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Index > Garden Blog

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Want Constant Blooms? Plant Clerodendrums

Your Shortcut to a Colorful Garden

Cat with Bleeding Heart Clerodendrum

Q: Q: I live in Florida, and while everything is green, I want more color in my garden and patio. What low-maintenance perennials can add nonstop blooms without constant care? I'm tired of annuals that don't last. Do such plants even exist?

A: Yes, they do - and your perfect solution is Clerodendrums. These colorful tropical perennials grow fast, bloom for most of the year, and thrive in both sun and shade. They're easy to care for, relatively cold-tolerant, and come in many shapes: shrubs, vines, and even small trees. Ideal for both garden beds and containers.

Why Grow Clerodendrums?

Clerodendrum philippinum - Cashmere Bouquet

Clerodendrums are tough, reliable, and visually striking plants:
- Fast-growing with a compact habit
- Available in many forms: shrubs, vines, and small trees
- Colorful flowers, many of them are sweetly fragrant!
- Thrive in sun or shade; cold tolerant; not picky about soil
- Bloom repeatedly or continuously
- Excellent for pots, patios, or indoors

Clerodendrums as Shrubs

Clerodendrum ugandense and mastacanthum

- Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower: fragrant pink blooms, spreads quickly
- Clerodendrum incisum - Musical Note: unique buds shaped like musical notes
- Clerodendrum inerme - Wild Jasmine: salt-tolerant, good for seaside areas
- Clerodendrum mastacanthum - Pink Butterfly Bush: long-blooming, eye-catching pink
- Clerodendrum paniculatum - Pagoda Flower: layered red-orange towers of flowers
- Clerodendrum philippinum - Cashmere Bouquet: double fragrant flowers, shade-tolerant
- Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly: delicate blue blooms that attract pollinators

Clerodendrums as Vines

Clerodendrum thomsoniae - Bleeding Heart

- Clerodendrum thomsoniae - Bleeding Heart: classic red-and-white contrast, climbs easily
- Clerodendrum speciosum - Red Bleeding Heart: vivid magenta blooms, great on trellises

Clerodendrums as Small Trees

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst

- Clerodendrum minahassae - Fountain Clerodendrum: upright, white flower sprays
- Clerodendrum sahelangii - Champagne Clerodendrum: cascading white blooms
- Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst: purple leaves, late winter blooms
- Clerodendrum schmitii - Chains of Glory: dangling flower clusters, unusual look
- Clerodendrum wallichii - Bridal Veil: long white flowers, graceful arching branches

Clerodendrum minahasse

Date:

Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!
🍌 Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

  • 🍹 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!


📚 About Banana from previous posts:

🛒 Banana Bliss Starts Here

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Date:

Want a Fence Covered in Royal Blooms?

Petrea volubilis, Queen's Wreath, Sandpaper vine

👑 Want a Fence Covered in Royal Blooms?
  • 😈 Petrea volubilis, also known as Queen's Wreath or Sandpaper vine, started blooming in our garden again in April. This tropical wisteria that steals the show is a twining vine with large, rough leaves - just like a sandpaper!
  • 😈 Petrea is the ultimate tropical climber - fast-growing, bold, and breathtaking. Its rough, sandpaper-like leaves are just the beginning... the real magic is in the massive cascading clusters of royal purple flowers that can stretch over a foot long!
  • 😈 There's also a rare white variety - Petrea glandulosa Alba - White Queen's Wreath. It features the same cascading form as the purple type, but with elegant snow-white, pinwheel-like flowers that create a soft, striking contrast in the garden.
  • 😈 Often called Tropical Wisteria, Petrea thrives in warm, humid climates and puts on a non-stop floral display. Each bloom lasts a few days, but the blue calyxes remain, giving the illusion of continuous flowering.
  • 😈 These flowers draw in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, turning your garden into a buzzing paradise.
  • 😈 Let it climb a trellis, fence, or arbor and watch it become the centerpiece of your yard - fast!


🛒 Add the Queen's Wreath to your garden and grow your own royal display! 👑

📚 Learn more:
The Royal Snow White that everyone loves
Purple Sandpaper Vine

#Butterfly_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

Lettuce be healthy!

🍴 "Lettuce be healthy!"

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats

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Fuel Your Day Naturally: Grow Plants That Boost Your Energy

Fuel Your Day Naturally: Grow Plants That Boost Your Energy
⚡️ Fuel Your Day Naturally: Grow Plants That Boost Your Energy

Feeling tired, sluggish, or mentally foggy? Your garden can be your energy station!
These tropical fruits and edibles are rich in Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), natural caffeine, and metabolism-enhancing compounds that help convert food into fuel, power your body, and sharpen your mind - naturally and sustainably.


⚡️ Top 9 Energy-Supporting Plants (Vitamin B1 - Thiamine):

  • 🟡 Jackfruit - A delicious tropical source of vitamin B1, supporting energy production and nervous system function.

  • 🟡 Pineapple - Contains thiamine, essential for turning food into usable energy.

  • 🟡 Banana - Supplies vitamin B1 and quick-access natural sugars, ideal for an energy lift.

  • 🟡 Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan) - A protein-rich edible legume packed with thiamine to aid in energy metabolism.

  • 🟡 Camellia sinensis (Tea Plant) - Leaves used to brew green and black tea, combining caffeine with L-theanine to promote sustained mental energy.

  • 🟡 Coffee - One of nature's most famous energy boosters - grown from a beautiful tropical tree.

  • 🟡 Yerba Mate - A South American favorite for mental clarity and physical stamina - with natural caffeine and nutrients.

  • 🟡 Wiri wiri and Biquinho Peppers - These fiery little peppers are rich in capsaicin, which may help boost metabolism, burn fat, and enhance overall energy levels.

  • 🟡 Macadamia Nut - Loaded with thiamine (B1) and healthy fats that support nervous system function and long-lasting energy.


📚 Learn more about health benefits of tropical plants:
TROPICAL FRUIT HEALTH BENEFITS GUIDE - Part 1 and Part 2

🛒 Shop Energy-Boosting Plants for Natural Energy

#Food_Forest #Discover #Remedies

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

My closet

My closet
🎶 My closet

"I like my money right where I can see it: hanging in my closet." - Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City)

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings

Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings
❤️ Mango and Ricotta/Cottage Cheese Dumplings

  • 🥭 Ingredients:

  • · 1 large ripe mango, peeled and finely chopped
  • · cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (use ricotta for a smoother texture or cottage cheese for a more textured filling)
  • · 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust based on the sweetness of the mango)
  • · 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • · 1 package of wonton wrappers
  • · Water, for sealing the wrappers
  • · Powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
  • · Butter or oil, for frying

  • 🥭 Instructions:


  • Prepare the Filling:
    In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped mango, ricotta or cottage cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

    Assemble the Dumplings:

· Lay out the wonton wrappers on a clean surface. Spoon about one tablespoon of the mango-cheese mixture into the center of each wrapper.
  • · Dip your finger in water and run it along the edges of the wrapper to moisten them. This helps seal the dumplings.
  • · Bring the edges of the wrapper together to form a triangle or purse, making sure to expel any air pockets as you seal the edges firmly.


  • Cook the Dumplings:
  • · For Frying: Heat butter or oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the dumplings and fry until golden brown on both sides. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
  • · For Steaming: If you prefer a healthier option, you can steam the dumplings. Place them in a steamer basket over boiling water and steam for about 10-15 minutes or until the wrappers are translucent.


🥭 Serve:

Serve the dumplings warm. Dust with powdered sugar if desired for a sweet finish.

Optional Sauce:
You can serve these dumplings with a simple dipping sauce made by mixing some honey with a splash of lime juice. This adds a zesty contrast to the sweet and creamy filling.

These mango and cheese dumplings are a creative twist on traditional dessert dumplings, bringing together flavors that are both refreshing and comforting. Enjoy your cooking!

🛒 Plant your own Mango Tree and always have mango supply

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Mango

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The Orchid Tree that NEVER Stops Blooming

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

Bauhinia madagascariensis - Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

🔥 The Orchid Tree that NEVER Stops Blooming
  • 🌺 Yes, you read that right - stunning red flowers year-round. The Bauhinia madagascariensis, or Red Butterfly Orchid Tree, is one of the most spectacular and rare Bauhinias in cultivation today.
  • 🌺 Flowers that look like scarlet butterflies - with bold yellow flames at the base of each petal.
  • 🌺 Grows into a compact tree or tall bush/standard - perfect for small gardens or containers.
  • 🌺 Constant color + butterfly magnet = living fireworks in your yard!
  • 🌺 Loves full sun and rewards you with nonstop blooms.

  • 👉 Ready to grow your own rare, flowering masterpiece? Get yours before it's gone!


🛒 Bring home the tree that blooms 365 days a year

📚 More about Bauhinias:

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

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The World Traveler

The World Traveler
🛞 The World Traveler

😰 "I haven’t been everywhere, but it's on my list." - Susan Sontag

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Date:

Brew Your Future: Grow Your Own Coffee!

Coffee Tree blooming

☕️ Brew Your Future: Grow Your Own Coffee!

☕️ Coffee prices are climbing, supplies are tightening, and drought in Brazil is hitting hard 🫤
The best time to plant a Coffee Tree was yesterday - the next best time is right now!

🎥 Our Coffee trees are bursting with blooms, promising a fresh harvest and home-roasted coffee like no other.
It's time to take your morning cup into your own hands!

🛒 Grow it. Pick it. Roast it. Drink it. Buy your coffee tree now!

📚 Learn more from previous posts:
What is coffee made of?
Why Coffee tree is the best gift plant
Top 10 fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits: #2. Coffee Tree
What is the most popular and the easiest tropical fruit tree grown as a house plant?
Video: growing a Coffee tree

#Food_Forest #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Discover

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