Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

Guava grilled cheese

Cats Philemon and James Coconuts

Cherry of the Rio Grande - Eugenia aggregata

🍒 Don't plant cherries until you see this one!

🍒 Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata) is one of those tropical fruits you don't forget once you taste it. The fruit looks like a dark ruby jewel and ripens to almost black, with a sweet, full cherry-like flavor.
🍒 Unlike the temperate cherries, this one thrives in warm climates and starts flowering as early as March, keeping the harvest going well into summer.
🍒 This little fruit tree that fits anywhere! It's slender, branching, fits neatly in limited spaces or even in a pot, yet still produces plenty of fruit.
🍒 Can a tropical cherry really handle freezing temps? Once mature, Cherry of the Rio Grande can handle surprising cold snaps down into the 20s. A tough little tree that gives you a taste of the tropics right in your own backyard!

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Cash the Cat with a glass of wine

Moringa oleifera, Horseradish tree

🌳 Moringa vs spinach: which one wins for nutrition?

✔️Moringa is sometimes called the Tree of Life, and for good reason. Almost every part is edible - leaves, pods, seeds, even the flowers. It isn't just a tree, it's like a whole pantry and medicine cabinet rolled into one.
✔️ The leaves pack vitamins, minerals, and protein.
✔️ The pods look like drumsticks and end up in curries.
✔️ Even the seeds are handy - pressed for oil or used to clean water.
✔️ And here's the bonus: it grows fast, covers itself in fragrant white flowers, and looks beautiful right in your garden.
✔️ A tree that feeds you, heals you, and makes the yard smell good.

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Avocado pineapple salsa

Cat Bob is smiling

Red Kapok tree - Bombax (Ceiba) malabaricum

💥 You wont believe this Bombax tree is real!

💥 If you have ever seen a mature Bombax tree (Bombax ceiba), you were impressed!
💥 A fire in the canopy. The Red Kapok tree, or Bombax (Ceiba) malabaricum) - is one of the most striking flowering trees in the tropics. In late winter and spring, when its branches are bare, it bursts into bloom with huge, crimson flowers that light up the entire crown. These flowers are not only spectacular to look at but also rich in nectar, drawing in flocks of birds, bees, and butterflies. Their size, color, and fragrance make the tree a true seasonal landmark wherever it grows.
💥 More than just beauty. Beyond its beauty, the Bombax tree has many uses. Its blossoms, bark, and leaves are valued in traditional medicine for treating coughs, skin issues, and inflammation. The tree produces large woody pods filled with silky floss that has long been used for stuffing pillows, cushions, and life jackets. Its wood is strong yet lightweight, making it useful for carving, canoes, and even musical instruments.
💥 Sacred and symbolic. The Bombax tree also carries cultural weight. In Hindu mythology, it is associated with Lord Indra, the god of rain and storms, and in many regions it is considered sacred, often celebrated during festivals.
💥 A tree you never forget. With its towering trunk, impressive buttress roots, and dazzling red blooms, the Bombax tree is more than just an ornamental - it is a tree of beauty, tradition, and utility.

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Cat Georgie at TopTropicals