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Index > Garden Blog

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The Magic of 3 top tropical trees
from the legends of Caribbean

Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana:
Three happy colors of the Tropics

paintings of 3 top tropical trees - Royal Poinciana, Yellow Poinciana, and 
Jacaranda

While traveling through the vibrant and diverse Caribbean, we acquired three exquisite local paintings. Two of these are masterfully rendered on jacaranda wood plates, and the third is beautifully crafted on a calabash. These stunning pieces of art celebrate the three most spectacular and revered flowering trees of the Tropics: Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana.

These trees are not only visually stunning but also deeply embedded in Caribbean culture, legends, and folk remedies.

The Yellow Poinciana, with its bright golden blossoms, is often associated with joy and sunlight, symbolizing the warmth of the Caribbean spirit.
The Jacaranda, known for its striking lavender-blue flowers, is a symbol of wisdom and rebirth, often blooming in a breathtaking display that signals the change of seasons.
The Royal Poinciana, with its fiery red and orange flowers, is a symbol of passion and energy, often referred to as the "Flamboyant" tree due to its bold and dramatic appearance.

These trees hold a special place in the hearts of the Caribbean people. They are featured in numerous local stories and songs, and their flowers and leaves are used in traditional remedies and rituals. Owning these paintings feels like possessing a piece of the Caribbean's soul and its natural beauty.

Now, we are fortunate to have not only the paintings but also the actual trees. Watching them grow and bloom in our garden brings a piece of the Caribbean to our home, a constant reminder of our travels and the vibrant culture we experienced. These trees and their representations in art are a testament to the region's rich heritage and its enduring connection to nature.

Get them now while we have them. No need to go too far into Caribbean!

Peltophorum africanum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum africanum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana. An excellent garden shade tree, beautiful in flower. This variety starts flowering at young age, in 3 gal pot.

Jacaranda mimosifolia (acutifolia)

Jacaranda mimosifolia - Hypnotizing bluish-purple, trumpet-like flowers create the magical image of the tree. Incredible, long-lasting purple blooms. When the trumpet-shaped blooms finally fall, they form a lilac carpet beneath the awe-inspiring Jacaranda for luxuriant curb appeal...

Royal poinciana, Flamboyant tree, Delonix regia

Royal poinciana, Flamboyant tree, Delonix regia - "One of the most spectacular flowering trees in the USA, and probably among the top 10 on this planet. In full bloom, it is like a regal elephant caparisoned in red and yellow brilliance." (Larry M. Schokman, The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden)

Date:

Vote now: Tropical Plant contest ending soon

Enter a photo to win Joy Perfume tree
and vote to select the winner!

tropical flowering plants contest

We already have many beautiful pictures submitted, check them out!
Hurry up to enter your favorite plant photo to win a beautiful Joy Perfume tree - Champaka!

WE NEED YOUR HELP:

Vote for participants and ask your friends to join the voting - we will need a winner soon!

Deadline - June 1, 2024 at 3 pm

Win Joy Perfume Tree

Date:

This is not AI

Wood Chip Flower - Strophanthus bovinii

‼️ This is not AI...
It's a real plant, called Wood Chip Flower -
Strophanthus bovinii - blooming now in our garden.

@TopTropicals you will discover exotic plants you've never seen before:
🏵 Breathtaking flowers and perfume plants
🥭 Rare fruit trees from around the world
🌿 Ethnomedical herbs

✅ All you need to know about rare tropical plants, how to grow and use them, where to get them - in one TopTropicals channel.
We have them all.

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TopTropicals - We Grow Happiness

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Who wants a cold hardy, dramatic looking tropical fruit tree with a sweet fruit? Or, who doesnt?

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

🍯 Who wants a cold hardy, dramatic looking tropical fruit tree with a sweet fruit? Or, who doesn't?
  • 🍑 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.) is a graceful, small, subtropical fruit tree from China, with multitrunked or single-stemmed structure and drooping leaves and branches, turning dramatic shades in autumn.
  • 🍑 People love Persimmon fruit for its sweet and unique flavor, often described as a blend of honey and apricot.
  • 🍑 The tree thrives in deep, well-drained loam soil, tolerating alkaline conditions.
  • 🍑 The fruit classified into astringent (soft, sweeter pulp) and non-astringent (crunchy) cultivars.
  • 🍑 Best Varieties for Container Culture:

  • Non-Astringent: Fuyu, Giant Fuyu, Matsumoto-Wase, Jiro, Maekawa, Izu.
    Astringent: Chocolate, Guang Yang, Hachiya, Meader, Saijo, Tanenashi, Winterset.
  • 🍑 Hardy to USDA zones 7-10, may need protection in colder regions.


📚 How to grow Persimmon tree


🛒Order Persimmon Tree

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

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What plant has fragrant leaves and flowers? Soft and fuzzy Tropical Lilac!

Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac

Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac

Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac

Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac

Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac

What plant has fragrant leaves and flowers? Soft and fuzzy Tropical Lilac!
  • 🟣 Cornutia grandifolia, also known as African lilac, Jamaican lilac, or Tropical Lilac, is a fast-growing, large shrub with astonishing fragrant velvet leaves.
  • 🟣 Tall stalks shoot out multiple lavender blue flowers, creating an outstanding display.
  • 🟣 Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, it adds life to any garden with its lively inflorescence 🦋
  • 🟣 Leaves can grow very large, up to 10" wide. They are fuzzy, very soft to touch, and aromatic, emitting pleasant tobacco-like scent when rubbed.
  • 🟣 Relatively cold hardy, Tropical Lilac thrives in full sun or semi-shade positions, bringing joy with its pleasant aroma and beautiful blooms.


🛒 Get aromatic Tropical Lilac

#Butterfly_Plants #Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

🏵 TopTropicals

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How to always have lots of Guava Juice

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

Psidium littorale, Cattley Guava

🍈 How to always have lots of Guava Juice.
  • 🧡 Psidium littorale, also known as Cattley Guava, is a charming small tropical fruit tree.
  • 🧡 Round fruits offer a unique culinary experience with a sweet and tangy flavor, perfect for various dishes and drinks.
  • 🧡 Surprisingly cold-hardy, it adds both beauty and flavor to any landscape.
  • 🧡 Ideal for containers
  • 🧡 A must-have for fruit lovers seeking a tropical treat.
  • 🧡 One tree can bring enough fruit for making a delicious, aromatic, refreshing Guava juice for the whole family during Summer months. Just put the fruit in a blender, add some water, ice and sugar and enjoy!🥤


🛒Order Cattley Guava and never run out of juice

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🏵 TopTropicals

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What flower smells like warm chocolate?

Portlandia grandiflora - Glorious Flower of Cuba

☕️ What flower smells like warm chocolate?
  • 💙 Portlandia grandiflora - Glorious Flower of Cuba is an extremely rare plant.
  • 💙 Luscious perfume of bell-like flowers reminiscent of warm, creamy chocolate.
  • 💙 Small compact tree, perfect for containers or small gardens.
  • 💙 One of very few tropical plants that tolerate alkaline soils❗️


🛒 Get Warm Chocolate Plant

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

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How to get rid of a bad luck with the Garlic Vine?

Garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea)

Garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea)

👾 How to get rid of a bad luck with the Garlic Vine?
  • 🟣 Garlic vine (Mansoa alliacea) is one of the most wanted flowering tropical vines.
  • 🟣 When in full bloom, it looks like a cascade of blue-purple over a fence or trellis.
  • 🟣 The fun part is, crushed leaves smell like garlic, which will keep away the vampires and bad luck! 🧛
  • 🟣 Deep lavender flowers with white throat fading to a paler lavender within a few days, and you can see all three colors on the plant at the same time.
  • 🟣 Garlic vine has moderate growth rate and can stay compact in a pot as a specimen, and even can be grown as a house plant.


📚 Garlic vine: how to get rid of bad luck

🎥 Video: Garlic vine keeps away the vampires.

🛒 Get rid of bad luck by getting the Garlic Vine

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Fun_Facts #How_to #Nature_Wonders

🏵 TopTropicals

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What tropical fruit tree is cold hardy and easy to grow? Its Golden Loquat the Symbol of Prosperity, and it tastes like

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruit

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruit

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) trees in pots

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) trees in pots

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) tree

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) tree

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) compot

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) compot

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruit

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) fruit

🧡 What tropical fruit tree is cold hardy and easy to grow? It's Golden Loquat – the Symbol of Prosperity, and it tastes like apricots!
  • 🍑 Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, compact tropical fruit tree.
  • 🍑 Heavy producer. Fruits are juicy, aromatic, and resemble apricots. Ripen from early Spring to early Summer.
  • 🍑 Ideal for small gardens, beginner fruit tree growers.
  • 🍑 High in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin.
  • 🍑 Eaten fresh, used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, pies, tarts, and wine

  • Popular as a natural sweetener and for creating sauces.
  • 🍑 Grown in Japan for over 1,000 years. In China, represents gold and wealth, often included in auspicious displays or offerings for prosperity💰


📚 Learn more about Loquats
🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛒Start your fruit garden with Loquats

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Can Frangipani be a vine? How to bring fragrance into your garden

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

Chonemorpha fragrans, Frangipani vine

💮 Can Frangipani be a vine? How to bring fragrance into your garden.

Chonemorpha fragrans, or Frangipani vine, is a large woody tropical liana with clusters of large, perfume-fragrant flowers and lush green foliage. It is close related to perfumed Plumeria - Frangipani.
  • 🌸 Chonemorpha's intoxicating scent fills the air, creating a sensory delight for all nearby.
  • 🌸 Leaves reaching up to 12 (!) inches add to its allure.
  • 🌸 Being a large woody vine, Frangipani vine requires sturdy support, making it a majestic addition to any garden or indoor space.
  • 🌸 Takes both sun or shade. Full sun is essential for profuse blooming.


🛒 Buy Frangipani Vine

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals