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Index > Garden Blog

Date:

How to Plant a Perfume Hedge
And What Does a Champaka Tree Look Like?
Practical Growing Guide

Champaka tree in landscape

Photo above: Magnolia champaka (Joy Perfume tree) in landscape. This tree was planted 3 years ago from a 7-gal pot. The tree is now 5 years old from seed and has been covered with flowers for two seasons in a row. Check out short video.

Q: How big does the Champaka tree grow, tall and wide? And what is the growth habit? I'm thinking of planting a perfume hedge along my property with several of these beautiful trees (8-10 trees). How far apart should I plant them and what container size should I start with? And how soon will they start blooming?

A: Magnolia champaka, or Joy Perfume tree is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these stunning trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.

The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum... you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.

The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color.

The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot with a proper fertilizer program or in the ground. In Florida, mature trees can reach 20-25 ft tall, although in true tropical environments they may grow much taller. Check out short video of a mature tree. It doesn't get very wide, and if you are planning to plant several trees as a perfume hedge, you can space them as close as 10 ft apart. This tree - light green, fragrant, evergreen, fast-growing, bushy, and dense - makes the perfect perfume hedge!

Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed. Singing birds love this tree and often build nests in its bushy crown during spring. The tree is relatively cold-hardy and can withstand light freeze for short periods once established. Just make sure to provide regular watering.

We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:

3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
* Free delivery for qualified orders - contact us for estimate

Plant Your Perfume Hedge Today!

Imagine walking along a path lined with Champaka trees - Joy -fragrant blossoms drifting through the air, lush green leaves swaying gently, and birds singing above. With just a few trees, you can create your own heavenly hedge of joy and fragrance. Let your garden bloom with elegance, beauty, and the world's most luxurious scent!

Champaka flower

Date:

Hop into Easter Week Sale - Plant Joy and Save!

Happy Easter Week, Tropical Gardeners!

Spring is here - and so is your chance to grow your own magic. Eggs may be pricey... but guess what? You can grow your own food instead! Plant a fruit tree this Easter and watch it hatch into something better than chocolate - like juicy Mangoes, Dragon Fruits and Carambolas, sweet Papayas and Bananas, healthy Avocados and Jackfruits or your very own exotic Sugar Apples hanging from the branches!

Easter is about hope, renewal, and starting fresh - just like your garden! Whether you're planting your first tree or adding a rare gem to your edible jungle, now is the perfect time. Get 15% OFF everything in our store using this code:

EASTERWEEK

Min order $150, excluding S/H. Exp. Exp 4-20-25.

Hop to it! Don't put all your eggs in one basket... unless it's a basket full of fruit trees of flowering shrubs. Let's plant some hope together - one tree at a time.

Date:

Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe:
Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

Banana Daiquiri Recipe

Q: What can I do with a lot of Bananas? All three trees I got from you last year produced lots of bananas and I can eat only so much. Any exotic recipes?

A: When we get lots of bananas (which happens every year!), we make banana bread or banana pudding for the whole team. But those are pretty common recipes. Try Banana Daiquiri!

Banana Daiquiri Recipe Ingredients:

1 ripe banana
2 ounces light rum

  1. tablespoon sugar
    1 ounce lime juice
    1/2 ounce triple sec (optional for added depth)

Ice cubes
Slice of lime or banana for garnish>

Instructions:

Prepare the Banana: Peel the banana and cut it into chunks.
Blend the Ingredients: In a blender, combine the banana chunks, light rum, sugar, lime juice, and triple sec. Add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth. If the mixture is too thick, you can add a small amount of water or more lime juice to adjust the consistency.

Garnish and Serve:

Pour the mixture into a chilled glass. Garnish with a slice of lime on the rim of the glass or a small wheel of banana. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing tropical flavors!

This Banana Daiquiri is not only refreshing but also offers a creamy texture and a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus. It's a fantastic choice for hot days or when you're in the mood for something a bit exotic. Cheers!

Date:

Go Bananas - up to 20% OFF Banana Trees!

Now through 4/15 - Limited Time Only!

Banana varieties collage

Banana Health Benefits

Bananas are a powerhouse of nutrition - rich in potassium for heart health, and packed with vitamins B6 and C to boost energy and immunity. They come from fast-growing, easy-care trees that thrive in warm climates or containers. Whether eaten fresh, blended, or baked, bananas are a naturally sweet and tasty treat you can grow yourself!

Ready to turn your garden into a tropical paradise and grow your own delicious bananas? Now's your chance - use our offer below!

A Banana for Every Space and Taste

At Top Tropicals, we've got over a dozen top banana varieties - from exotic ornamental beauties like Blood Leaf and Siam Ruby to edible showstoppers. Edible varieties range from popular, heavy-producing types like Double Mahoi to rare collector favorites like Ice Cream (Blue Java) - the kind you'll never find at the grocery store. We also carry dwarf varieties that grow just 4 feet tall but still produce full-sized fruit - perfect for containers, patios, and small spaces. Collect them all - edible, ornamental, dwarf, rare - and enjoy the fun, flavor, and beauty of growing your own banana grove.

From Collectors to Beginners - We've Got Your Banana

"Growing bananas is like growing sunshine. They bring energy, beauty, and fruit to your doorstep." - said Dr. Richard Campbell, tropical fruit expert and co-creator of the condo mango concept.

Growing bananas is easy, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly. With Sunshine Boosters plant food, these tropical favorites grow fast and can start producing as soon as next season! Whether you live in the South or up North, in a house or an apartment - you can grow your own bananas in the garden, on a balcony, patio, or lanai and enjoy the taste of the tropics at home.

Special Offer

Get instant 10% off all bananas for 1 week only, plus extra 10% OFF sitewide with code below for qualified orders.

Additional 10% off your entire purchase (including any other plants), saving total of 20% on your Banana trees:

GOBANANAS

Min order $150, excluding S/H. Exp. 4-15-25

Hurry, offer ends April 15th!

Banana Truly Tiny

Learn More About Banana Varieties:

- Top Ornamental Banana Varieties - Which One Belongs in Your Garden?
- Best Edible Bananas to Grow - Sweet, Unique, and Delicious!
- How Many Banana Varieties Can You Grow? (More Than You Think!)

Sunshine Boosters fertilizers for Banana trees

In the photo above: Sunshine Boosters are the best fertilizers for ornamental (Sunshine Robusta) and edible bananas (Sunshine C-Cibus).

Date:

Get more goodies and savings from
Top Tropicals Telegram Channel!

Top Tropicals Telegram Channel discount

Want to grow exotic fruit, pick the perfect plants for your yard, and become a plant expert - without wasting hours online? Join the Top Tropicals Telegram Channel

- Learn how to grow your own food forest with minimal effort
- Discover the best plants for your space - shade or sun, pots or ground
- Get expert tips on care, fertilizing, pruning, and harvesting
- Enjoy daily posts with practical advice, fun facts, and plant horoscopes
- No scrolling through endless videos - just direct answers and inspiration
- NO COMMERCIALS! Plant- (and cat-) info only.
- PLUS: Get exclusive access to discount codes and deals only available to our Telegram subscribers!

And of course enjoy daily appearances from our beloved PeopleCats (and a few adorable PeopleDogs).

Whether you're a new plant lover or a tropical pro - there's something here for everyone. Tap to join, grow with us, and unlock your plant wisdom and savings!

Cat checking Telegram

Date:

BIG TREE SALE EXTENDED!

Cat delivering trees in truck

Spring is the perfect time to plant a tree - and last week's Big Tree Special was a huge hit! We had so many happy customers take advantage of the FREE DELIVERY offer that we're extending the sale for one more week. This gives everyone who wanted a large tree another chance to order, while we catch up on all the deliveries already in motion!

We've got BIG trees - ready-to-bloom, ready-to-fruit, ready-to-wow. No waiting years for results! Choose from Mango, Avocado, Champaka, and other top sellers in 7-gal, 15-gal, and 25-gal sizes. These are mature, developed trees that are ready to thrive in your yard now.

FREE DELIVERY on qualifying purchases! (See offer details below). Come visit us in Ft. Myers Garden Center or swing by the B-Farm in Sebring, Florida to check out our large tree selection. Our friendly team is here to help you pick the perfect trees and arrange easy delivery. Turn your yard into tropical paradise overnight!

Don't wait - we can only deliver so many trees per day!

FREE DELIVERY+
7 gal - $25 off regular price
15 gal - $75 off regular price
25 gal - $125 off regular price

For walk ins only. Min order $200 for free delivery to Lee, Collier, Highlands counties and more (check with our office). Exp. 4-6-25

fruiting mango tree

By planting a large size Mango or Avocado tree, you can enjoy the fruit the same year.

Flowering tropical garden

In the photo above: Champaka tree in home landscape has beautiful golden-green foliage and heavenly scented flowers.

Date:

Spring is calling - let's plant some trees!

March 21: World Planting Day
Big Tree Sale and Specials

Cat planting a tree

Spring is Officially Here! March 20, 2025, marked the Spring Equinox - the first day of Spring - a season of growth, renewal, and fresh beginnings! And on March 21, we celebrate International Day of Forests - the perfect time to plant a tree!

Happen to live in Florida? You're in luck: Top Tropicals is right around the corner! Not only do we offer a massive online selection of flowering and fruiting tropical trees, but we also have large, ready-to-go trees in 7-gal, 15-gal, and 25-gal sizes - already mature and ready to bloom and fruit! No waiting years for results! Mango, Avocado, Champaka and other hot selling trees are available in large size.

And here's the best part - FREE DELIVERY! (see offer details below ). Visit our Garden Center in Ft. Myers or our B-Farm in Sebring, Florida to check out our large tree selection. Our friendly team is ready to help you find the perfect trees, discuss delivery options, and even install them for you!

Yes, we install! We bring the trees, soil, mulch, fertilizer, and all necessary supplies for a hassle-free garden upgrade! Discounts and special deals are available based on order size and plant type. Enjoy our free delivery deal this week only! See offer details below.

Fruiting Wax Jamboo in 25 gal pot
Fruiting Wax Jamboo in 25 gal pot

FREE DELIVERY+
7 gal - $25 off regular price
15 gal - $75 off regular price
25 gal - $125 off regular price
Purchase over $300 in big trees, install only $30 for 15g, $60 for 25g
Purchase over $600 in big trees, install only $20 each

For walk ins only. Min order $200 for free delivery to Lee, Collier, Highlands counties and more (check with our office). Exp. 3-28-25

Avocado trees in 15 gal pots

Champaka trees in 15 gal pots

Date:

St. Gertrude of Nivelles:
Patron Saint of Cats, Gardeners,
and Those Who Fear Mice!

St. Gertrude with cats

Q: What is celebrated on March 17 besides St Patrick's Day? Is it true this is also a Gardener's Day?

A: March 17 isn't just about St. Patrick! It's also the feast day of St. Gertrude of Nivelles, the Patron Saint of Cats, Cat Lovers, Gardeners, and Travelers! While her feline connection only emerged in the 1980s - over 1,300 years after she lived - the idea has spread far and wide. Some trace it back to a 1981 Metropolitan Museum of Art catalog, which first linked St. Gertrude to cats.

Gertrude, a 7th-century Benedictine abbess, was known for her kindness, hospitality, and yes - her love of cats! She cared for the monastery's feline friends, offering them food and affection. In her honor, Nivelles, Belgium, holds an annual Le Tour Sainte-Gertrude, a grand procession celebrating her legacy.

Gardeners also look to St. Gertrude's feast day as the perfect time to start spring planting - because a beautiful, sunny March 17 is seen as a sign of a good growing season ahead! So, when you're decked out in green for St. Patrick's Day, give your furry friend an extra cuddle in honor of the original Cat Lady Saint!

And of course, Plant People usually are Cat People - this is why we have our PeopleCats.Garden!


A Prayer for Our Feline Friends

O holy St. Gertrude of Nivelles, Patron Saint of Cats,
I ask you to pray that my sweet kitty(ies) will always be content, energetic, curious, playful, and good-natured.
I pray my cat(s) will be a joy to me and those I love.
Carry my cat(s) to the throne of the Father and ask Him to bless them with long life and great happiness.
Pray, dear saint, that my cat(s) stay free from illness and always feel safe, protected, and loved.
Thank you for asking blessings upon my cat(s).
Ask the Lord to pour out special graces upon all cats and cat owners.
May they bring great love to one another and live companionably in peace.
Amen.

Date:

St. Patrick's Day - March 17
Live green, not just wear green!
15% discount

St Patrick's Cat

St. Patrick's Day is coming, and luck is in the garden! Live green, not just wear green! There's no better way to celebrate than by adding a touch of green to your space. Whether it's a new fruit tree, a colorful flowering plant, or a fresh herb for your kitchen, now's the time to add GOOD LUCK and prosperity to your Garden and Home!

Shop online or come visit us, and let us help you create a little piece of paradise in your own backyard! To make it even sweeter, we're offering a special holiday discount! Use code below at checkout and save 15% on your favorite plants. But hurry - just like a four-leaf clover, this deal won't last long!

LUCKYPLANTS

Min order $150. Excluding S/H. Exp. 3-18-25

Reminder: use our FREE and DISCOUNTED SHIPPING for qualified orders

Date:

What trees are fruiting and blooming right now?

Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Photo above: Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Q: What tropical trees are fruiting and flowering in March?

A: There's always something blooming and fruiting, especially with spring on the way! Our garden is buzzing with bees and butterflies, and in the nursery, you'll always find plants in bloom or bearing fruit. Here are a few standout winners of the season.

Orchid Trees

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

Orchid trees are among the most spectacular trees in Florida, flowering from late winter through spring. They are fast-growing, not fussy about soil or water, and bloom for several weeks in a stunning display of white, purple, pink, or red flowers. In the photo: Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - the most cold-hardy of all Bauhinias, tolerating temperatures as low as 26F. You can see them in full bloom across Florida right now!

Carambola - Star Fruit

Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)

Starfruit trees (Averrhoa carambola) have been fruiting in our garden since fall, and they just keep producing! We've had so many starfruits that we ended up making lots of jam.

Calliandra

Calliandra tweedi With Love - Red Tassel Flower

Calliandras are known to be spectacular winter bloomers, but in our garden, they seem to flower year-round. They make fantastic ever-blooming hedges or striking small specimen trees.
In the photo: red-flowering Calliandra tweedii "With Love" - Red Tassel Flower, yright now, this beautiful bush is covered in red blooms in front of our office at Sebring Farm.

Mulberry Trees

Mulberry fruit on the tree

Yes, it's Mulberry season! Some varieties have already ripened, while others are just about to. We're competing with the birds to see who gets the first fruit, but honestly, there's plenty for everyone! These trees are very cold hardy and highly productive.

Loquat Trees

Loquat tree Eriobotrya japonica

Loquat trees (Eriobotrya japonica) are loaded with fruit right now! We've started picking them and have already made some delicious preserves - you can only eat so many fresh. Loquats continue fruiting through April and May, making them one of the most rewarding, easy-to-grow, and productive fruit trees.

Tabebuia Trees

Tabebuia impetiginosa - Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, Pau DArco, Taheebo

Tabebuia trees put on a spectacular show from late winter through spring! Golden and pink Tabebuias are small, compact trees that fit any yard and deliver a breathtaking display year after year.
Check out these short videos of blooming Tabebuias:
Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia
Tabebuia impetiginosa - Dwarf Pink Tabebuia, Pau DArco, Taheebo