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The star of the orchard

😛 The star of the orchard

Start Fruit - Carambola Tree (Averrhoa carambola). Growing this tree is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy this unique and delicious fruit right at home!

📚 Learn more from previous posts:
Star Fruit from our garden
How to grow your own Carambola
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #8. Carambola - Starfruit
Carambola Banana Whip
Carambola tree is the Star of the orchard

🛒 Shop Star Fruit varieties

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

Loquat fruit (Eriobotrya japonica)

🏆 Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes.
# 10: Loquat Tree.
  • 🍑 Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree.
  • 🍑 Heavy Producer: Loquats are juicy, aromatic, and apricot-like in flavor, ripening from early Spring to early Summer.
  • 🍑 Compact and Ideal for Small Gardens: Perfect for beginners and those with limited space.
  • 🍑 Undemanding: Loquat trees thrive in any soil, tolerate summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding.
  • 🍑 Nutrient-Rich: High in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Eaten fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, sauces, pies, and wine-making. It's also popular as a natural sweetener.


📚 Learn more from previous posts:
🎥 YouTube video about Loquat
📁 Overlooked fruit: tasty Loquat recipes (PDF)

🛒 Start your fruit garden with Loquats

#Food_Forest #Loquat

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

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:

🛒 Shop Jackfruit varieties

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Guava Tree (Psidium sp.)

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:

🛒 Shop Guava varieties

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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) - Flower

Funeral Tree - Quararibea funebris (Rosita de Cacao, Flor de Cacao) - tree

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

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Papaya fruit (Carica papaya)

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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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia integrifolia)

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

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - flowers

Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - flowers

Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) - fruit and leaves

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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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Malpighia glabra - Barbados Cherry, Acerola

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

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Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes

Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata)

Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata)

Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis)

Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis)

Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana)

Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana)

Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita)

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

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