"/>
Index > Garden Blog

Date:

Fruit of Money and Love

Fruit of Money and Love
❤️💰 Fruit of Money and Love

🫘 Theobroma cacao, commonly known as the Chocolate Tree or Cacao Tree, is very exciting plant and a superfood as we mentioned earlier.

  • 💥 Theobroma means "food of the gods" in Greek. "Theo" means god, and "broma" means food.

  • 💥 The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs were among the first to cultivate cacao, using it to make a bitter beverage called xocoatl. It was often spiced with chili peppers and used in various rituals and ceremonies.

  • 💥 Currency: in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao beans were so valuable that they were used as a form of currency. For example, 100 beans could buy a slave or a turkey.

  • 💥 The Aztecs believed that cacao had stimulating properties and used it as an aphrodisiac. Emperor Montezuma was said to consume a large amount of cacao before visiting his harem. We can't deny that chocolate's mood-enhancing properties, combined with cultural and psychological factors, contribute to its romantic allure! ❤️

  • 💥 A cacao pod contains 20 to 50 beans, each surrounded by a sweet, mucilaginous pulp. The pods grow directly on the trunk and larger branches of the tree, a feature known as cauliflory.

  • 💥 After harvesting, cacao beans are fermented for several days, a critical step that develops the flavor precursors needed for chocolate production.

  • 💥 The Cacao tree thrives in the humid, tropical regions around the equator. It can be grown as an exciting house plant.

  • 💥 Health benefits: cacao beans are rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other minerals. They also contain flavonoids, associated with heart health benefits.

  • 💥 There are three main varieties of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. Criollo is considered the highest quality but is less common due to its susceptibility to disease. Forastero is the most widely grown, known for its hardiness. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two.

  • 💥 It takes about 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate. The beans undergo roasting, grinding, and mixing with sugar and other ingredients to produce the final chocolate product.


📚Learn more: Plants of Love - Aphrodisiacs of the plant world

🛒 Grow your own Chocolate Tree

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Fruit of Money and Love

Fruit of Money and Love Fruit of Money and Love Fruit of Money and Love
❤️💰 Fruit of Money and Love

🫘 Theobroma cacao, commonly known as the Chocolate Tree or Cacao Tree, is very exciting plant and a superfood as we mentioned earlier.

  • 💥 Theobroma means "food of the gods" in Greek. "Theo" means god, and "broma" means food.

  • 💥 The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs were among the first to cultivate cacao, using it to make a bitter beverage called xocoatl. It was often spiced with chili peppers and used in various rituals and ceremonies.

  • 💥 Currency: in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao beans were so valuable that they were used as a form of currency. For example, 100 beans could buy a slave or a turkey.

  • 💥 The Aztecs believed that cacao had stimulating properties and used it as an aphrodisiac. Emperor Montezuma was said to consume a large amount of cacao before visiting his harem. We can't deny that chocolate's mood-enhancing properties, combined with cultural and psychological factors, contribute to its romantic allure! ❤️

  • 💥 A cacao pod contains 20 to 50 beans, each surrounded by a sweet, mucilaginous pulp. The pods grow directly on the trunk and larger branches of the tree, a feature known as cauliflory.

  • 💥 After harvesting, cacao beans are fermented for several days, a critical step that develops the flavor precursors needed for chocolate production.

  • 💥 The Cacao tree thrives in the humid, tropical regions around the equator. It can be grown as an exciting house plant.

  • 💥 Health benefits: cacao beans are rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other minerals. They also contain flavonoids, associated with heart health benefits.

  • 💥 There are three main varieties of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. Criollo is considered the highest quality but is less common due to its susceptibility to disease. Forastero is the most widely grown, known for its hardiness. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two.

  • 💥 It takes about 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate. The beans undergo roasting, grinding, and mixing with sugar and other ingredients to produce the final chocolate product.


📚Learn more: Plants of Love - Aphrodisiacs of the plant world

🛒 Grow your own Chocolate Tree

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Fruit of Money and Love

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

Theobroma cacao - Chocolate Tree, Cacao Tree

❤️💰 Fruit of Money and Love

🫘 Theobroma cacao, commonly known as the Chocolate Tree or Cacao Tree, is very exciting plant and a superfood as we mentioned earlier.
  • 💥 Theobroma means "food of the gods" in Greek. "Theo" means god, and "broma" means food.
  • 💥 The Olmecs, Mayans, and Aztecs were among the first to cultivate cacao, using it to make a bitter beverage called xocoatl. It was often spiced with chili peppers and used in various rituals and ceremonies.
  • 💥 Currency: in ancient Mesoamerican cultures, cacao beans were so valuable that they were used as a form of currency. For example, 100 beans could buy a slave or a turkey.
  • 💥 The Aztecs believed that cacao had stimulating properties and used it as an aphrodisiac. Emperor Montezuma was said to consume a large amount of cacao before visiting his harem. We can't deny that chocolate's mood-enhancing properties, combined with cultural and psychological factors, contribute to its romantic allure! ❤️
  • 💥 A cacao pod contains 20 to 50 beans, each surrounded by a sweet, mucilaginous pulp. The pods grow directly on the trunk and larger branches of the tree, a feature known as cauliflory.
  • 💥 After harvesting, cacao beans are fermented for several days, a critical step that develops the flavor precursors needed for chocolate production.
  • 💥 The Cacao tree thrives in the humid, tropical regions around the equator. It can be grown as an exciting house plant.
  • 💥 Health benefits: cacao beans are rich in antioxidants, magnesium, iron, and other minerals. They also contain flavonoids, associated with heart health benefits.
  • 💥 There are three main varieties of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario. Criollo is considered the highest quality but is less common due to its susceptibility to disease. Forastero is the most widely grown, known for its hardiness. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two.
  • 💥 It takes about 400 cacao beans to make one pound of chocolate. The beans undergo roasting, grinding, and mixing with sugar and other ingredients to produce the final chocolate product.


📚Learn more: Plants of Love - Aphrodisiacs of the plant world

🛒 Grow your own Chocolate Tree

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Celebrate America with
Independence Week Sale!

Independence Week Sale Cat

Celebrate the birthday of our great Country with Top Tropicals Independence Week Sale! Finally get all the plants you ever wanted for your garden - at amazing prices! Choose from over 100 varieties of rare tropical plants specially priced for this week:

BLUE TAG SALE $9.95 >> SHOP

RED TAG SALE $14.95 >> SHOP

Feel FREE to shop away! Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enhance your garden with tropical beauty. But remember, this sale lasts only ONE WEEK, so hurry to get your plants and plant them during the best time of the year - hot summer! This is the ideal time to establish your plants quickly and ensure they become strong before winter arrives.

Check out our BOGO DEALS and Shipping discounts and make it a steal!

While supply lasts
Deals expire July 4, 2024
No minimum order
Max order: 2 plants per variety per order (for shipped orders)
Local pick up - no limit!

Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage, Lead Flower

Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage, Lead Flower
See more $9.95 deals

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - Summer Snow

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - Summer Snow
See more $14.95 deals

Tithonia diversifolia - Sunflower tree

Tithonia diversifolia - Sunflower tree - only $9.95!
See more $9.95 deals

Independence Week Sale Cat

Tabernaemontana Flore Pleno, Crape Jasmine - only $14.95!
See more $14.95 deals

Date:

Why cannon balls grow on a tree with mollusk open mouth

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree with fruit

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree with fruit

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree flower

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree flower

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree fruit

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree fruit

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree flower

Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree flower

🔮 Why cannon balls grow on a tree with mollusk open mouth.
  • 🐙 Couroupita guianensis - Cannonball Tree - is a rare tree from South America with a bizarre fruit and flowers, that can be seen only in tropical botanic gardens.
  • 🐙 It is a very tall tree with large, elliptical leaves
  • 🐙 The pinkish-red flowers, strongly scented at night, grow directly from the trunk near the base of the crown, and not on the branches. They look like exotic mollusks! They have a complex structure with numerous stamens that resemble sea anemones or other marine life. The flower is often described as looking like an open mouth or a sea creature.
  • 🐙 The tree blooms year round. Flowers are followed by large, globular fruit, up to 8 inches in diameter, resembling cannonballs, hence the name "Cannonball Tree." They remain on the tree for many months. On older trees there may be dozens of fruits and flower clusters at the same time!
  • 🐙 When the ripe fruits fall from the tree, they can make a loud, cannonball-like noise upon hitting the ground due to their size and weight.


🛒 Shop rare plants

#Fun_Facts #Trees #Nature_Wonders

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Healthy breakfast, lunch or snack: Avocado toast

Healthy breakfast, lunch or snack: Avocado toast
🥑 Healthy breakfast, lunch or snack: Avocado toast

Avocado toast is creamy, crisp and so satisfying. It’s a delicious and simple breakfast, snack or light meal!

🥪 Ingredients (makes 1 toast):

  • ◾️ 1 slice of bread (thick-sliced whole-grain or rye bread is the best)
  • ◾️ ½ ripe avocado
  • ◾️ Pinch of salt and black pepper


📝 Instructions

  • ◾️ Toast your slice of bread until golden and firm.
  • ◾️ Remove the pit from your avocado. Use a big spoon to scoop out the flesh.
  • ◾️ Spread avocado on top of your toast.
  • ◾️ Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and pepper.


🍿 Enjoy!

🛒 Grow your own Avocado and Pepper plants

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

What happened to our favorite houseplants - hoyas?

Hoya Ban Ngong Ngoy from Thailand

🏡 What happened to our favorite houseplants - hoyas?

Hoyas are not forgotten! It is one of the most favorite house plants. Hoya Ban Ngong Ngoy from Thailand has a lovely fragrance!
  • ♦️ Fragrance is lovely, subtle scent.
  • ♦️ Strong, vigorous, fast-growing species, similar to Hoya carnosa.
  • ♦️ Beautiful flowers: umbel of flowers is about 3" wide with tiny maroon stars and white frosted edges.
  • ♦️ Dark green leaves have silver white flecks and darker green veining.
  • ♦️ Provide a trellis or stake to manage its rambling growth.


What varieties of hoya do you have in your collection? Share in comments👇

🛒 Shop Hoyas

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Medusas Head Flower - from Greek mythology

Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower

Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower

Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower

Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower

Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower

🦑 Medusa's Head Flower - from Greek mythology...
  • 🐙 Strophanthus preussii - Poison Arrow Vine, Medusa Flower - has an intriguing flower!
  • 🐙 The faintly fragrant flowers have long, slender, and curly petals that resemble the snakes on Medusa's head from Greek mythology, giving it the nickname "Medusa Flower." The petals often extend and twist dramatically, creating an eye-catching appearance. The tips of the petals become narrowed and elongated, forming a twisting, sticky string that dangles down from the flower and touches lower leaves.
  • 🐙 The flowers are brightly colored, often in shades of white, yellow, and red, which can attract pollinators and add to their striking visual appeal.
  • 🐙 As suggested by another common name "Poison Arrow Vine," parts of the plant contain toxic compounds. Historically, the seeds were used by some African tribes to poison the tips of arrows for hunting. This gives the plant a certain mystique...
  • 🐙 Interesting pollination mechanism: the elaborate design of the flowers is not just for show; it plays a role in the plant's pollination strategy. The intricate structure can help ensure that pollinators come into contact with the reproductive parts of the flower, thereby facilitating cross-pollination.
  • 🐙 Blooms almost year around


What bizarre plants do you have in your collection? Share in comments👇

🛒 Order Medusa Flower

#Hedges_with_benefits #Nature_Wonders #Butterfly_Plants

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Good luck tree that brings money and prosperity? And yet shade, spectacular flowers and edible nuts? It is

Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra) - Malabar Peanut or Guiana Chestnut

💰Good luck tree that brings money and prosperity? And yet shade, spectacular flowers and edible nuts? It is Guiana Chestnut!
  • 🤞 Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra) - Malabar Peanut or Guiana Chestnut is a beautiful, fast growing flowering tree with edible nuts!
  • 🤞 Tropical wetland tree native to Central and South America, known for its large, glossy leaves and its distinctive, braided trunk.
  • 🤞 The tree is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to those who own it, and is sometimes referred to as a "money tree."
  • 🤞 Pachira aquatica is also used in traditional medicine and often used for bonsai.


What other plants bring good luck? Share in comments👇

🛒 Order Guaiana Chestnut Money Tree online

#Trees #Food_Forest

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Top Tropicals Telegram Channel

Dombeya seminole - Tropical Rose Hydrangea

⬆️ The number one seller of tropical flowering shrubs: Tropical Rose Hydrangea.
  • 🌸 Dombeya seminole - Tropical Rose Hydrangea is one of the showiest landscape plants and a real showstopper
  • 🌸 Known as the tropical hydrangea due to similar flowers. Flowers are pink to rose in color.
  • 🌸 Blooms from fall to spring. Blooms all winter, providing much-desired color
  • 🌸 Grows up to 7 feet tall and about the same in width. Can be pruned to about 5 feet tall. Does well in a container.
  • 🌸 Thrives in full sun to partial shade, tolerates poor soil. Fuller shrub and more flowers with more sun.

  • Fairly drought-tolerant once established.
  • 🌸 Serves as a nectar plant for many butterflies


🛒 Shop Dombeyas

#Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants

🏵 TopTropicals