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Is the Sausage Tree from Africa edible?

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

Sausage Tree - Kigelia pinnata, fruit

🌭 Is the Sausage Tree from Africa edible?

Despite the tempting name, the sausages that grow on the Sausage Tree don't actually taste like the sausages you're thinking of, but... in a nutshell, they are still edible! Let's dive into the details...
  • 🌭The Sausage Tree (Kigelia pinnata, also known as Kigelia africana) is a striking tropical tree native to sub-Saharan Africa, renowned for its large, sausage-shaped fruits that can grow up to 2 feet long and weigh up to 15 pounds.
  • 🌭While the Sausage Tree's fruit is technically edible, it is toxic when raw. To safely consume the fruit, it must undergo specific processing methods:


    • Drying: The fruit is dried thoroughly to reduce toxicity.
    Roasting or Baking: These methods help neutralize harmful compounds.
    Fermentation: In some cultures, the fruit is fermented, often with sugarcane juice or honey, to create traditional beverages like muratina in Kenya.
  • 🌭Even with these preparations, caution is advised. It's essential to consult with local experts or traditional practitioners before attempting to consume Sausage Tree fruit.
  • 🌭Various parts of the tree, including the fruit, bark, and leaves, have been used to treat ailments such as ulcers, skin infections.
  • 🌭In some African cultures, the fruit is associated with fertility and is used in rituals. The tree's presence is often considered auspicious.
  • 🌭Although the Sausage Tree might not be winning any awards for your dinner table, it's definitely a showstopper in the yard. Think of it as the ultimate conversation starter and the weirdest, most fascinating collectible you'll ever grow!


🛒 Grab your Sausage Tree now - impress your guests!

📚 Learn more about Sausage Tree:
Meet the tree everyone's talking about: sausages growing on a tree!

#Nature_Wonders #Trees #Discover

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

How to choose the right Mango variety?

🥭 How to choose the right Mango variety?
Watch Top Tropicals on TV 📺

  • 🧡 Do you love mangoes but feel overwhelmed by all the varieties? Don't worry - at Top Tropicals, we've got you covered!

  • 🧡 Visit our garden center in Ft. Myers or BFarm in Sebring, FL, and let our fruit tree expert Kristi help you choose the perfect mango trees for your garden.


📱 Watch ABC7 Fort Myers News: Mango Varieties with Kristi at Top Tropicals👇


📚 Learn more about #Mango
#Food_Forest

🛒 Shop the Finest Mango Varieties online

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Have you ever seen a Bridal Bouquet Plumeria this size?

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

👀 Have you ever seen a Bridal Bouquet Plumeria this size?

📸 In the photo: This beauty is right at our front door! We planted it a few years ago, and after a tough winter frost damaged it, it bounced back stronger than ever. Now, it's grown into a dense, clumping bush that's impossible to miss! People passing by often stop to admire it and ask what it is. It's truly a miracle plant!
  • 💮 Bridal Bouquet Plumeria - Plumeria pudica - is evergreen, unlike most plumeiras, that drop leaves in winter. It has vibrant, fiddle-shaped leaves! It's a tropical beauty that stays ornamental even when it's not in bloom.
  • 💮 Plumeria pudica blooms almost non-stop with large clusters of 3" white flowers with small yellow centers, forming a beautiful bouquet on the plant. It's like having your own tropical garden show every day!
  • 💮 Unique Growth Habit: This plumeria is versatile - it can grow as a small tree or as a dense, clumping bush, making it perfect for small yards or patios. The plant can be shaped to fit the space, growing rapidly and upright.
  • 💮 Low Maintenance: Easy to care for and tolerant of drought, Plumeria pudica thrives without the need for special attention. It's resistant to insects and fungus, unlike other plumerias. Simply plant and enjoy!
  • 💮 We have in our collection very interesting variety of Plumeria pudica from Thailand. It has variegated leaves! Plumeria pudica variegata - Snow Bridal Bouquet, or White Arrow Leaf - has variegated leaf margins. Like regular Plumeria pudica, it is evergreen, never drops leaves, and grows into a beautiful, dense multi-stem bush. Great for container culture.


🛒 Shop Bridal Bouquet - Plumeria pudica

📚 Learn more:
Plumeria pudica variegata, Snow Bridal Bouquet - the most unusual Plumeria

#Container_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to enhance your garden with hardy tropical: Fast Growing White Orchid Tree

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

🪚 How to enhance your garden with hardy tropical: Fast Growing White Orchid Tree
  • 💮 Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - is the most cold hardy of all bauhinias. It is a medium-sized, fast-growing tree with short trunk and spreading branches that provide excellent shade.
  • 💮 Abundant, fragrant white flowers adorned with subtle lemon-green markings, blooming from winter through spring and intermittently in summer.
  • 💮 Cold Hardy: Among the most frost-tolerant Bauhinias, thriving in temperatures as low as 26F. ​
  • 💮 Rapid Growth: Grows quickly, reaching heights of 15 to 30 feet, ideal for creating a lush, shaded area. ​
  • 💮 Attracts Pollinators: The large, showy flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, enhancing your garden's ecosystem.​
  • 💮 Low Maintenance: Drought-tolerant once established and thrives in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. ​


📚 Orchid trees from previous posts:

🛒 Enhance your garden with White Orchid Tree

#Hedges_with_benefits #Trees #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Whats inside this bumpy Annona fruit? Delicious Health benefits!

Annona squamosa - Sugar Apple, Sweetsop

🎃 What's inside this bumpy Annona fruit? Delicious Health benefits!
  • 🍏 Annona squamosa - Sugar Apple or Sweetsop, is not related to Apple at all; in fact it's in the same family with Ylang Ylang perfume trees - Annonaceae!
  • 🍏 Sugar Apple is considered by many to be the most delicious tropical fruit. The fruit is a true treat, with pulp that resembles creamy custard, offering a flavor experience that's hard to beat. Some cultivars like Vietnam Sugar Apple Nadi - have pulp virtually melting in your mouth!
  • 🍏 Sugar Apple tree starts fruiting within 3 years from seed and has compact growth habit, making it ideal for small gardens and containers. Beyond its delightful flavor and ornamental appeal, this fruit offers a variety of health benefits:

· Digestive Aid: High fiber promotes digestion and alleviates constipation.
  • · Antioxidant Properties: Combats oxidative stress, reducing the risk of chronic diseases.
  • · Mood Enhancement: Vitamin B6 boosts mood and helps fight depression.
  • · Eye Health: Rich in vitamin A, supports healthy vision.
  • · Blood Pressure Regulation: Potassium and magnesium help regulate blood pressure.
  • · Skin Health: Antioxidants protect skin from oxidative damage.
  • · Weight Management: Low in calories, high in fiber, promotes satiety.
  • · Immune Support: Vitamin C boosts the immune system.
  • · Anti-inflammatory: Reduces inflammation linked to chronic conditions.


📚 More about Annonas:

🛒 Plant

#Food_Forest #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

A French Emperors Hat Blooming in Your Garden?

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

Napoleon's Hat - Napoleonaea imperialis

🎩 A French Emperor's Hat Blooming in Your Garden?
  • 🎩 Napoleon's Hat (Napoleonaea imperialis), a unique and charming plant that's sure to stand out in your garden!
  • 🎩 Napoleon's Hat lives up to its name with large, saucer-shaped flowers that bloom straight from the leaf axils or even directly from the trunk! Talk about making a statement.
  • 🎩 The hat-shaped, brightly colored flowers smell like butterscotch! Yes, your garden will smell like a candy shop🍬
  • 🎩 It's Kola's Cousin! The reddish seeds resemble kola nuts and even have a similar taste, giving you a fun, "false kola" experience.
  • 🎩 An instant conversation starter, Napoleon's Hat is a quirky, fragrant addition to your garden - perfect for those looking for something a little different.


🛒 Plant Napoleon's Hat and show off with the most bizarre flower!

#Fun_facts #Trees #Nature_Wonders

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Smell the Little Gem

Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia

Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia

💎 Smell the Little Gem

🕊 Get up close with the Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia - its huge, creamy white petals look like sculpted wax, and the scent is fresh, lemony, and unforgettable!

📚 Learn more:

🛒 Plant the Iconic Southern Magnolia

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Fun Facts About the Guava Flower

Guava Flower

🌸 Fun Facts About the Guava Flower
  • 🌸 Frilly and Fabulous - Guava flowers may be small, but they're packed with fluffy white stamens that give them a soft, powder-puff look.
  • 🌸 Pollinator Magnet - Bees and butterflies love guava blooms, making them a great addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.
  • 🌸 Scent-sational - The flowers have a light, pleasant fragrance that adds a touch of sweetness before the fruit even arrives.
  • 🌸 Bloom to Fruit - Each flower can turn into a delicious guava fruit, making them both beautiful and productive.
  • 🌸 Part of the Showy Family - Guava (Psidium) belongs to the Myrtaceae family, which also includes eye-catching bloomers like Eucalyptus, Bottlebrush (Callistemon), and the stunning Rose Apple (Syzygium).


📚 More from previous posts about: #Guava

🛒 Shop Guava Trees

#Food_Forest #Guava #Fun_facts

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Dont miss out: Rare Sweet Tamarind - Seeds Planted!

Vietnamese Pink Sweet Tamarind tree

🥜 Don't miss out: Rare Sweet Tamarind - Seeds Planted!
  • 🌱 We just harvested fruit from our young Vietnamese Pink Sweet Tamarind tree that we planted less than a year ago (see earlier post), and seeds are already planted!
  • 🌱 Expect young trees of this rare, sweet variety (item#3497) in a few months.
  • 🌱 Want one? Add it to your Wish List now!

    • You'll get an instant email alert when it's back in stock, along with current inventory and number of requests.
  • 🌱 First come, first served – don't miss your chance! More info on wishlist here.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:
How long does it take for Tamarind fruit to ripen?
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #7 Tamarind
Tamarind Chutney Recipe
How productive is Tamarind
Tamarind's pretty flowers

🛒Grow your own Tamarind Tree

#Food_Forest

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Celebrate Earth Day - Plant a Tree, Power the Planet!

Earth Day April 22

This Earth Day, join the world's largest civic movement for the planet! Celebrated every April 22, Earth Day brings over a billion people together in support of a greener future. The 2025 theme, "Our Power - Our Planet ", encourages bold action - like planting trees that clean our air, feed our families, and brighten our landscapes.

Ready to grow your impact? Grow something powerful!

Get 10% OFF everything in our store using this code:

EARTH2025

Min order $100, excluding S/H. Exp. Exp 4-27-25.

Grow Green and Save!

Cat with trees in nursery

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