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Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises This wild-looking jungle cactus doesn't grow straight - it spirals, twirls, and twists! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, leaves

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, leaves

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, fruit

Epiphyllum guatemalense - Curly Locks, fruit

🥨 Botanical bedhead: curly, crazy, and full of surprises
  • 🥨 This wild-looking jungle cactus doesn't grow straight - it spirals, twirls, and twists! Meet Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, or Curly Locks.
  • 🥨 A natural mutation of Epiphyllum guatemalense, Curly Locks creates a tangled cascade of curly stems that look like botanical noodles!
  • 🥨 Perfect for hanging baskets, it blooms fragrant, orchid-like flowers at night and produces juicy, edible pink fruit.
  • 🥨 It's self-pollinating and thrives in bright, indirect light. Let it get root-bound to encourage blooms, and water moderately.
  • 🥨 A must-have oddity for cactus lovers and collectors!


🛒 Get the curly cactus now

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame

#Fun_Facts #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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How to grow the Fern with Elephant Ears How to grow the Fern with Elephant Ears Continued from previous post If you love dramatic foliage but don't want the diva attitude, this gentle giant is for you! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to grow the Fern with Elephant Ears

Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern

🍀 How to grow the Fern with Elephant Ears

Continued from previous post
  • 🐘 If you love dramatic foliage but don't want the diva attitude, this gentle giant is for you!
  • 🐘 Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern - is native to tropical Africa, it loves warm temps, high humidity, and indirect light. It thrives in partial sun to bright indirect light and should be kept evenly moist. As it matures, mount it on a wooden plaque, since as one of the largest staghorn ferns in cultivation, it can become a massive specimen! Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern is sure to impress your gardening friends.
  • 🐘 A fantastic choice for shaded patios, trees, or fern walls - it brings jungle vibes without being fussy. More sculptural than spiky, elephantotis is a must-have for collectors, houseplant lovers, and fern fans who want something out of the ordinary. It's big, bold, and undeniably cool.
  • 🐘Fun_facts: The bigger the fern, the better it gets - this species just keeps getting more majestic with age!


🛒 Claim your gentle giant

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

So rare, it should come with a passport! The most laid-back member of the staghorn clan is Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

So rare, it should come with a passport!

Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern

Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern

🌿 So rare, it should come with a passport!
  • 🐘 The most laid-back member of the staghorn clan is Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern.
  • 🐘 The Gentle Giant of the Fern World, this rare Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern has tall shield fronds and deeply veined, round fertile fronds that look like elephant ears instead of stags horns.
  • 🐘 It features huge, rounded shield fronds that resemble elephant ears - soft, wavy, and deeply textured. Unlike its antler-shaped cousins, this species has broad, floppy fronds that hang down like giant green sails.
  • 🐘Epiphytic by nature - grows mounted on wood, hanging baskets, or trees, just like in the wild.


Continued in next post...

🛒 Bring the Elephant home

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

The fern that dreams are made of The fern that dreams are made of. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

The fern that dreams are made of

Dreaming of Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern

Dreaming of Platycerium elephantotis - Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern

🐘 The fern that dreams are made of. Literally.

Ever dreamed of an elephant with fern ears? Well... now it exists. And it hangs on your wall.
Platycerium elephantotis - the Elephant Ear Staghorn Fern that's big, bold, and totally mind-blowing.
Check it out in the next posts➡

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

Have you ever seen a Half-n-Half Parrot's Beak? Just landed: Half-n-Half Parrots Beak - rare variegated form! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Have you ever seen a Half-n-Half Parrots Beak?

Gmelina philippensis variegata - Half-n-Half Parrots Beak

🦜 Have you ever seen a Half-n-Half Parrot's Beak?

‼️ Just landed: Half-n-Half Parrots Beak - rare variegated form! Limited quantities - first time ever!
  • 🐦 We just got our hands on a super rare twist of a beloved classic - Half n Half Parrot's Beak! This is not your average Gmelina philippensis. It's a variegated version you've probably never seen before, and it's ready to steal the show!
  • 🐦 Classic Parrot's Beak is already a fan favorite with its whimsical, hanging branches and cartoonish yellow blooms that really do look like parrots mid-laugh. Now imagine all that - with variegation!
  • 🐦 Why is it special? Because each leaf is half green, half creamy-white - a stunning two-tone effect . It's got the same iconic yellow parrot-beak flowers, but with a brand-new flair.
  • 🐦 Compact growth and ivy-shaped foliage make it ideal for bonsai. The leaves reduce beautifully with training. Develops character as it ages: spiny branches, textured bark, and an artistic form perfect for styling.
  • 🐦 Fast grower with a naturally tidy canopy, it produces eye-catching yellow flowers shaped like parrot beaks, hanging in chain-like racemes. This rare form is perfect for collectors, bonsai lovers, or anyone who wants a showpiece plant that sparks conversation.
  • 🐦 Note: Gmelina is pronounced "Melina" - the G is silent, but the plant is anything but!


📚Check out the Classic Parrot Beak in earlier post and in the Video

🛒 Limited quantity available - grab your Half n Half before they’re gone!

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

❤️ Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

  • 🌺 Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! It's a cactus that acts nothing like one - and then bursts out in flowers the size of your hand!

  • 🌺 It blooms from Spring through Summer and steals the spotlight every time. The plant grows like a lush, green fern with flat stems that drape and cascade like a living chandelier.

  • 🌺 It may be a cactus, but it loves water and shade - more diva than desert. Native to the tropical forests of Mexico, this epiphyte thrives in a hanging basket and turns heads wherever it grows.

  • 🌺 Why collectors search for it? Because it's rare, eye-catching, and just plain fun to grow. No spines, no drama - just bold flowers and easy charm. This is one of those plants that visitors always ask about. If you're a collector, it's not a want – it's a need.


🛒 Get the Red Orchid Cactus everyone talks about

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame
Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, Curly Locks

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show

Disocactus ackermanni - Red Orchid Cactus

❤️ Which epiphytic cactus puts out the biggest bloom show
  • 🌺 Disocactus ackermanni, also called the Red Orchid Cactus, puts on a jaw-dropping show with huge, blazing red flowers that can reach 6 inches wide! It's a cactus that acts nothing like one - and then bursts out in flowers the size of your hand!
  • 🌺 It blooms from Spring through Summer and steals the spotlight every time. The plant grows like a lush, green fern with flat stems that drape and cascade like a living chandelier.
  • 🌺 It may be a cactus, but it loves water and shade - more diva than desert. Native to the tropical forests of Mexico, this epiphyte thrives in a hanging basket and turns heads wherever it grows.
  • 🌺 Why collectors search for it? Because it's rare, eye-catching, and just plain fun to grow. No spines, no drama - just bold flowers and easy charm. This is one of those plants that visitors always ask about. If you're a collector, it's not a want – it's a need.


🛒 Get the Red Orchid Cactus everyone talks about

📚 More about exotic epiphytic cacti:
Epiphyllum oxypetalum - Queen of the Night
Pseudorhipsalis (Wittia) amazonica - Blue Flame
Epiphyllum guatemalense Monstrosa - Orchid Cactus, Curly Locks

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

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. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

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:

Have you ever seen a Bridal Bouquet Plumeria this size? In the photo: This beauty is right at our front door! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

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

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Date:

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! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

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

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