Date: 2 Feb 2025 Top Tropicals Newsletter

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

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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

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Date: 1 Feb 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 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

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Date: 31 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Guava Tree (Psidium sp.)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 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:

🟡about #Guava
🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

🛒 Shop Guava varieties

#Food_Forest #Guava

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Date: 31 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

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

🧛 Why Rosita de Cacao is called the Funeral Tree? For how long does its fragrance last?

😇 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.

History and Legends

Aztec names

Poyomatli, Xochicacaohuatl, Flor Cacahuaxochitl, Cacaoxochitl.

😇 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.

Medicinal and Spiritual Uses

😇 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.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:
Fruit of Money and Love
Fun Facts: Cacao beans

🛒 Shop Tropical Fruit Trees

#Food_Forest #Fun_facts #Nature_Wonders

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Date: 30 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Papaya fruit (Carica papaya)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 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:

🛒 Shop Papaya Trees

#Food_Forest #Papaya

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Date: 29 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 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:

🛒 Plant your own Macadamia Nut Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Date: 28 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - flowers

Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - fruit and leaves

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 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:

🛒 Plant a Noni Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Date: 27 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Malpighia glabra - Barbados Cherry, Acerola

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 4: Barbados Cherry.

🍒 Malpighia glabra - Barbados Cherry, or Acerola is yet another tropical cherry!
🍒 A Vitamin C Powerhouse. Barbados Cherry is renowned for having the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. It is used in jellies and jams and freezes well without losing its vitamin C.
🍒 Fast-Growing and Abundant. This dense shrub grows quickly and fruits several times a year, providing abundant crops. If you want fast results and fruit quickly, this is the plant for you!
🍒 Easy to Grow and Tolerant. It tolerates alkaline soil, which is rare for tropical plants. It is also drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and relatively cold-hardy, with the ability to withstand light freezes.
🍒 Wildlife-Friendly. Birds love the fruit, making it a great addition to any wildlife-friendly garden.
🍒 Dwarf Variety: Nana. The dwarf Nana variety has tiny leaves and smaller fruit, making it highly ornamental. It's perfect for containers, as a border plant, or even as a bonsai.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒 Shop Barbador Cherry

#Food_Forest

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Date: 26 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata)

Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis)

Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana)

Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 3: Tropical Cherries: Eugenias.

🍒 The most popular and easy-to-grow tropical cherries include Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata), Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis), Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana), and Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita). They are all-time favorites!
🍒 Growth and Versatility: Eugenias are fast-growing, compact, and versatile, thriving both in the ground and in containers.
🍒 Early Fruit Production: These bushy shrubs or small trees begin producing fruit right away.
🍒 Low Maintenance: They're not particular about soil, need minimal water, are pest-free, and thrive in both full sun and partial shade. Eugenias are highly heat-tolerant and can withstand cool winters, even surviving a light freeze.
🍒 Fruit for All: Birds love the fruit, but don't worry - there will be plenty to go around.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🛒 Shop Eugenias - Tropical Cherries

#Food_Forest

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Date: 25 Jan 2025 Top Tropicals Telegram channel & chat

Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Avocado (Persea americana) fruit

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 2: Avocado Tree.

🥑 Avocado (Persea americana) is a must-have in any tropical or subtropical garden, along with the mango. It’s a favorite fruit known for its health benefits and superfood status.
🥑 Cold Hardy: Some varieties can survive temperatures below 25F, making it more cold-tolerant than mango trees.
🥑 Beautiful and Productive: Aside from the fruit, it's a lovely ornamental tree.
🥑 Grafted Varieties for Quality Fruit: Many plant enthusiasts enjoy growing Avocado from seed. Keep in mind that only grafted trees guarantee quality fruit and production right away, while seedlings take 7-8 years.
🥑 Growing Secrets: The avocado tree can be a bit tricky to establish. The two main secrets to successful growth are:

🥑 Compact Varieties Available: There are several compact varieties ideal for container culture, small spaces, and patios. Dwarf "Condo" varieties like Wurtz and Fuerte are perfect for containers, while semi-dwarf options such as Russell, Lila, Mexicola, Poncho, and Yamagata also perform well in smaller gardens.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:

🟡About #Avocado trees
🟡Avocado Varieties Guide
🟡10 best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

🛒 Shop Avocado varieties

#Food_Forest #Avocado

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