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Index > Garden Blog

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Fun Fact: Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia

🤘 Fun Fact: Bulls-Horn Acacia

🐜 Acacia collinsii (sphaerocephala) - Bulls-Horn Acacia, named for its bull-horn-shaped thorns, has a unique partnership with ants! The plant provides shelter in its hollow thorns, and in return, the ants fiercely protect it from herbivores. Nature’s ultimate bodyguards!

#Fun_Facts #Trees #Nature_Wonders

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Top ten fast-fruiting trees

Cat fruit in a box

Q: I would like to plant several fruit trees... I am 85 years old and hope to see them fruiting soon. What fruit trees can you recommend that will fruit quickly?

A: Most grafted fruit trees, such as Mango, Avocado, and Peaches, will fruit quickly - often within the same year or the next. There are also many wonderful tropical fruits that will produce for you within a year or two, even without the need for grafting. Below are the top 10 of most popular, most rewarding and easy to grow fast fruiting tropical trees:

1. Annona - Sugar Apple, Custard Apple.

Annona - Sugar Apple, Custard Apple

Annonas are the fastest fruiting trees: 2-3-4 years from seed to fruit, depending on species. They are the best tropical fruit trees suited for container growing, due to their small height and can be maintained within 6-8 ft tall.

2. Guava (Psidium sp.): Cattley and Tropical guava

Guava fruit - Psidium

Guava is a reliable producer, starts fruiting in a pot at small size. Some varieties, especially Cattley guavas - Psidium littorale - are relatively cold hardy and can take some frost without damage. Guavas are fast growing small trees or large bushes.

3. Eugenia - Tropical Cherries

Eugenias - Tropical Cherries

Eugenias are favorites of Southern gardens. They are relatively cold hardy and start producing right away. Black Surinam Cherry Lolita and Grumichama are our favorites!

4. Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)

Barbados Cherry - Malpighia glabra

Another exceptional tropical cherry is Barbados Cherry. It is super popular as a heavy producer. The plant can start fruiting when it's only a few inches tall! If you are looking for a compact, but fast growing tree with colorful fruit that starts fruiting right away - plant Barbados Cherry. It will also happily fruit in containers.

5. Eriobotrya (Eriobotrya japonica)

Loquat - Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat tree is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, compact tropical fruit tree. It is a heavy producer. Fruits are juicy, aromatic, and resemble apricots. Ripen from early Spring to early Summer. Ideal for small gardens, beginner fruit tree growers.

6. Papaya (Carica papaya)

Papaya

Papaya is probably the fastest fruiting tree that can start production the same year from planting a seed. Many dwarf varieties available in selection, reaching only 6-8 ft tall, but producing large crops of full size fruit - they are easy to harvest. Plant 2-3 Papaya trees of different cultivars that fruit at different times of the year and enjoy heavy crops of healthy fruit year around! Another benefit - this tree doesn't take much space in the garden, you can plant as many as you want.

7. Mulberry (Morus hybrids)

Mulberry

Mulberry is very cold hardy and can grow in wide range of climate zones, from USDA 5 to 10. Everyone knows this sweet, tasty, juicy fruit. The tree will produce right away, you will see fruit the next season after planting, and the tree grows fast.

8. Carambola - Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)

Carambola - Starfruit, Averrhoa carambola

Growing Carambola tree is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy this unique star-shaped delicious fruit right at home. It fruits on the 3d year from seed. The tree is easy to grow and reliable producer, providing wind protection.

9. Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa)

Blackberry Jam Fruit - Randia formosa

Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree or bush that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.

10. Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea)

Peanut Butter Tree - Bunchosia argentea

Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor. Compact in size, small tree reaching only 10-15 ft or kept as a bush, it's a perfect choice for limited spaces. Can thrive indoors, starting to fruit within just 2-3 years from seed.

Date:

How old is Southern Magnolia?

Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia

🦕 How old is Southern Magnolia? 95 million years old!
  • 💮 #Fun_Facts: Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia, is a unique and ancient flowering plant dating back about 95 million years to the time of the dinosaurs!
  • 💮 Its beautiful, large perfumed flowers are "primitive" and evolved before bees existed, relying on beetles for pollination. The tough petals and reproductive parts are a result of adapting to beetle activity.
  • 💮 Another fascinating feature is its cone-like fruit, which contains striking bright red seeds. These seeds are covered in a fleshy coating that attracts birds and small mammals, aiding in their dispersal, making the magnolia not only stunning but important for the ecosystem.


🛒 Order Southern Magnolia

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

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What tree to plant for wonderful fragrance?

Magnolia (Michelia) champaca x Alba

💄 What tree to plant for wonderful fragrance?
  • 🏵 Champaka - Joy Perfume Tree is in full bloom in our garden (in the video: var. Alba). The fragrance is smelled yards away! It is filling the air around.
  • 🏵 The flowers from this tree - Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - are used to make the world's most expensive perfume 'Joy' and smell like fruity bubble gum 🎀... you can't stop sticking your nose in this flower!
  • 🏵 Sacred tree of India and SE Asia, its flowers exude a divine fragrance that is exceedingly pleasing to the Gods... and women.
  • 🏵 Perfect small landscape tree of a columnar shape. Ideal for containers.
  • 🏵 Relatively cold hardy
  • 🏵 Rare collectible, a gem of any plant collection!


📚 See earlier post about Champaka Tree

🛒 Shop Champaka - Joy Perfume Tree

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden #Trees

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Date:

What flower looks plastic

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, flower

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, flower

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, fruit with seeds

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, fruit with seeds

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, fruit

Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple, fruit

🫖 What flower looks plastic... or ceramic?

🔥 #Fun_Facts: Clusia lanceolata - Porcelain Flower or Cerra Cipapau Apple is a delightful small tree native to America with flowers looking just like they are made of porcelain! Gorgeous pink flowers with mauve throats look almost artificial. The tree happily blooms in shade, and the fruit resembles a small apple and is enjoyed by birds and wildlife. Very undemanding plant.

🛒Order online

#Container_Garden #Trees #Nature_Wonders

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Discover the most impressive Florida Vine

Pyrostegia venusta - Flame Vine

Pyrostegia venusta - Flame Vine

🔥 Discover the most impressive Florida Vine!

💻 "I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." - Claude Monet

📸 Pyrostegia venusta - Flame Vine, is a stunning winter bloomer native to Florida. Its vibrant orange flowers resemble a fiery cascade, blanketing the tops of trees where the vine climbs. The tubular blossoms form dense clusters, creating a striking, flame-like appearance that stands out against the winter landscape, making it a spectacular sight during the cooler months.

What is your favorite tropical vine? Share in comments👇

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#Hedges_with_benefits #Quotes

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Unlock the Beauty of Nature at Home!

🌺 Unlock the Beauty of Nature at Home!  

🥭 Transform your living space into a tropical paradise with our stunning selection of tropical plants and fruit trees (#Food_Forest) at TopTropicals. Each plant is a gateway to vibrant colors and fresh scents, bringing life and joy to your home.

🌻 But that’s not all! Join our channel for exclusive tips on #How_to nurture your new green companions.

From watering schedules to sunlight needs, we provide everything you need to become a tropical plant whisperer!

🔴 Subscribe now for expert advice: 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How soon will Peanut Butter Tree fruit?

Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea)

🍲 How soon will Peanut Butter Tree fruit?

This is a 3-year old Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea) that we introduced in earlier post. It's the second year it's been fruiting. Delicious fruit!

Bunchosia argentea
- Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒 Get your own Peanut Butter Tree

#Food_Forest

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Date:

Florida native plants for Florida and beyond

Florida Native Plants

If you live in Florida community with HOA, you may need these plants!

Did you know that we carry Native Florida plants?

At Top Tropicals, we have the biggest selection of tropical plants from around the World, with a special selection of Florida Natives. If you are looking for a particular Florida Native plant, just let us know - we can get them for you, because... we are here in Florida and we know them all!

If your Florida yard is regulated by a Homeowners Association, you may be required to plant native plants or those species on approved list. Why? These policies aim to promote sustainable landscaping practices and protect Florida's unique ecosystems. Although this may seem to limit your choices, there are plenty of Florida-friendly plants to choose from!

In general, native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them more resilient and requiring less water, fertilizer, and pesticides. This makes them easy to grow and great for beginners.

Native plants provide essential habitat and food sources for local wildlife, including birds, butterflies, and other pollinators. And Florida flora has a lot to offer for the wildlife!

If you live outside of Florida, our native plants may appear to you as much exotic and rare as those from Asia, S. America or Africa! Let's take a peak at some Natives...

Erythrina herbacea - Coral Bean

In the photo above: Erythrina herbacea - Coral Bean. Coral trees - Erythrinas are very showy, red-flowering small trees that are perfect for locations with poor soil and limited irrigation, very easy to grow, great butterfly and hummingbird attractors..

Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa

In the photo above: Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa. One of the most useful tropical plants that is very cold tolerant, blooms all winter through spring with honey-fragrant flowers - canary yellow powder puffs, attracting bees and butterflies. Fast growing bushy tree, tolerates poor soils and drought.

Date:

What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around?

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

💋 What orchid tree has stunning red and yellow flowers year around? Madagascar Orchid Tree.

We showed you in earlier post one showy red Orchid tree - Bauhinia galpinii; but this one is even more spectacular!
  • 🔴 Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree is a very rare plant in cultivation and one of the most spectacular Bauhinia. Rare, collectible species.
  • 🔴 Flowers and extremely showy, look like scarlet butterflies with bright yellow stripes at the base of each petal.
  • 🔴 It grows into a small tree or tall bush. Fast growing. Attracts butterflies.
  • 🔴 Plant in in full sun to get the most of its flowering season - this one literally blooms year around!


📚 More posts about Bauhinias:

🛒 Order rare Bauhinia madagascariensis

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

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