Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Black Tacca Lily. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Tacca Lily - Black Bat Flower, Devil Flower

A flying bat with whiskers. Tacca. It's rare. It's weird.
  • Tacca Lily - also known as the Black Bat Flower or Devil Flower, looks like something brewed up in a witch's greenhouse.
  • The flower isn't really a single flower - it's a full-on performance. Giant black-maroon "wings" stretch out like a bat in flight, while long, drooping filaments dangle like eerie whiskers or jungle jewelry. Some can reach over a foot long!
  • Those weird, wild filaments? They're not just for show - they are believed to help mimic the look of decaying matter to attract pollinators like flies. Creepy? Yes. Clever? Absolutely.
  • The plant blooms best when it feels pampered - think filtered light, tropical vibes, and spa-level humidity. A smart indoor exotic for a bathroom with a skylight!
  • It grows from a rhizome, and while the Black Tacca (T. chantrieri) is prized for its spooky looks, its Green cousin (T. leontopetaloides) is actually used to make a type of tropical arrowroot starch.
  • Some gardeners say it takes a while to bloom (maybe a few months) - but once it does, it becomes the crown jewel of the greenhouse. People will ask if it's real. You'll say, "Yes, and it lives here!"
  • Tacca comes in different species/colors: Black, White, Green:

Tacca nivea - White Tacca
Tacca chantrieri - Black Tacca
Tacca leontopetaloides - Green Tacca

📚 Learn more:

🛒 Shop Bat Head Lilies - Devil's Flower Tacca

#Nature_Wonders #Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts

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A flying bat with whiskers? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Tacca Lily - Black Bat Flower, Devil Flower - cartoon

Tacca Lily - Black Bat Flower, Devil Flower - cartoon

A flying bat with whiskers?

Have you seen a flower like this? Find out from the next post!⤵️

Tacca Lily - also known as the Black Bat Flower or Devil Flower, looks like something brewed up in a witch's greenhouse.

🛒 Shop Bat Head Lilies - Devil's Flower Tacca

#Nature_Wonders #Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts

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The fiery plant that fights sugar: Nature secret insulin? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag

Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, Fiery Costus, Spiral Flag

💚 The fiery plant that fights sugar: Nature secret insulin?
  • Costus igneus - Insulin Plant, also known as Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag, this vibrant tropical plant is famous for its potential health benefits - especially for people managing diabetes. Nicknamed the insulin plant, it's believed to help lower blood glucose levels naturally.
  • Its lush, turmeric-like leaves spiral around upright stems, with a glossy dark green top and a striking light purple underside. The plant grows up to two feet tall and forms elegant clumps from underground rhizomes.
  • In warm months, it produces bright orange, cone-like flowers that stand out beautifully in the garden.
  • Beyond its beauty, the insulin plant is credited with aiding digestion, reducing cholesterol, boosting energy, improving skin health, supporting weight loss, relieving stress, and promoting heart wellness. A real botanical multitasker!


🛒 Grow your own sugar-fighter - order the Insulin Plant

📚 Learn more:
Most interesting edible gingers

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Shade_Garden #Fun_Facts

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Is it real or porcelain? Discover the flower that fools the eye! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower

Is it real... or porcelain? Discover the tree that fools the eye!

🔮 Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower has pink blooms so perfect they look fake! This easygoing tree thrives in both sun or shade and even feeds birds with its apple-like fruit. Great undemanding yet unusual flowering plant for container in a shady spot.

🛒Add a touch of porcelain magic to your garden

📚 Learn more:
A flower that looks plastic ceramic

#Container_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts
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Gemstone of the Desert Roses. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Adenium Ploysai

Adenium Ploysai

🌸 Gemstone of the Desert Roses
  • 🌸 Adenium Ploysai - is named after the Thai phrase for "clear gemstone". Its soft white petals with watercolor-pink edges bloom like a crystal rose at dawn!
  • 🌸 Ploysai features lovely creamy pink petals with soft yellow tones blending around the edges. The flower's layers create a full and elegant appearance, with a gentle gradient effect that adds to its charm. A graceful and vibrant bloom, perfect for brightening up your garden!
  • 🌸 See photos of the actual Adenium Ploysai in next post 👇


🛒 Get your own Adenium Ploysai

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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Dramatic and regal: is it Adenium or Amaryllis? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Adenium Black Amaryllis

Adenium Black Amaryllis

⭐ Dramatic and regal: is it Adenium or Amaryllis?
  • 🖤 Black Amaryllis Adenium has many layers of rich, dark red petals with a striking multi-colored border in shades of red, pink, and dark red - almost black.
  • 🖤 The intricate layering and bold color contrast give the flower a dramatic, almost regal appearance, resembling the classic elegance of an amaryllis.
  • 🖤 Its complex beauty makes it a powerful and captivating addition to your garden, combining the best features of both flowers. See photos of the actual Adenium Caramel in next post 👇


🛒 Get your Black Amaryllis Adenium

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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Who can handle a quarter of a million plants? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

🌸 Who can handle a quarter of a million plants?

Orchids come in many shapes, sizes and colors. There are approximately between 25,000 species as well as over 250,000 of hybrids. It's one quarter of a million! Learn about these amazing plants from our orchid expert Robert Riefer:
📱

🛒 Explore orchids and epiphytes

#Fun_Facts #Shade_Garden #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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It looks so tasty - you want to paint this masterpiece! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Adenium Caramel

Adenium Caramel

🍰 It looks so tasty - you want to paint this masterpiece!
  • 🍰 Adenium Caramel is one of our favorites at Top Tropicals! It features soft, creamy petals with delicate hints of peach and coral, creating a warm, caramel-like color.
  • 🍰 The smooth, gradual transition between shades adds to the flower's elegant appearance.
  • 🍰 Its soft and inviting colors make it a sweet and sophisticated addition to your garden, like a delicate treat that brightens your space. See photos of the actual Adenium Caramel in next post 👇


🛒 Get your own Caramel Adenium

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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The true bloom of the Flowerland. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Moung Kusuma Adenium

Moung Kusuma Adenium

🌺 The true bloom of the Flowerland
  • 🌺 Adenium Moung Kusuma, (also known as Moung Jinda) - meaning in Thai language City of Flowers, or Flower Land - showcases rich, deep magenta petals with a velvety texture.
  • 🌺 The dark hues are complemented by a subtle gradient towards black border, giving the flower a striking, dramatic look. Its intricate layers and bold color make it a standout addition to your garden, radiating elegance and charm. See photos of the actual Moung Kusuma in next post 👇


🛒 Order Moung Kusuma Adenium

📚 More adeniums

#Nature_Wonders #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts #Adenium

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