Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date:
Tropical Seeds You Should Start Now for Spring Planting
Eight fast-growing, rewarding tropical perennials
to start from seed
Q: What tropical seeds can I start now so the seedlings will be ready for spring planting and produce flowers or fruit this year?
A: Many tropical plants grow quickly from seed and can mature within the same year, rewarding you with flowers or even fruit. Some of these tropical perennials can even be grown as annuals in cooler climates! The key is to start them early indoors, then transplant them outdoors as soon as warm weather arrives. With just a little planning, you can enjoy vibrant blooms and a harvest in just weeks or a few months. Below are some of the fastest-growing tropicals to try for a lush, same-year garden.
1. Pigeon Pea
Cajanus cajan Bicolor Fuerte - Pigeon Pea - is an ancient superfood cultivated for over 4,800 years, with roots in India and Ancient Egypt. This hardy, drought-tolerant perennial shrub produces nutritious, protein-rich beans used in rice dishes, soups, and even tofu. Easy to grow, it thrives in poor soils, improves soil quality, and offers medicinal benefits, making it a valuable plant for both gardens and kitchens. Seed to crop in just one season!
2. Lipstick Tree - Annatto
Bixa orellana - The Lipstick Tree, native to South America, is a striking shrub with large leaves, pink flowers, and vibrant red seeds. Its seeds produce Annatto, a natural pigment used in cosmetics, especially lipstick, as well as in culinary applications for its color and mild, peppery flavor. Beyond its beauty and versatility, annatto offers antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, while the plant itself makes an excellent hedge or ornamental feature.
3. Mexican Bird of Paradise
Caesalpinia mexicana - Mexican Bird of Paradise - is a rare gem among tropical shrubs, offering fragrant butter-yellow blooms that stand out against its feathery green foliage. A heat-loving, drought-tolerant plant, it attracts hummingbirds and can be grown as a compact shrub or small tree. Native to northern Mexico, it thrives in full sun with minimal water, making it a low-maintenance yet striking addition to any garden or patio.
4. Tree Calliandra
Calliandra houstoniana - Tree Calliandra is the only tree-form Powderpuff, growing into a lush, bushy tree in just one season. Its fluffy pink blooms appear year-round, drawing in hummingbirds and butterflies for a nonstop display of color and life. Super fast-growing and beautiful, it's a must-have for wildlife-friendly gardens!
5. Butterfly Pea - Clitoria
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea - is a stunning vine with vibrant blue, white, or purple flowers that captivate both gardeners and pollinators. Beyond its beauty, it's prized for its herbal benefits, with its flowers used in teas for stress relief and cognitive support. The famous Blue Tea, a caffeine-free infusion, turns purple with a splash of lemon, making it both a visual delight and a health-boosting drink. Fast-growing and easy to manage, this delicate yet vigorous vine is perfect for fences, trellises, and containers. Seed to crop in just one season!
6. Cas Guava
Psidium friedrichsthalianum - Costa Rican Guava, or Cas Guava, is a super sour fruit with four times more vitamin C than a lemon, making it a powerhouse for immune support. Popular in Costa Rica's "Agua de Cas", its tangy juice is perfect for refreshing drinks. Hardy and resilient, this low-maintenance tree thrives in poor soils while resisting pests and diseases. This is the fastest growing and the most productive guava tree with 2-3 crops per year! From seed to crop: 3 years.
7. Agua de Flor de Jamaica - Karkade Tea
The most health-beneficial hibiscus is Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle), known for its deep red calyces used in Agua de Flor de Jamaica and Karkade Tea. This tart, refreshing tea is packed with antioxidants and supports heart health, digestion, and immune function. A fast-growing plant, it goes from seed to a lush, flower-filled bush in just one season! From seed to crop: in just 3 months!
8. Dwarf Papaya TR Hovey
Papaya Dwarf TR Hovey, Carica papaya - is a dwarf marvel, reaching only 4-5 feet tall while producing giant, melon-sized sweet papayas! This compact variety is perfect for small gardens and container growing, offering big fruit on a tiny tree - a true space-saving tropical treasure! Only 2 years from seed to fruit.
Avocado variety everyone should have: how big does a dwarf Condo Avocado grows?
Avocado tree Fuerte with fruit
- 🌳 Several dwarf avocado varieties, also known as Condo Avocados, are ideal for container gardening and small spaces.
- 🌳 One popular variety is Fuerte, which begins to fruit when it's just 3-4 feet tall and remains under 15 feet, even after 10 years of growth.
- 🌳 The fruit is of high quality, medium-sized, and rich in buttery content.
📚Learn more from previous posts:
What is the best Avocado variety? Five most popular Avocado cultivars.
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes. # 2: Avocado Tree
More posts on #Avocado
✔️ Check out Avocado Variety Guide interactive char. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!
🛒 Shop Avocado varieties
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How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
Guava (Psidium sp.)
- 🍑 Guava Trees (Psidium sp.) are beloved for their flavorful fruit and easy-growing nature. These fast-growing trees are reliable producers and can thrive in a variety of climates, making them a favorite among home gardeners. Guavas are compact and can be grown in containers, making them suitable for small spaces and urban gardens.
- 🍑 Light and Soil
- 🍑 Pruning tips
Guava trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily to produce the best fruit. They prefer well-draining soils rich in organic matter but are adaptable to a range of soil types, including sandy or loamy soils. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. While guavas tolerate poor soils, enriching the soil with compost or manure will improve growth and yield.
Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape, size, and productivity of guava trees.
· Frequency: Prune guavas annually, ideally after the fruiting season, to encourage new growth and improve airflow.
- · Remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches to maintain tree health.
- · Shape the tree to allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy, which enhances fruit production.
- · For container-grown guavas, keep the tree compact by trimming back vigorous shoots regularly.
- 🍑 Guava in containers
- 🍑 Watering
Guavas are well-suited to container growing. Compact varieties like the "Nana" guava are ideal for pots. Use a large container (at least 15-20 gallons) with good drainage. Fill it with a high-quality potting mix enriched with organic matter. Place the container in a sunny location and water consistently. Regular pruning helps maintain a manageable size and promotes fruiting in container-grown guavas.
· Guava trees require consistent watering, especially during dry periods and the fruiting season. While they can tolerate short periods of flooding, ensure the soil is not waterlogged. Water deeply once or twice a week, depending on your climate.
- · Fertilize guavas 3-4 times a year during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus to promote flowering and fruiting. Adding organic matter like compost or manure annually boosts soil fertility and improves yields.
- 🍑 Harvesting
· Guava trees are quick to fruit, often producing their first harvest within a year of planting. For container-grown trees, fruiting can start in even smaller pots, such as 1-gallon containers.
- · Signs of ripe guava fruit include:
- · Harvest ripe guavas by hand or with pruning shears. Consume fresh or use them to make juices, jams, or desserts.
- A change in color from green to yellow (depending on the variety).
- A sweet, fruity aroma.
- Slight softness when gently pressed.
- 🍑 Health Benefits of Guava
· Guava is a nutrient powerhouse, offering numerous health benefits:
- · Vitamin C: Boosts the immune system and helps protect against colds and infections.
- · Potassium: Supports healthy blood pressure levels.
- · Antioxidants: Contribute to glowing skin and may reduce the risk of cancer.
- · Fiber: Aids digestion and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
- 🍑 Popular Varieties of Guava
· Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava): Sweet and aromatic, suitable for warmer climates.
- · Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale): Cold-hardy with a slightly tart flavor.
- · Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum): Known for its sour taste, perfect for juices like Costa Rica’s traditional "Agua de Cas." Cold hardy, disease resistant and vigorous, productive variety.
- · Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana): Fruity and floral, thriving in cooler climates.
🍑 Additional Tips
- · Guava trees are relatively pest-resistant but may require monitoring in humid climates for mealybugs. Use neem oil if needed.
- · Planting multiple guava varieties ensures a continuous supply of fruit.
- · With their fast growth, compact size, and delicious fruit, guava trees are a fantastic addition to tropical garden, greenhouse or patio.
📚 More from previous posts about #Guava
🛒 Shop Guava Trees
#Food_Forest #Guava
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Eyes with a Tail
📸 Georgie's tail (a proof for yesterday's post)
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Calliandra Tree everyone should have: how big and fast does it grow?
✅ Calliandra houstoniana - Tree Calliandra - is the only tree form of Powderpuff. It quickly grows into a bushy beautiful tree under 20 ft - in just one season, and fluffy pink flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies year around
📚 More prom previous post:
What Tree Calliandra brings into your garden
🛒 Order
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The Tailless and the Bushy Tail
📸 Matilda is a tailless Manx breed, and Georgie has a tail size of a peacock's!
Put a ♥️ for "not fair", and a 👍 for a "tough life"
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When you have a big crop of Star Fruit: sweet and Spicy Carambola Salsa recipe
Carambola Salsa
😁 Ingredients:
- · 2 ripe Carambola (starfruit), finely diced
- · 1 small red bell pepper, diced
- · 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- · 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
- · 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- · Juice of 1 lime
- · 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
- · Pinch of salt
📞 Instructions:
- · Combine the diced carambola, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, and cilantro in a bowl.
- · Add lime juice, honey, and a pinch of salt. Mix well.
- · Chill in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- · Serve with tortilla chips, grilled fish, or as a topping for tacos.
🎁 This recipe balances carambola's sweet-tart flavor with a spicy kick! 😏
🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree
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Dishes again??? I did them yesterday
📸 Bob is always involved in house chores
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Mango Rainbow tasting table: varieties you should try
Kent Mango
- Kent Mango variety is native to Florida. It is originated in Coconut Grove, in 1945 from a Haden seed.
- Kent has an excellent flavor, large size, and very little fiber. Considered by many to be one of the best tasting Florida mangoes and one of the most beautiful, truly rainbow colored fruit!
- Eat before fruit gets too ripe.
- The most rewarding attribute is a bountiful late season crop.
❔ What Mango varieties do you have in your garden?
Share in comments 👇
📚 Previous Mango Rainbow Tasting Table: 1 • 2 • 3 •
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How to grow Mandevilla: Practical Guide to Growing Mandevilla Vine
Mandevilla amabilis Thai Rose
Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson
Mandevilla Sun Parasol Crimson on a trellis
Mandevilla amabilis Thai Rose
Mandevilla Stars and Stripes
- 🌺 Mandevilla is a tropical vine known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. This fast-growing climber thrives in warm climates and adds a stunning display of color to gardens and patios.
- 🌺 Difference Between Mandevilla and Dipladenia
- 🌺 Growing in the Ground
The names Mandevilla and Dipladenia are often used interchangeably, creating confusion. While they are closely related, there are key differences. Mandevilla is a vigorous woody vine with large, stiff leaves, ideal for trellises and fences. Dipladenia, on the other hand, has a more compact growth habit with smaller, smooth leaves. Dipladenia can be also trained on a trellis but also thrives in hanging baskets or as a compact specimen plant. As a bushier type of Mandevilla, its smaller, more compact varieties are excellent for mixed containers.
💋Soil. Mandevilla prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. A mix of garden soil, compost, and sand ensures good drainage and fertility. Both Mandevilla and Dipladenia require acidic soil. If your native soil contains limestone, consider growing them in containers with a peat-based potting mix to maintain a lower pH.
- 💋Light. Plant in a location with full sun to partial shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight promotes the best blooms.
- 💋Feeding and Encouraging More Blooms: Feed Mandevilla with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor with every watering to encourage more blooms. Prune lightly after flowering to promote new growth and continuous flowering.
Water Mandevilla regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. During hot months, water deeply a few times a week. Reduce watering in cooler seasons.
- 🌺 Most Interesting Varieties
Mandevilla flowers come in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, mauve, pink, white, and even yellow. For vibrant color and impact, consider these varieties:
💋Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’– A classic pink variety with large flowers and vigorous growth.
- 💋Mandevilla ‘Sun Parasol’ Series – Offers compact plants in deep red, pink, or white, great for containers or small spaces.
- 💋Mandevilla ‘Crimson Red’– Deep red blooms stand out against glossy green foliage.
- 💋Dipladenia ‘Stars and Stripes’ - features striking red-and-white striped blooms.
In Florida, Sun Parasol and Alice du Pont perform exceptionally well, thriving in the heat and humidity while providing season-long blooms.
- 🌺 Pests and Problems
Mandevilla is relatively pest-resistant but can attract aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. To manage pests:
💋Spray with a neem oil solution weekly if pests are present.
- 💋Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphids naturally.
- 💋Remove affected leaves and rinse plants with a strong stream of water.
- 💋Watch for fungal diseases in humid climates; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.
🌺 Growing Mandevilla in Pots and Winter Care
Mandevilla grows beautifully in containers, making it a great option for cooler climates where it can be brought indoors for winter.
- 💋Pot Growing Tips:
· Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite for aeration.
- · Choose a pot at least 12-16 inches in diameter, with several drainage holes, for vigorous growth.
- · Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, avoiding waterlogged conditions.
💋Winter Care:
- · In regions with frost, move potted Mandevilla indoors to a bright, cool location (50-60°F).
- · Reduce watering and stop fertilizing during cooler season.
- · Prune lightly before bringing indoors to maintain shape and size.
- · Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in early spring before active growth begins, refreshing the soil and upgrading to a slightly larger container if needed.
With the right care, Mandevilla provides stunning, long-lasting blooms and thrives in gardens or pots, making it a versatile and rewarding addition to any space.
📚 Learn more from previous post:
How to overwinter Mandevilla indoors
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Productive Relaxation
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Can you grow plums in Florida?
Plum tree fruiting in Florida
💕 Yes, absolutely! This year, starting end of January, we are harvesting our first Plums... Sweet!
🎥 Scarlet Beauty Plum. Hypoluxo variety just started flowering, fruit coming soon!
📚 Learn more from previous post:
The most rewarding hardy fruit tree suitable for hot climate: peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums
🛒 Shop Low Chill Peaches, Nectsrunes, and Plums
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If a cat likes you, you know
"Cats are different, though. A cat won't curry favor even if it's in their best interests to do so. A cat can't be a hypocrite. If a cat likes you, you know. If he doesn't, you know that, too." - Stephen King, "L.T.'s Theory of Pets"
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When Peach trees are in full bloom
Flowering Peach Tree in Florida
- 🍑 Our Peach trees are in full bloom now. Early Spring started in January this year in Florida!
- 🍑 You can grow peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums in Florida, provided you choose low-chill varieties. These have been developed specifically for subtropical regions like Central and South Florida, where traditional temperate varieties struggle due to insufficient chill hours.
📚 Learn more from previous post:
The most rewarding hardy fruit tree suitable for hot climate: peaches, nectarines, apricots and plums
🛒 Shop Low Chill Peaches
#Food_Forest
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