What is camphor made of? Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) - is your aromatic ally in the garden! A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
What is camphor made of?
Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
🟢 What is camphor made of?
🌱 Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) - is your aromatic ally in the garden!
🌱 This charming relative of the cinnamon tree is known for its glossy oval leaves that can grow up to 5 inches long.
🌱 Not only does it boast a lovely canopy, but it’s also the source of camphor, a fragrant compound used in medicines and mothballs.
🌱 The leaves and branches can be used to create aromatic saunas and medicinal baths, filling your space with a soothing scent.
🌱 This cold-hardy, slow-growing tree is tough enough to withstand various conditions while developing a dense canopy that provides excellent shade.
🌱 Camphor Tree is a delightful addition that brings a touch of nature's fragrance to your home. While it's little known among gardeners, this underappreciated gem deserves a spot in every landscape for its unique qualities and benefits!
How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors! Did you know that there is a showy houseplant that makes an excellent ground cover in southern gardens? A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors!
Iresine, Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard
🍀 How to make perfect ground cover: this colorful house plant thrives outdoors!
✳️ Did you know that there is a showy houseplant that makes an excellent ground cover in southern gardens?
✳️ The Iresine, also known as Beefsteak Plant or Chicken Gizzard, is an evergreen perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall. It showcases bright mauve, or variegated puckered foliage that adds a pop of color to any space.
✳️ Perfect for both indoor gardening and warm climate gardens, it thrives in both shady or full sun areas and requires regular water when actively growing, with moderate watering afterward.
✳️ Its striking "Blood Leaf" features purplish-red, oval-shaped leaves with notched tips on vibrant red-maroon stems, forming dense, bushy clumps. It grows fast and spreads fast, making a perfect ground cover.
✳️ You'll find delightful varieties: the traditional Iresine herbstii Acuminata, with its sharply pointed blood-red leaves, and Iresine Aureo-Reticulata, or "Chicken Gizzard Plant," boasting bright yellow-veined, apple-green rounded leaves. And don't miss the Confetti variety, with its leaves sprinkled in green, red, and yellow!
✳️ Whether used indoors or as a ground cover outdoors, Iresine is a colorful choice that deserves a spot in every garden!
10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit 10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit
Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit, is very popular heart-shaped fruit in the tropics and subtropics. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit
Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit
Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit
😼 10 Health Benefits of Canistel Fruit
Pouteria campechiana, Canistel Tree, or Eggfruit, is very popular heart-shaped fruit in the tropics and subtropics. In addition to its excellent taste of an eggnog, it is also a very useful plant.
💛 Heart Health: Rich in potassium, helping regulate blood pressure.
How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon
Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus - is the magical chameleon of the garden! A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon
Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus
👀 How hibiscus plant acts like a chameleon
🌺 Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus - is the magical chameleon of the garden! This beauty opens with pure white flowers that gradually shift to bright pink over three days, much like the Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow plant (Brunfelsia).
🌺 As the blooms age, they take on a rich, deep pink hue, creating a stunning rainbow of colors on the bush all at once.
🌺 With blossoms reaching up to 5 inches across, this hibiscus is as showy as it is unique.
🌺 It's the perfect way to add a touch of dynamic color magic to your garden!
What is Cinnamon made of? Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum - this tree is the source of the famous Cinnamon! A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
What is Cinnamon made of?
Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum
Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum
🍀 What is Cinnamon made of?
🪵 Cinnamon tree, or Cassia Cinnamon, Cinnamomum aromaticum - this tree is the source of the famous Cinnamon! Cinnamon is a very popular culinary spice and is also used in candy, gum, incense, toothpaste and perfumes. The oil is used in medicine. Leaves are very fragrant and used as tea.
🪵 Ancient Origins: Cinnamon has been used for over 4,000 years, with its earliest references found in ancient Egyptian texts, where it was used in embalming practices.
🪵 Spice of Kings: In ancient Rome, cinnamon was so valuable that it was worth more than gold, and emperors like Nero famously burned large quantities at funerals to showcase their wealth.
🪵 Medicinal: Cinnamon is known for its health benefits, including its ability to lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and fight bacteria and fungi.
🪵 Culinary: This aromatic spice is not just for sweet dishes; it enhances savory dishes, stews, and even some meats, bridging sweet and savory flavors.
🪵 Two Main Varieties: There are two primary types of cinnamon - Ceylon Cinnamon (true Cinnamon) and Cassia Cinnamon. Ceylon has a sweeter, more delicate flavor, while Cassia is more robust and commonly found in supermarkets.
🪵 Aroma Activation: The distinct aroma of cinnamon comes from a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which not only provides flavor but also has potential antimicrobial properties.
🪵 Historical Trade Routes: The demand for cinnamon spurred exploration and trade routes, leading to significant historical events like the Age of Discovery and conflicts over spice control.
🪵 The Spice of Life: Cinnamon is believed to improve brain function and memory, making it a popular choice for students and those looking to boost cognitive performance.
❗️ And the most importantly - you can grow your own Cinnamon Tree right now!
New video from King of the Garden New video from King of the Garden Kingston - the famous cat of TopTropicals who meets and greets our customers. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
New video from King of the Garden
🎤 New video from King of the Garden
🎥Kingston - the famous cat of TopTropicals who meets and greets our customers. Everyone who visited our Garden Center in Ft Myers met King! Sound on 🎶
hat is the most spectacular variegated ginger? What is the most spectacular variegated ginger? A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
hat is the most spectacular variegated ginger?
😵 What is the most spectacular variegated ginger?
🌀 Variegated Spiral Ginger - Costus arabicus (amazonicus) variegata - is a tropical stunner originally from South America but adored in Hawaii and Florida
🌀 This ginger's eye-catching, spiraling stems are streaked with striking white variegation, topped with elegant pure white flowers with yellow centers.
🌀 The pure white blooms are truly a piece of art! Perfect for shade gardens (but also can take sun), this plant thrives in moist soil and loves plenty of water.
🌀 If you're looking to add a bit of drama and elegance to your garden, this beauty is a must-have!
Believe in yourself Believe in yourself"An athlete won't judge you for working out. A Top Tropicals Garden Journal post.
Believe in yourself
👍 Believe in yourself
"An athlete won't judge you for working out. A millionaire won't judge you for starting a business. A musician won't judge you for trying to sing a song. It's always the people going nowhere that have something to say."
Five
Extraordinary, Show-Stopping Flowering Shrubs
Q: I'm looking for something fresh and exciting -
something my neighbors won't have! I have both sunny and shady spots in my
garden. What unique flowering shrubs would you recommend?
A: Why settle for ordinary when your garden can
be extraordinary? Here are five fabulous flowering shrubs that will set your
landscape apart. Whether you're dealing with sizzling sun or cool shade, these
beauties will add color, character, and charm year-round. Let's dive in!
1. Lobster Claw - Simply Spectacular!
Heliconia
rostrata - Lobster Claw. This exotic plant makes a bold statement with its
parrot-like blooms. The colorful, dangling flowers last long and are perfect for
bouquets. Growing up to 7 feet tall, it thrives in large pots or tropical
landscapes, handling temperatures in the high 20s. Just give it room to stretch
those stalks!
Tacca
chantrieri - Bat Head Lily, Black Tacca. Looking for something mysterious? This
plant's dark, bat-shaped flowers and trailing "whiskers" will intrigue everyone.
It prefers filtered light and high humidity, making it a great pick for
shaded areas or a greenhouse. Available in striking colors like black, white, and
green, it's a conversation starter in any garden.
Combretum
constrictum from Thailand, called Ball of Fire - is one of our favorite tropical
flowering shrubs that is constantly in bloom and is so much different from
anythings else. With constant blooms and fiery red flowers, this tropical
shrub shines bright. Though it might fool you from a distance as a Powderpuff
plant, it's a whole different species! It can be shaped into a small tree,
handles pruning well, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Easy to grow, it
only needs regular water to get established.
Eranthemum
pulchellum - Blue Sage, or Lead Flower. This winter heavy bloomer thrives in
shady spots with its vibrant gentian-blue flowers, a rare color in the tropics.
It's compact, easygoing, and the more you prune it, the bushier it gets.
When other plants are napping, Blue Sage adds a splash of cool blue, making it
perfect for carefree gardeners who want a touch of magic.
Senna alata -
Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant - is a fast-growing shrub that brings
sunny, candle-like flowers and massive leaves to your garden. It's a weed-fighting
hero, shading out invaders with its wide canopy. Butterflies and bees love
its golden blooms, and the plant can grow 10 feet wide in just one season! If
you want beauty and function, the Candelabra Plant is your golden ticket.
Watch the
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