feel GOOD!

  • 💮 This video contains a unique information - a guide to different varieties of this fascinating plant - fragrant Jasmine Sambac:


📱

🛒 Shop Jasmine Sambaс - add tropical perfume to your garden

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

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Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs Colocasia. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Alocasia and Colocasia

🐘 Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs. Colocasia - which one is better?

Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a tropical exotic touch to your garden, pond, or pool area. Why are they so popular - and which one should you choose?
  • 🍀 Why gardeners love Elephant Ears

  • ✔️ Tropical appeal: Bold, architectural foliage creates a lush, exotic atmosphere.
  • ✔️ Striking leaves: Huge heart- or arrow-shaped leaves in green, purple, black, or variegated tones.
  • ✔️ Versatile placement: Ideal for containers, garden beds, water features, or borders.
  • ✔️ Low maintenance: Thrive in part shade with moist soil and occasional fertilizer.
  • ✔️ Big impact: Some varieties reach over 6 ft tall, adding strong vertical structure.


🍀 Alocasia vs. Colocasia - what's the difference?
  • 🟢Leaf shape: Alocasia = upright, arrow-shaped; Colocasia = drooping, heart-shaped.
  • 🟢Leaf texture: Alocasia = glossy; Colocasia = more matte.
  • 🟢Stem color: Alocasia = green; Colocasia = often purplish.
  • 🟢Light and soil: Alocasia prefers bright, indirect light and good drainage; Colocasia loves shade and wet soil.
  • 🟢Cold tolerance: Colocasia is generally more cold-hardy and water-tolerant.


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Go big with giant leaves!

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden

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Curcuma - the tropical tulip with a secret spice twist. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Curcuma - the tropical tulip with a secret spice twist

Curcuma flowers

🌷Curcuma - the tropical tulip with a secret spice twist
  • 🌷Curcuma, also known as Siam Tulip or Turmeric, is a plant with personality! It looks like it came straight from a fairy tale with bright, showy blooms in pink, purple, white, yellow, and even orange - that rise above lush green foliage like floral fireworks.
  • 🌷Despite its exotic looks, it’s super easy to grow. Keep the soil moist, give it filtered light, and this beauty will reward you with long-lasting blooms. This is an excellent cut flower that lasts up to 2 weeks in a vase!
  • 🌷And here's the kicker: beneath the soil, it hides a spicy secret - its rhizomes are the source of Turmeric, the golden powder used in curry and traditional medicine. So yes, your flower garden can also be a spice rack!
  • 🌷Curcuma thrives in warm zones but grows happily in pots too - just bring it inside when things get chilly. With its striking looks and health-boosting roots, Curcuma is your new garden showstopper and wellness booster all in one!


🛒 Plant Curcuma: add color, spice, and charm to your garden

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The purrrfect hypoallergenic Cat Tail. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Acalypha hispida - Chenille Plant, Red Hot Cattail

🐈‍⬛ The purrrfect hypoallergenic Cat Tail
  • 🔥 Acalypha hispida, also known as the Chenille Plant or Red Hot Cattail, is a bold tropical bloomer with long, fuzzy red tassels that look just like fluffy cat tails!
  • 🔥 This fast-growing shrub can reach 5-10 feet tall, or be kept trimmed as a showy hedge or container plant.
  • 🔥 In warm climates, it blooms year-round with dramatic, pendulous flowers in shades of red, pink, white, and crimson. Its vibrant tassels dangle like living ornaments, making it a favorite for tropical gardens, patios, and sunrooms.
  • 🔥 Tough and salt-tolerant, it even thrives near the coast. Give it bright light, occasional trims, and enjoy a non-stop floral display -with no sneezing required!


🛒 Bring home the allergy-free cat tail

#Trees #Container_Garden

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Top 20 plants for a Butterfly Haven. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Best plants for a Butterfly Haven Garden

Best plants for a Butterfly Haven Garden

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Butterfly Haven or a Heaven on Earth? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Butterfly on Bougainvillea flowers

Butterfly Haven or a Heaven on Earth?

Q: What should I plant in my yard to create a butterfly haven? I love butterflies and want to create a unique butterfly paradise, but I'm looking for something exotic and unusual - nothing like the typical Milkweed or Pentas that everyone recommends. What can you suggest to make my yard stand out from the usual native landscape while still attracting butterflies? I have plenty of space and want something diverse and showy!

‼️ A: In previous posts we introduced many #Butterfly_Plants including Five best butterfly attractors.
In next post you will see the most spectacular tropical and subtropical plants perfect for Southern gardens so you can create a dynamic and colorful butterfly haven. These options are unique, eclectic, and exotic - your flowers will not only be butterfly magnets but will also turn heads with their striking beauty! 👇

🛒 Transform your yard into a Butterfly Haven with exotic plants

#Butterfly_Plants

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What is the most colorful houseplant? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Columnea Melissa - Flying Goldfish Plant

🐟What is the most colorful houseplant?
  • 🐡 Yet another Goldfish Plant! Columnea Melissa - Flying Goldfish Plant isn't just a houseplant - it's a little jungle fantasy.
  • 🐡 Bright orange flowers shaped like tiny goldfish with wings seem to hover in midair, suspended by cascading stems of velvety green foliage. The blooms pop out all along the trailing branches, creating the illusion of a school of flying fish!
  • 🐡 Native to tropical cloud forests, Columnea loves humidity, filtered light, and showing off. Perfect for hanging baskets where it can spill and shimmer like a living waterfall of color. A total conversation piece you don't see every day!


🛒 Get your own showy Flying Goldfish Plant

📚 More House plants Gems:

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