Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
Valentines Day Best Gift Plant Ideas
Q: What are the most popular gift plants for the Valentines day?
A: Valentines Day is the perfect occasion to show your love with a gift that lasts beyond just one day. While traditional flowers are lovely, a live plant offers a meaningful, long-lasting way to express your affection. Whether it's the vibrant blooms, fragrant leaves, or the joy of watching a plant grow, gift plants bring a touch of nature and beauty into the home. Below are a few wonderful plant ideas to help you pick the perfect gift for your loved ones this Valentines Day. Check out a short video: Sweetheart Hoya varieties
Valentines Sweetheart Hoya
Wax Hearts, also known as Sweetheart Hoya or Valentine Hoya, comes in 3 kinds - Green leaf, variegated Sunshine and Variegated Moonlight - collect them all! These plants are the perfect way to show someone you care. Hoya kerrii, often called the Sweetheart Plant, has become a favorite houseplant in recent years due to its unique heart-shaped leaves. This quirky and unusual plant is ideal for those looking for a novelty gift for their plant enthusiast friends. Its easy care requirements and distinctive appearance make it a charming addition to any home, spreading love and beauty in a simple, yet meaningful way. It's the perfect plant to celebrate Valentines Day or any special occasion!
Fragrant Jasmine
Jasmines are about to bloom, making now the perfect time to get them before their flowers open in spring! Some of the top picks include the timeless Jasmine Sambac, French Perfume Jasmine, Rose Bud Jasmine, Night Blooming Jasmine, Parijat Jasmine Tree, and Jasmine Molle (Indian Jui). These varieties are not only beautiful but also fill your home or garden with their unforgettable, fragrant blossoms. Whether you're looking to add a touch of elegance to your space or sear! ching for a fragrant gift, these jasmines are a must-have for any plant lover. Get them now and enjoy their aromatic beauty as they begin to bloom!
Compact Rhododendron Azalea - Red Cherry Miniature
The Vivid Red Cherry Miniature Azalea is a stunning, cold-hardy evergreen that blooms with vibrant cherry-red flowers in spring and fall. Very compact and easy to care for, it thrives in shady spots and offers year-round beauty with its glossy, dark green leaves. Whether used as a hedge, accent, or screen, this semi-dwarf variety adds a pop of color to any garden or home. A perfect way to share lasting beauty and joy with someone special!
Condo Mango
Looking for a unique Valentines gift? The Condo Mango is the perfect choice! This compact, dwarf mango tree
thrives in containers, making it ideal for small spaces like balconies or even indoors. With its manageable size and vibrant fruit, it's a thoughtful and practical gift that brings a tropical touch to any home. Plus, with a little
pruning, it can stay small while still producing delicious mangoes. Share the joy of gardening and fruit-growing with someone special this Valentines Day!
Learn more about Condo Mango from our Telegram Chanel: What are the Condo Mangos? A Practical Guide and Top 10 Dwarf Condo Mango - great for container culture
The magic number
"Good things come in threes, for three is the magic number" - Tom Waits
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats #Quotes
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
# 9: Jackfruit Tree.
- 🍐 Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a giant, eye-catching fruit tree and is the largest fruit grown on a tree, making it a showstopper in your fruit tree collection. Everybody wants to grow this giant Nature's Wonder - the biggest fruit in the world grown on a tree!
- 🍐 Nutrient-Packed: Highly nutritious, Jackfruit is often used as a meat substitute in South Asian cuisine, as well as in curries and chutneys. Dehydrated jackfruit chips are a delicious snack.
- 🍐 Fast-Growing and Ornamental: Jackfruit trees are fast-growing with large waxy leaves and ornamental value. They can be maintained at a compact height of 7-8 feet since the fruit grows at the base of the trunk. Keeping it short also makes it easier to protect the tree from cold if needed.
- 🍐 Cold Tolerant: While cool temperatures can reduce fruit production, jackfruit trees are relatively hardy and can survive light frost. Established trees are more cold-hardy than young seedlings.
- 🍐 Fast Fruiting: Jackfruit trees start producing fruit within 3-4 years from seed. Varieties come true to seed, so grafting is unnecessary, however, can be done when you need a particular variety.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 🟡about #Jackfruit
- 🟡 How to Grow Jackfruit: Practical Guide
- 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
🛒 Shop Jackfruit varieties
#Food_Forest #Jackfruit
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
What is the best gift plant for Valentines Day
Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Valentine, Wax Hearts, Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart leaf
- ❤️ Hoya kerrii - Sweetheart Valentine, Wax Hearts, Sweetheart Hoya, Valentine Hoya, Heart leaf - has large, thick, succulent type leaves that are indeed shaped like flat hearts!
- ❤️The Sweetheart Plant is a perfect present for the one you love! It makes an ideal houseplant.
- ❤️ Sweetheart Hoya has become increasingly popular in recent years. Unusual and quirky "heart" shape leaves appeal to anyone looking for that special novelty gift for their plant enthusiast friend.
- ❤️ Don't forget to get one for Valentines Day! In fact, it should be three, as besides regular green leaf🚩 we we also have amazing variegated leaf varieties: Moonlight (gold on green) 💍and Sunshine (white-and green)💞
🛒 Shop Sweetheart Hoya
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
If you cant beat them
"If you can’t beat them, hypnotize them"
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Guava Tree (Psidium sp.)
# 8: Guava Tree.
- 🍉 Guava Tree (Psidium sp.) - Guava trees are beloved for their flavorful fruit, commonly used in juices, drinks, and desserts.
- 🍉 Popular Varieties: include Psidium guajava (Tropical Guava), Psidium littorale (Cattley Guava), Psidium friedrichsthalianum (Cas guava), and Feijoa sellowiana (Pineapple Guava).
- 🍉 Cold Hardy: Despite its "Tropical" name, the Tropical Guava is relatively cold-hardy, and other varieties are even hardier, suitable for cooler climates with occasional frost.
- 🍉 Water Needs: Guava trees like water and can tolerate some flooding.
- 🍉 Compact Growth: Guavas are medium size bushes or trees that can be easily maintained at any height and shape.
- 🍉 Fast Fruiting: Guava trees are quick to fruit, often within a year of planting, and some start fruiting in containers as small as 1 gallon.
- 🍉 Dwarf Variety: The Nana variety is perfect for container culture, producing full-sized fruit in a compact form.
- 🍉 Pest Control: In humid areas with rainy seasons, check for mealybugs, which can be controlled with neem oil as needed.
- 🍉 Endless Supply: Planting multiple guava trees ensures a constant supply of fresh, juicy fruit and flavorful guava juice loved by kids and adults.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
🛒 Shop Guava varieties
#Food_Forest #Guava
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Why Rosita de Cacao is called the Funeral Tree? For how long does its fragrance last?
Funeral Tree - Quararibea funebris (Rosita de Cacao, Flor de Cacao) - Flower
Funeral Tree - Quararibea funebris (Rosita de Cacao, Flor de Cacao) - tree
- 😇 The Legendary Funeral Tree - Quararibea funebris (also called Rosita de Cacao, Flor de Cacao) got its name from the flower's extraordinary ability to retain its spicy, sweet fragrance for centuries.
- 😇 These flowers were used in ancient funeral ceremonies, placed in crypts to preserve their aroma for generations. Even today, dried Rosita de Cacao flowers can hold their scent for decades, a testament to their remarkable endurance.
- 😇 The species was at one time widespread and growing wild throughout the Oaxaca region of Mexico known for plants used in Shamanism.
- 😇 Cherished by the Aztecs, the Rosita de Cacao was deeply intertwined with their rituals and daily life.
- 😇 The flowers, known as Cacaoxochitl or "cacao flower," were blended with chocolate drinks like Tejate, a sacred, energy-rich beverage reserved for royalty and religious ceremonies. This frothy drink combined Cacaoxochitl with other ingredients like cacao, vanilla, and chili peppers to create what the Aztecs called the "drink of the gods."
- 😇 Legend has it that Emperor Montezuma consumed up to 50 cups of xocolatl daily, infused with Rosita de Cacao, to fuel his energy and passion.
- 😇 The flowers of this tree were not just for flavor - they were also prized for their calming and medicinal properties. Natives used them to treat anxiety, fevers, and coughs, often mixing them with cacao for enhanced effects.
- 😇 Modern studies suggest the flowers contain lactone alkaloids like funebradiol, which are known for their relaxing properties and are now being investigated for potential medicinal applications.
- 😇 Beyond its rich history, Rosita de Cacao is an evergreen beauty with creamy white, aromatic flowers and large, leathery leaves. It's a perfect addition to any garden for those who want a piece of history, an enduring fragrance, and a touch of ancient legend.
History and Legends
Aztec names: Poyomatli, Xochicacaohuatl, Flor Cacahuaxochitl, Cacaoxochitl.
Medicinal and Spiritual Uses
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
Fruit of Money and Love
Fun Facts: Cacao beans
🛒 Shop Tropical Fruit Trees
#Food_Forest #Fun_facts #Nature_Wonders
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Cat Yoga
Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Papaya fruit (Carica papaya)
# 7: Papaya Tree.
- 🍊 Papaya Trees (Carica papaya) - are resilient, easy to grow, and deliver year-round fruit.
- 🍊 Superfood Benefits: Rich in papain, a digestive enzyme that promotes gut health.
- 🍊 Fast Fruiting: Papayas often start producing the same year they're planted, offering quick rewards for gardeners seeking quick rewards.
- 🍊 Space-Efficient: Many varieties, especially dwarfs, reach only 6-8 feet tall yet produce large crops, ideal for small gardens.
- 🍊 Cold and Wind Resistant: Papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds, making them surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant.
- 🍊 Self-Fertile, but Better with Multiple Trees: Planting 2-3 different cultivars ensures better pollination and higher yields.
- 🍊 Solo Cultivars: Smaller, round or oval papayas are sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 🟡about #Papaya
- 🟡Carefree Garden: practical Guide to Growing Papaya.
- 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
🛒 Shop Papaya Trees
#Food_Forest #Papaya
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
PeopleCats Singing Club
Sound on 🔈
More: #SingingCats
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia)
# 6: Macadamia Nut Tree.
- 🌰 Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia) are known for their delicious flavor and high price tag, but you can grow these popular, sweet nuts right in your own garden!
- 🌰 Cold-Hardy and Productive. Macadamia trees are fairly cold-hardy, grow quickly, and thrive in all Florida soils. They are very productive and can tolerate both flooding and drought once established. Older trees can survive cold winters with minimal dieback, while young trees need protection from temperatures below 25-26F.
- 🌰 Water and Soil Tolerance. Macadamia trees need plenty of water and can handle some flooding, but they are also drought-tolerant once mature. They adapt well to all Florida soil types.
- 🌰 Fertilizer Needs. Macadamia trees require a special fertilizer program for healthy root development and optimal production. Use only liquid fertilizer such as Sunshine C-Cibus and apply microelements regularly, such as Sunshine SuperFood, to prevent nutrient deficiencies that can stunt growth.
- 🌰 #Fun_Facts:
⏺Did you know the Macadamia nut is the hardest-shelled nut in the world - and also one of the most nutrient-rich? The shell material is five times harder than hazelnut shells, with mechanical properties similar to aluminum!
- ⏺Despite being rich in calories, macadamia nuts may help you lose weight. This may be partly explained by their amounts of protein and fiber, two nutrients known to reduce hunger and promote feelings of fullness.
- ⏺Macadamia nuts are rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and mineral. They're linked to numerous health benefits, including improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and blood sugar control. High in monounsaturated fats, they may help lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce heart disease risk. These nuts are also a good source of antioxidants, including tocotrienols, which may protect against cancer and brain diseases.
📚 Learn more:
- 🟡How to grow your own Sweet Macadamia Nuts
- 🟡Grow Your Own Food. Macadamia: Hard Sweet Nut and Hardy Tree
- 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
🛒 Plant your own Macadamia Nut Tree
#Food_Forest #Remedies
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
What plants do you recognize in this display
Share in comments 🔽
#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Persistence wins it all
"Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent." - Calvin Coolidge
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - flowers
Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - fruit and leaves
# 5: Noni.
- A Superfood for Your Garden. Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - is one of the top superfood plants, making it a fantastic addition to any Southern garden.
- Endless Medicinal Benefits. Noni fruit boasts numerous medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory effects, relief from arthritis, support for diabetes, metabolism, immune system, and weight loss. It's even thought to help fight cancer. Commercial Noni juice is very expensive, but growing your own tree provides easy access to this powerful natural remedy.
- Fast-Growing and Productive. The Noni tree grows quickly and begins producing within 2 years from seed.
- Tough and Resilient. Noni is a tough plant, thriving in poor soil, enduring summer heat, and withstanding drought conditions.
- Cold Hardy. Despite its large tropical leaves and a reputation of a tropical species, Noni trees are surprisingly cold-hardy. While they may experience some leaf damage during cooler weather, they typically recover well when warmer temperatures return.
- Ornamental and Practical. In addition to its fruit, the Noni tree has great ornamental value. The large, waxy leaves are over a foot long and give a tropical feel, while the fruit itself is unique and ornamental: its flower appears to grow directly on the fruit!
📚 Learn more from previous posts:
- 🟡Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #3 Noni
- 🟡Three tropical plants that help you to stay young
- 🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes
🛒 Plant a Noni Tree
#Food_Forest #Remedies
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
On a diet
🔠 PeopleCats.Garden
#PeopleCats
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals