Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date:

What tree is the most prolific while its fruit tastes as good as Lychee? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What tree is the most prolific while its fruit tastes as good as Lychee?

Longan fruit, Euphoria longana

🍇 What tree is the most prolific while its fruit tastes as good as Lychee? Longan!
  • 🔴 Longan (Euphoria longana) is a medium sized tree from China, it can be pruned to maintain a small tree size for container culture.
  • 🔴 This Lychee relative has stiffer leaves, more wind resistance and fruits more prolifically and regularly than its famous cousin.
  • 🔴 The flesh is sweet, aromatic and juicy, very similar to Lychee. It is usually eaten fresh but can be canned or dried.
  • 🔴 The crisp skin is easy to remove and the white flesh has a texture and sweetness reminiscent of litchi.
  • 🔴 Longan tree is fast growing, vigorous, and very easy to grow.

    • It is not fussy about soil and water. Young trees are usually air layered and start fruiting right away.


🛒 Plant your own Longan Tree

#Food_Forest

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Date:

What is the most beautiful ginger? 5 most spectacular Ginger species. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the most beautiful ginger? 5 most spectacular Ginger species

Hedychium flavum x coronarium - Yellow Butterfly Ginger

Hedychium flavum x coronarium - Yellow Butterfly Ginger

Costus arabicus (amazonicus) variegata - Variegated Spiral Ginger

Costus arabicus (amazonicus) variegata - Variegated Spiral Ginger

Zingiber Zerumbet - Pine Cone Ginger, Shampoo Ginger

Zingiber Zerumbet - Pine Cone Ginger, Shampoo Ginger

Costus vargasii - Spiral Ginger Raspberry Yogurt

Costus vargasii - Spiral Ginger Raspberry Yogurt

Costus fissiligulatus - African Princess, Cameroon Costus

Costus fissiligulatus - African Princess, Cameroon Costus

🎋 What is the most beautiful ginger? 5 most spectacular Ginger species.

Ginger is famous for its culinary and medicinal uses, and many species are also strikingly beautiful, making them perfect centerpieces for tropical gardens or potted plant collections, especially in shaded spots. Here are a few of our favorite cultivars.
  • 🍭 Hedychium flavum x coronarium - Yellow Butterfly Ginger, Nardo Ginger Lily - rare hybrid of White Butterfly ginger we mentioned earlier, it is more vigorous and tall than its parent. With attractive long green leaves with a slight fuzziness, this ginger has open long spikes of pastel yellow flowers with a beautiful heady aroma. Exquisitely fragrant!
  • 🍭 Costus arabicus (amazonicus) variegata - Variegated Spiral Ginger - is a show stopper! Very popular in Hawaii and Florida. Spiraling stems rise with a strong white variegation and topped with green and white cone like flowers. Vigorous grower, it prefers shade, moist soil and lots of water.
  • 🍭 Zingiber Zerumbet - Pine Cone Ginger, Shampoo Ginger - is probably the most popular one. All parts of this ginger are spicy fragrant. The cone shaped flowers are long lasting and useful for cut flower arrangements. It is in fact used as a shampoo in Asia and Hawaii, and as an ingredient in several commercial shampoos! Pinecone ginger is considered a "canoe plant", that is, a plant introduced throughout the Pacific by the ancient Polynesian settlers.
  • 🍭 Costus vargasii - Spiral Ginger Raspberry Yogurt - The name refers to the colorful raspberry colored stem, but that's not the only colorful thing about it: the leaves are dark green, long and glossy with velvety deep purple undersides. The inflorescence is a vivid red with tight bracts and bold yellow flowers. The butterflies love to drink the nectar from the flowers. Large vigorous ginger, growing up to 5-6 ft tall.
  • 🍭 Costus fissiligulatus - African Princess, Cameroon Costus - from Gabon in West Africa. It has a dazzling pink trumpet flower with a yellow throat. It is very floriferous with an inflorescence of numerous flower buds on a shortish plant of 3-4 ft that stands very erect. It is an easy grower


📚 More gingers in previous posts:
Alpinia formosana x zerumbet Variegata - Variegated Ginger
Costus spicatus x woodsonii - Red Button Ginger, French Kiss
Hedychium coronarium - Butterfly Ginger
Kaempferia angustifolia - Laos Silver Stripe

❔ What is your favorite Ginger? Share in comments👇

🛒 Shop Gingers

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Food_Forest

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Date:

"No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens

No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens
➕ "No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens." - Abraham Lincoln

😶 Good night...

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Why Bananas? They are good for you and are fun to grow! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why Bananas? They are good for you and are fun to grow!

Red Banana

Red Banana

Praying Hands Banana

Praying Hands Banana

Banana fruit

Banana fruit

Rojo Banana

Rojo Banana

Variegated Banana

Variegated Banana

🍌 Why Bananas? They are good for you and are fun to grow!
  • 💛 Bananas are berries, not fruits!
  • 💛 They float in water like apples and watermelons.
  • 💛 Bananas are high in potassium, which helps muscles work properly.
  • 💛 They can improve your mood because they contain tryptophan, which your body turns into serotonin.
  • 💛 Bananas are great for your heart because they have lots of fiber and potassium.
  • 💛 Eating bananas can help with digestion since they are rich in fiber.
  • 💛 They are a natural energy booster, perfect for a quick snack.
  • 💛 Bananas can help keep your blood pressure in check due to their low sodium and high potassium content.
  • 💛 They contain vitamins like B6 and C, which are good for your immune system.
  • 💛 Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on mosquito bites can reduce itching and swelling.


❔ What is your favorite Banana or Plantain variety?
Share in comments👇

🛒 Shop Banana varieties

#Food_Forest #Bananas

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Date:

Why is it called Cry Baby Tree? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why is it called Cry Baby Tree?

Why is it called Cry Baby Tree? Why is it called Cry Baby Tree? Why is it called Cry Baby Tree?
⚡️ Why is it called Cry Baby Tree?

👶 Erythrina (Cry Baby Tree): When the wind blows through its leaves, it produces a rustling sound that resembles a baby crying, hence its name. The plant has spectacular red flowers and beautiful red seeds (see also earlier post).

🛒 Shop Erythrinas

#Trees #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Why is it called Cry Baby Tree? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why is it called Cry Baby Tree?

Erythrina flower - Cry Baby Tree

Erythrina flower - Cry Baby Tree

Erythrina seeds - Cry Baby Tree

Erythrina seeds - Cry Baby Tree

Erythrina - Cry Baby Tree

Erythrina - Cry Baby Tree

⚡️ #Fun_Facts: Why is it called Cry Baby Tree?

👶 Erythrina (Cry Baby Tree): When the wind blows through its leaves, it produces a rustling sound that resembles a baby crying, hence its name. The plant has spectacular red flowers and beautiful red seeds (see also earlier post).

🛒 Shop Erythrinas

#Trees

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, What! You too? I thought I was the only one

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, What! You too? I thought I was the only one
🐈 "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'" - C.S. Lewis

😶 Good night...

Share your cats in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

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Date:

What is a special effect of Lemon grass? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is a special effect of Lemon grass?

Lemon Grass

⚡️What is a special effect of Lemon grass?

Besides its culinary uses, Lemon Grass is also known for its insect-repelling properties due to its citronella content. No more mosquitos! 😆

🛒 Order Lemon Grass

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

What is the best flowering shrub for a shady spot? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the best flowering shrub for a shady spot?

Aphelandra hartwegiana - Yellow Aphelandra

Aphelandra hartwegiana - Yellow Aphelandra

Aphelandra squarrosa - White Zebra Plant

Aphelandra squarrosa - White Zebra Plant

Aphelandra sinclairiana - Panama Queen

Aphelandra sinclairiana - Panama Queen

Aphelandra x panamensis - Scarlet Candle

Aphelandra x panamensis - Scarlet Candle

💐 What is the best flowering shrub for a shady spot?
  • 🚩 Aphelandra is hands down one of the best solutions for a shade garden where you want to see more colors. It is a great addition to a collectible tropical butterfly garden, can grow into 4-5" tall bushy specimen. Tolerates both sun and shade.
  • 🚩Aphelandras have beautiful lush foliage and showy, long terminal inflorescences throughout the warm season.
  • 🚩These flowers are loved by hummingbirds.
  • 🚩Aphelandra hartwegiana - Yellow Aphelandra. Yellow flowers emerge out of long orange stalks in the fall time. Pretty and unusual!
  • 🚩Aphelandra squarrosa Dania (Snow White) - White Zebra Plant. It is also one of the best house plants, not only pretty because of its white-veined "Zebra" foliage, but also for the apical inflorescence with its beautiful yellow bracts.
  • 🚩Aphelandra sinclairiana - Panama Queen, has extremely tropical look and fragrant flowers of unusual color combination: orange and pink.
  • 🚩Aphelandra x panamensis - Scarlet Candle - a rare hybrid with bright red flowers


📚 Learn more from previous posts:
Panama Queen
How to grow Zebra in container?

🛒 Shop Aphelandras

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Shade_Garden

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

8 cute puppies update: wet dog fragrance! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

8 cute puppies update: wet dog fragrance!

🐶 8 cute puppies update: wet dog fragrance!

Mango's puppies turned into big monsters! Lab Family reunion and the Country Bath... Visual definition of Happiness!

😶 Good night and sweet dreams about cute kittens and puppies...

Share your pets in comments!
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🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

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Date:

How to grow your own tea? Where does the tea come from? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to grow your own tea? Where does the tea come from?

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf Tree

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf Tree

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf Tree and Tea in a cup

Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf Tree and Tea in a cup

☕️ How to grow your own tea? Where does the tea come from? From Camellia!
  • 🍃 Did you know that tea comes from a Camellia plant?

    • Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf Tree - is the plant used to make all types of true tea: green, black, white, and oolong.
  • 🍃Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water.
  • 🍃Green tea is rich in antioxidants, which help protect your cells from damage.
  • 🍃Drinking tea can boost your immune system, help fight off infections, improve oral health by reducing the growth of bacteria.
  • 🍃Regular tea consumption is linked to improved bone health and reduced risk of osteoporosis. It can aid in weight loss by boosting metabolism and help reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • 🍃Tea contains caffeine, which can improve mental alertness and focus. On the other hand, tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and reduces stress.
  • 🍃The plant is very slow growing, can be grown in container or in the ground in frost-free areas. Takes sun to semi-shade.


📚 Instructions how to make tea from tea leaves (PDF)

🛒 Plant your own Tea Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Recipes

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Why is it called Blue Butterfly? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why is it called Blue Butterfly?

Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly

Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly

Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly

Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly

⚡️ #Fun_Facts: Why is it called Blue Butterfly?

Clerodendrum ugandense (Blue Butterfly): This plant's blue flowers and butterfly-like shape attract butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. So this plant is all about butterflies!

🛒 Order Blue Butterfly Bush

#Butterfly_Plants

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

"A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you

A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you
🏳️ "A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you." - Elbert Hubbard

😶 Good night...

Share your pets in comments!
📸 🐈🐈🐈👇

🐾 More #PeopleCats in our Garden:
PeopleCats.Garden 

#Quotes

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Mango Rainbow tasting table: what's the taste of that Mango variety? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Mango Rainbow tasting table: whats the taste of that Mango variety?

Mango Rainbow tasting table

🌈 Mango Rainbow tasting table: what's the taste of that Mango variety?

We just had a mango tasting table of a few early and mid-season varieties and here is our impression:
  • 🟠 Tommy Atkins (purple) - the earliest variety, sweet a juicy, but a bit fibrous. The fruit is super colorful! The tree is an excellent producer, vigorous and problem-free.
  • 🟠 Haden (red) - a full sweet flavor, less fibrous than Tommy. Very colorful, large fruit.
  • 🟠 Florigon (yellow-green, round) - completely fibreless, sweet and flavor is somewhat mild pineapple-like.
  • 🟠 Baptiste (bright yellow) - very sweet, firm flesh, good flavor.
  • 🟠 Val Carrie (green elongated) - reminds large Asian mangoes, with firm flesh, very sweet, fibreless and juicy. It is a cross between Valencia Pride (large fruit) and Carrie (excellent flavor). It took the best from its parents. Very aromatic flesh has no fiber at all.
  • 🟠 Kent (large green-and-red) - excellent flavor, large size, and very little fiber. Eat before fruit gets too ripe.


❔ What Mango varieties have you tried this year?
Share in comments 👇

📝 See also earlier posts:

🛒 Shop Mango Trees

#Food_Forest #Mango #Mango_Rainbow

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Use your yard instead of being used by your yard! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Use your yard instead of being used by your yard!

Exotic tropical fruit and edibles - Food Forest

Exotic tropical fruit and edibles - Food Forest

Use your yard instead of being used by your yard!

Tired of mowing a boring lawn? Get some colors in your yard and grow edible landscape!

Select useful, functional plants:
🌺 Spectacular Eye Candies
🌳 Hedges with Benefits
Butterfly Attractors
🍒 Food Forest
👉#Food_Forest

Pick the right plants with TopTropicals free expert help.
At TopTropicals, we have 25 years experience growing rare tropical fruit trees and flowering plants.

Plants are the best therapists.
You can Grow Happiness - we can help.

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