Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Pine Cone Ginger - Zingiber Zerumbet, Shampoo Ginger

💄 Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!
  • 💄Pine Cone Ginger (Zingiber Zerumbet), is called Shampoo Ginger due to its unique, milky substance found in the cones. If you squeeze these bright red cones, a fragrant, milky liquid seeps out - traditionally used in Asia and Hawaii as a natural shampoo. Even today, you’ll find it in commercial shampoos.
  • 💄 But there's more to it than hair care. All parts of the plant carry a spicy fragrance, the cones make striking, long-lasting cut flowers, and the whole plant adds a tropical vibe to your garden.
  • 💄 And here's a fun history twist: Pine Cone Ginger is a "canoe plant", carried across the Pacific by ancient Polynesian voyagers. Imagine - this little shampoo factory traveled the ocean in canoes centuries ago!


Would you try washing your hair with this tropical ginger?

🛒 Grow your own Natural Shampoo Ginger

📚 Learn more:

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Remedies #Food_Forest

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Jackfruit curry quickie: quick n fun exotic recipes. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Jackfruit curry quickie: quick n fun exotic recipes
🍴 Jackfruit curry quickie: quick n fun exotic recipes

  • 🟡Saute young Jackfruit chunks with coconut milk, curry paste, and ginger.
  • 🟡Tastes like pulled chicken curry, but totally plant-based!


🛒 Shop Jackfruit varieties

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Watch this before cooking with black pepper! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum)

🍃 Watch this before cooking with black pepper!

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is famous for its berries, but the leaves are edible too, and in some regions they’re used just like betel leaves or bay leaves. Here are a few ways you can use them:
  • Cooking wrap: Fresh leaves can be used to wrap fish, meat, or rice before steaming or grilling, similar to banana or betel leaves. They add a mild peppery aroma.
  • Flavoring curries and soups: Whole leaves can be simmered in curries, broths, or stews to infuse a gentle peppery note, then removed before serving (like bay leaves).
  • Herbal teas: Fresh or dried leaves can be steeped with ginger, turmeric, or lemongrass to make a warming tea traditionally used for digestion and colds.
  • Chutneys and pastes: In South India, young pepper leaves are ground with coconut, tamarind, and chilies to make a tangy chutney.
  • Medicinal uses: Folk remedies use the leaves for coughs, sore throats, and as a poultice for muscle aches.


🍛 Black pepper leaf chutney
  • ♨️Lightly saute 6-8 pepper leaves in a little oil.
  • ♨️Blend with 1/2 cup grated coconut, 2 green chilies, tamarind, salt, and cumin.
  • ♨️Optional: top with a quick tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves.
  • ♨️Serve with rice or dosa.


☕️ Pepper leaf tea - when you feel under the weather
  • Boil 2-3 leaves with a cup of water.
  • Add a slice of ginger and a pinch of turmeric (optional).
  • Simmer 5 minutes, strain, and sweeten with honey.


Both recipes give a warm, peppery aroma without being too spicy. Pepper leaves are milder than the berries, so you’ll get aroma more than heat.

🛒 Grow your own Black Pepper plant - spice and vegetable!

📚 Learn more:

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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More than white: rare Butterfly Gingers. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

More than white: rare Butterfly Gingers

Hedychium - Butterfly Ginger

More than white: rare Butterfly Gingers
Looks like the classic white, but with soft yellow blooms and the same rich fragrance. Long, slightly fuzzy green leaves and flower spikes that light up late summer with scent and color. This variety grow fast and much bigger than plant also much bigger and vigorous than classic white Butterfly ginger.

🛒 Smell the difference - get your ginger trio

#Shade_Garden #Perfume_Plants
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Happy Independence Day!
4th of July Sale

Independent cat on Independence Day opening a can

"Independence is happiness." - Susan B. Anthony

Happy 4th of July from the tropics! Whether you're staying local or escaping for the long weekend, it's the perfect time to enjoy your garden, start something new, or grab that plant you've been eyeing. Red Desert Roses, white fragrant Gardenias and Jasmines, rare Blue Ginger - tropical blooms are showing off right now, and we are celebrating with a hot summer sale: 20% off everything with code HAPPY4TH25, plus extra savings on combined DEALS and BOGO! Add some color to your summer and let your garden do the fireworks!

Use the code below to save 20% on your entire order:

HAPPY4TH25

Min order $200. Excluding S/H. Exp. 7-7-25

Reminder: use our FREE and DISCOUNTED SHIPPING for qualified orders

Shop Now Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree

In the photo above: Bauhinia madagascariensis, Red Butterfly Orchid Tree - dazzles with bright red flowers striped in gold. A rare, fast-growing tropical that brings serious color to your garden, it is one of the most striking Orchid trees you can grow. It thrives in sun and rewards with nonstop color.

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What are Health Benefits of Alpinia galanga (Galangal) A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Alpinia galanga (Galangal)

Alpinia galanga (Galangal)

What are Health Benefits of Alpinia galanga (Galangal)

🌿 Galangal, also known as Thai ginger, is more than just a fast growing ornamental ginger and flavorful root - it's also a powerful healing plant with centuries of use in both kitchens and traditional medicine. Here are some of its top health benefits:
  • Digestive aid - Galangal stimulates digestion, reduces bloating, and relieves nausea. It's especially helpful after heavy or oily meals.
  • Anti-inflammatory properties - Contains compounds like galangin that help reduce inflammation, making it useful for joint pain and inflammatory conditions.
  • Antioxidant rich - Packed with flavonoids and polyphenols that fight oxidative stress and may help slow aging and support overall wellness.
  • Immune support - Traditionally used to fight colds and infections thanks to its antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
  • Respiratory health - Used in Thai herbal remedies for clearing the lungs, soothing sore throats, and reducing coughs.
  • Brain function - Some studies suggest galangal may help protect brain cells and improve cognitive performance due to its antioxidant profile.
  • Circulatory support - Acts as a natural stimulant and may help improve blood flow and circulation.


🛒 Grow your own Thai ginger – fresh, healing, and flavorful!

#Food_Forest #Discover #Remedies

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Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - flowers

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - leaves

Musk Bush - Iboza riparia, Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush - leaves

🚀 Another Musk from Africa that came before Elon: the true Healer from Zulu.
  • 🚀 This African Musk has less hype and more goodness: it won't buy Twitter but it might cure your cough!
  • 🚀 Musk Bush (Iboza riparia) - also called Misty Plume Bush, or Ginger Bush, is a highly aromatic shrub with a long tradition of healing use in African herbal medicine. Its soft, velvety leaves release a sweet ginger-like scent when crushed and are packed with medicinal value.
  • 🚀 Medicinal uses

  • 💚 Respiratory relief: The Zulu people traditionally use Iboza as an inhalant for coughs, chest congestion, and even malaria. Crushed leaves are often inhaled or made into a steam bath to clear the lungs.
  • 💚 Natural relaxant: Often used alongside Psychotria viridis for calming effects, this plant is prized for its gentle sedative properties.
  • 💚 Headache and digestive aid: Inhaling the fragrance can ease headaches, and teas or infusions are used to soothe stomach aches.

  • 🚀 Plant facts

  • 💚 Growth: Fast-growing (up to 3 ft/year), up to 6 ft tall, with a full, bushy habit.
  • 💚 Leaves: Bright green, heart-shaped, covered in sticky aromatic hairs.
  • 💚 Flowers: showy mist-like white to lilac spikes hang in beautiful, fragrant dense clusters.
  • 💚 Fragrance: Leaves are scented like ginger with a musky twist - especially fragrant after light pruning.


🚀 Growing tips
  • 💚 Best in full sun or partial shade
  • 💚 Likes rich, well-drained soil and regular summer water, drought tolerant once established.
  • 💚 Prune hard after flowering to keep it compact and boost future blooms.
  • 💚 Grows well in pots in cold climates.


🛒 Order Musk Bush - natural remedy for body and mind

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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What edible plants and herbs can reduce your blood pressure. Tropical fruit and plants that help keep blood pressure in balance. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Edible plants and herbs reducing blood pressure

Edible plants and herbs reducing blood pressure

💚 Tropical fruit and plants that help keep blood pressure in balance.
Part 2: What edible plants and herbs can reduce your blood pressure?

Continued from previous post ⤴️
  • 🌿 Moringa (Moringa oleifera, Horseradish tree) - Contains potassium and antioxidants, shown in studies to help reduce blood pressure.
  • 🌿 Curry Leaf (Murraya koenigii) - Traditionally used for blood sugar and blood pressure regulation; contains cardio-protective compounds.
  • 🌿 Hibiscus sabdariffa (Karkade) - Famous for hibiscus tea, clinically shown to lower blood pressure naturally.
  • 🌿 Camellia sinensis (Tea Plant) - Green and black tea can support vascular health and slightly reduce blood pressure over time.
  • 🌿 Turmeric (Curcuma) - Contains curcumin, which may support vascular relaxation and improve circulatory health.
  • 🌿 Yerba Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)- Contains antioxidants and vasodilating compounds that may support blood pressure regulation.
  • 🌿 Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis) - Traditional uses include heart and circulatory support, with mild diuretic properties.
  • 🌿 Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf) and Piper betel (Betel Leaf) - Used traditionally to help with hypertension and circulation.
  • 🌿 Cinnamon (Cinnamomum sp.) - May improve insulin sensitivity and support vascular relaxation, contributing to lower blood pressure.
  • 🌿 Allspice (Pimenta dioica) - Contains anti-inflammatory compounds that support heart and circulatory health.
  • 🌿 Ginger (Alpinia, Costus, Zingiber, etc.)- Known to help relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, which can reduce blood pressure.
  • 🌿 Wiriwiri and Biquinho Peppers (Capsicum sp.) - Their capsaicin content may support vasodilation and improve circulation.


🛒Shop tropical herbs and spice plants that boost your health

📚 Learn more:
Tropical fruit health benefits guide
#Disover more #Remedies and #Fruit_Forest

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TROPICAL FRUIT HEALTH BENEFITS GUIDE, Part 2: A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

TROPICAL FRUIT

TROPICAL FRUIT

🍑 What fruit and edibles can help with health issues and VITAMIN deficiencies

...Continued from previous post ⤴️

7. 💅 Beauty Enhancer
(Vitamin B7 - Biotin):
Banana, Avocado, Aloe Vera, Clitoria (Butterfly Pea), Patchouli.

8.Blood Builder
(Vitamin B9 - Folate):
Avocado, Guava, Papaya, Moringa, Chaya (Maya Spinach Tree), Mulberry.

9. Immunity Booster
(Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid):
Guava, Pineapple, Carambola, Mango, Dragon Fruit, Loquat, Longevity Spinach (Gynura), Moringa, Allspice, Camphor Tree, Bay Leaf, Yerba Mate, Cherry, Peach, Passion fruit, Mulberry, Eugenia, Cinnamon, Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper), Wiriwiri and Biquinho Pepper.

10. ✋ Skin Shield
(Vitamin E - Tocopherol):
Avocado, Sapote, Dragon Fruit, Moringa, Patchouli, Aloe, Annatto, Camphor Tree.

11. ❣️Clot Controller
(Vitamin K - Phylloquinol):
Moringa, Sauropus (Katuk), Chaya.

12. 🍲 Digestive Aid
(Enzymes):
Pineapple, Papaya, Ginger, Turmeric, Mango, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Bay Leaf, Betel Leaf, Peach, Eugenia, Jackfruit, Lippia dulcis, Allspice, Lippia alba (Poleo), Wiri wiri and Biquinho Pepper, Passion fruit.

📚 Learn more in our next posts about specific benefits of each fruit or plant...

🛒 Explore tropical fruit trees with benefits

#Food_Forest #Discover #Remedies #Bananas

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Carambola Jam recipe. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

⭐️ Carambola Jam recipe

😁 Ingredients:

  • · 4 ripe carambolas, washed and thinly sliced
  • · 1 cup granulated sugar
  • · 1/2 cup water
  • · Juice of 1 lemon
  • · 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)


📞 Instructions:

  • · In a saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
  • · Add the sliced carambola and ground ginger. Reduce heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the fruit softens and the mixture thickens.
  • · Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then transfer to sterilized jars.
  • · Refrigerate and enjoy on toast, with yogurt, or as a glaze for meats.


🎁 This simple yet unusual jam highlights carambola’s unique star shape and tangy-sweet flavor! 😏

🛒 Plant your own Carambola Tree

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