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Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear?

Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear?
🐵 Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? 🙉

  • 🍊 Besides bizarre Monkey Ear Tree that we mentioned earlier, there is another interesting Monkey Tree -

  • 🍊 The Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa) is a captivating fruit tree from tropical Africa and Madagascar, known for its vibrant yellow fruits and wide range of uses.

  • 🍊This small to medium-sized tree, has glossy leaves and thorny branches that make it visually striking.

  • 🍊What does the Monkey Orange taste like?

    • The fruits, size of an orange, have a hard shell that protects their sweet-tart pulp with interesting pleasant taste somewhat similar to mangosteen. Some people say it tastes like a mix of citrus and pineapple with a hint of fermentation.

  • 🍊Rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, the fruit can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into jams, juices, and even wine.

  • 🍊Its durable wood is prized for carvings, and its leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine and as natural insecticides.

  • 🍊Slow-growing yet resilient, this hardy tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, offering beauty, nourishment, and practicality - an excellent choice for tropical or subtropical landscapes.


🐒 Why is it called Monkey Orange?
The "monkey orange" likely gets its name from its appeal to monkeys that eat the fruit and distribute the seeds in their habitat in Africa.

🛒 Plant Monkey Orange

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Date:

What tropical fruit is better than a watermelon?

What tropical fruit is better than a watermelon? What tropical fruit is better than a watermelon? What tropical fruit is better than a watermelon?
🍉 What tropical fruit is better than a watermelon? Wax Jamboo!

  • 🍐 Syzygium samarangense, commonly known as Wax Jamboo, Java Apple, or Macopa, is an attractive tree native to tropical regions, with striking, glossy leaves and beautiful, fragrant flowers.

  • 🍐 It produces pear-shaped fruits with smooth, waxy skin in varying colors, including white, green, pink, and crimson.

  • 🍐 In tropical climates, it can yield abundant crops with up to 700 fruits per tree, harvested in two fruiting seasons annually!

  • 🍐 Wax Jamboo is known for its crisp, crunchy texture and refreshing, mildly sweet flavor, making it a popular choice for both eating fresh and using in various culinary dishes. They're widely used in Indian-Ocean-Island cuisine for fresh salads or lightly sautéed dishes.

  • 🍐 This tree is not just decorative; it's also quite low-maintenance. It thrives in fertile, well-drained soil with adequate rainfall and some humidity, and it is hardy down to just above freezing temperatures. It's also perfect for container gardening, requiring minimal care apart from regular watering and occasional feeding

  • 🍐 Wax Jamboo fruits are often compared to watermelons because of their juicy, thirst-quenching properties, making them a fantastic treat on hot days.


🛒 Shop Wax Jamboo

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How to start your own vineyard

How to start your own vineyard
🍾 How to start your own vineyard

🍷 Can grapes grow in the tropics?

  • 🍇 Yes! With the right varieties, like muscadines and low-chill, heat-tolerant hybrids, grapes can thrive in tropical climates. For example:

  • 🍇 Vitis labrusca x vinifera - Blanc du Bois Grape: A hybrid prized for winemaking, combining European and native Florida grapes. It's heat-tolerant, disease-resistant, and thrives in the southern U.S., even in alkaline or salty soils.

  • 🍇 Vitis x rotundifolia - Southern Home Seedless Grape: A gorgeous vine with delicate leaves and clusters of deep purple, sweet-tart grapes. It was developed at the University of Florida to handle heat and humidity. Self-pollinating and perfect for fresh eating.


🛒 Start your own vineyard

#Food_Forest

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to start your own vineyard

How to start your own vineyard How to start your own vineyard
🍾 How to start your own vineyard

🍷 Can grapes grow in the tropics?

  • 🍇 Yes! With the right varieties, like muscadines and low-chill, heat-tolerant hybrids, grapes can thrive in tropical climates. For example:

  • 🍇 Vitis labrusca x vinifera - Blanc du Bois Grape: A hybrid prized for winemaking, combining European and native Florida grapes. It's heat-tolerant, disease-resistant, and thrives in the southern U.S., even in alkaline or salty soils.

  • 🍇 Vitis x rotundifolia - Southern Home Seedless Grape: A gorgeous vine with delicate leaves and clusters of deep purple, sweet-tart grapes. It was developed at the University of Florida to handle heat and humidity. Self-pollinating and perfect for fresh eating.


🛒 Start your own vineyard

#Food_Forest

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
🤢🥃 The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
  • 🍷 The Pimenta racemosa, or Bay Rum Tree, is a charming small tree closely related to Allspice that we mentioned earlier.
  • 🍷 Known for its aromatic leaves, this tree produces a natural essential oil that has a warm, clove-like fragrance.
  • 🍷 Historically, this oil was distilled with rum and water to create a popular cologne known as "Bay Rum", lending the plant its common name.
  • 🍷 The scent of Bay Rum is captivating and present year-round, with no need to wait for flowers or fruit to enjoy its fragrance!
  • 🍷 The Bay Rum Tree is not just aromatic; its leaves can be used in cooking and tea, adding a unique, spicy note to culinary creations. It’s also valued in folk medicine, making it a multipurpose addition to any herb or indoor plant collection.
  • 🍷 An especially rare and intriguing variety, the rare variety "Citrifolia" - Lemon Bay Rum Tree, also known as Citrus Bay, has all plant parts infused with a refreshing, lemony scent that's both calming and energizing. Cuttings of this variety are challenging to root, making it a unique and sought-after plant for collectors and aromatherapy enthusiasts alike.


🛒 Plant fast growing Bay Rum Tree

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Date:

Guanabana - Soursop fruiting in apartment!

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

📸 Guanabana - Soursop fruiting in apartment!

This Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North!

To read this fascinating story, check out article in Tropical Treasures Magazine:
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)

🛒 Plant your own Guanabana

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Date:

What is the most delicious Annona fruit?

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

❓ What is the most delicious Annona fruit? Guanabana!
  • 🍐 Annona muricata - commonly known as Soursop, Guanabana, or Graviola, is widely regarded as the best-tasting annona fruit.
  • 🍐 This tropical tree, native to Tropical America, produces large, unusual-looking fruits with a unique blend of sweet and slightly sour flavors. The custard-like pulp is fragrant, smooth and creamy, making Soursop perfect for milkshakes, desserts, or simply enjoyed fresh.
  • 🍐 Soursop is evergreen in warm climates, though it's highly sensitive to cold and requires temperatures above 50°F to thrive. However, it can also be grown indoors in containers, making it possible to enjoy its delicious fruit even in cooler regions. The tree itself is medium-sized, fast-growing, and relatively easy to manage in a pot, offering a wonderful option for indoor fruit growing.
  • 🍐 Soursop is one of the largest of the Annonas, and its quirky, bumpy fruit shapes make it a fun conversation starter. We even have an interesting article on how to grow, hand-pollinate and fruit Soursop in an apartment - ideal for plant lovers looking to bring a taste of the tropics into their homes!
  • 🍐 Soursop leaves are superheroes in the world of natural remedies. Known for their potential to fight cancer, these leaves are packed with compounds that may help keep rogue cells in check. Whether brewed into tea or turned into extracts, they've become a popular go-to in holistic health circles.


📚 Tropical Treasures Magazine:
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)
Spoiler in the next post ⬇️⬇️⬇️

More about Anonnas in previous posts:
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #1. Annona
Why everyone wants the Sugar Apple?
The best tropical fruit tree for container growing, and the fastest to fruit: Annona
Spiny Hedgehog fruit: what does it taste like?

🛒 Plant your own Guanabana

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Date:

What tree will produce for you right away?

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

🍂 What tree will produce for you right away?
  • 🍂 Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica) is a delightful plant that brings the warm, spicy fragrance of allspice right to your home.
  • 🍂 The leaves and bark of this remarkable tree carry the same aromatic scent as the familiar spice made from its dried berries, meaning you don't need to wait for blooms or fruit to enjoy its rich aroma!
  • 🍂 Allspice is an excellent container plant, ideal for indoor or greenhouse cultivation.
  • 🍂 Its captivating fragrance creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and its antimicrobial properties add even more appeal.
  • 🍂 Perfect for both spice enthusiasts and plant collectors, this compact tree adds a touch of the tropics while offering year-round enjoyment.


🛒 Enjoy your own Allspice spice

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Date:

Where can I try a rare Abiu fruit and what does it taste like?

Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito), Harvest Moon Sapote

Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito), Harvest Moon Sapote

Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito), Harvest Moon Sapote

Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito), Harvest Moon Sapote

🤌 Where can I try a rare Abiu fruit and what does it taste like?
  • 🍋 Abiu tree (Pouteria caimito), or Harvest Moon Sapote - is a must-try rare tropical fruit with a striking appearance and incredible flavor.
  • 🍋 About the size of a medium apple, Abiu ripens to a bright, sunny yellow that hints at the deliciousness inside. Beneath its somewhat thick, sturdy skin, which contains a bit of sticky latex when cut, lies a jelly-like, ultra-juicy flesh that's sweet, smooth, and completely acid-free.
  • 🍋 Its flavor is often compared to the luscious taste of Chrysophyllum cainito (Star Apple that we mentioned earlier), making it a favorite among tropical fruit lovers.
  • 🍋 Each fruit typically has one elongated seed nestled within, and Abiu is often grown from seed.
  • 🍋 Abiu is very hard to find tropical fruit tree, and you won't find this fruit in supermarkets. So the only way to taste it - to grow your own!
  • 🍋 With its vibrant color, unique texture, and tropical sweetness, Abiu is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to add a touch of the exotic to their rare fruit collection!


🛒 Grow your own Abiu

#Food_Forest #Nature_Wonders

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Date:

Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?

Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?
🥭 Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?

🙂 Packed with anti-aging and immune-boosting benefits, could this tropical fruit be the key to your skin's natural glow?

  • 😊 Mango for Rejuvenation: Mangoes promote rejuvenation and improve skin condition, according to the research.

  • 😊 Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Aging Effects: Mango contains components with anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating properties.

  • 😊 Vitamin C Boost: Mango is rich in Vitamin C and ascorbic acid, which strengthen the immune system.

  • 😊 Better Iron Absorption: Mango fruit supports improved iron absorption in the body.

  • 😊 Collagen Support: Mango helps maintain collagen levels in connective tissues for healthy skin.


🔥 Plant a mango tree today and start growing your own path to health and vitality!

👍 What other fruit or plants are good for skin? Share in comments⬇️

🛒 Shop Mango Trees

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