Stare for 10 sec without a blink and see what happens. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Stare for 10 sec without a blink and see what happens
Cat James Coconuts
👀 Stare for 10 sec without a blink and see what happens
"A clever look in men is the same as regularity of features among women; it is a kind of beauty which the vainest endeavour to acquire." - Jean de La Bruyere
9 best tropical shrubs that bloom all summer long or year around. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
9 best tropical shrubs that bloom all summer long or year around
Abutilon darwinii x striatum - Fireball, Biltmore Ballgown, Acalypha hispida - Cat Tail, Chenille plant, Allamanda, Brunfelsia - Lady of the night, Calliandra - Powderpuff, Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glorybower, Hibiscus El Capitolio, Rondeletia leucophylla - Panama Rose, Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant
🌺 9 best tropical shrubs that bloom all summer long or year around
🌺 1. Abutilon darwinii x striatum - Fireball, Biltmore Ballgown. Lantern-like blooms in orange, red, and yellow keep coming all summer. Compact and graceful, perfect for pots or borders.
🌺 2. Acalypha hispida - Cat Tail, Chenille plant. Fuzzy red tassels dangle nonstop in the heat, adding playful texture to containers and garden beds.
🌺 3. Allamanda (many varieties). Fast growers with trumpet flowers in yellow or pink. Can be shaped as shrubs, trellised vines, or flowering hedges.
🌺 4. Brunfelsia - Lady of the night. Creamy white blooms open at dusk, filling the evening garden with a sweet fragrance.
🌺 5. Calliandra - Powderpuff (many varieties). Cheerful pompom flowers in red, pink, or white attract hummingbirds and bloom nearly year-round.
🌺 6. Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glorybower. Bright red flower clusters stand out against tropical foliage. Loves sun and steady moisture.
🌺 7. Hibiscus El Capitolio - Unique, double-skirted, ruffled pendant blooms with pom-pom-like centers make this hibiscus a showpiece shrub for summer gardens.
🌺 8. Rondeletia leucophylla - Panama Rose. Compact and butterfly-friendly, with fragrant pink flower clusters that perfume warm evenings.
🌺 9. Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant. Bold, upright candles of golden flowers shine through the season and draw in pollinators.
Mulberries are tough, low-maintenance fruit trees that adapt to many
conditions.
Climate: Hardy from USDA zone 5 to 10.
Soil: Grow well in almost any soil; prefer good drainage.
Watering: Regular watering during dry spells; drought tolerant
once etablished.
Growth: 3–5 feet per year, producing fruit early.
Pruning: Annual pruning controls size and improves
branching.
Pot culture: Dwarf types thrive in containers, staying 6–7
feet tall. Use a large pot, water consistently, and prune lightly. Use Abundance
potting mix for best results.
Fertilizer: For reliable production, fertilizer regularly. Apply
Sunshine C-Cibus liquid booster with every watering, or Green
Magic controlled release fertilizer every 5-6 months.
❓
Mulberry FAQ
How soon will a mulberry fruit?
One to two years, sometimes the very first season.
What climates are suitable?
USDA zones 5–10, from -20F winters to hot summers.
How tall do they get?
Standard trees 20–30 ft; dwarfs 6–10 ft in
pots.
Do I need more than one tree?
No, they are self-pollinating.
What do they taste like?
Sweet and juicy, like a blend of blackberry and raspberry.
How long is the harvest?
Everbearing types ripen gradually from summer into fall.
Do birds eat them?
Yes, but trees are so productive there’s plenty to
share.
Are they messy?
Dark-fruited varieties can stain; white mulberries do not.
Picture this: it’s July, the sun is warm, and you step outside to
a tree dripping with berries. You reach up, and your fingers come away
stained purple. The taste? Like blackberries kissed with raspberry —
sweet,
juicy, unforgettable.
That’s what a Mulberry gives you. And the best part? You
don’t wait years. Many trees fruit the very next season. Dwarf types
can even
fruit nearly year-round in pots — fresh berries on your patio, without
leaving home.
🌟 Varieties gardeners
swear by:
In the photo above: mulberry varieties - Illinois
Everbearing, Dwarf Everbearing, Shangri-LA, White Mulberry, Pakistani Giant,
Issai, Florida Giant
Mulberries aren’t just delicious — they’re loaded
with antioxidants, help
balance blood sugar, and make your garden come alive with birds and
shade. Don’t wait another season. Plant your Mulberry now and taste
the
difference by next summer.
Watch
short videos:
💲
Special Offer – 20% off Mulberry Trees!
Get 20% OFF already discounted Mulberry Trees with
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Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only,
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Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Free natural shampoo: squeeze it and see what comes out!
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?
Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?
Akee (Blighia sapida)
⛔️ Banned Jamaican fruit: why you never see fresh Akee in U.S. stores?
Did you know that fresh Akee (Blighia sapida) is restricted for import into the U.S.?
That's the bad news.
The good news: you can grow your own Akee tree and enjoy this famous fruit right in your backyard!
Plenty of people love this fruit (it's actually a vegetable). It's the national fruit of Jamaica, and a must-have in the classic dish Akee and saltfish. Planting your own tree means you never have to miss out.
⛔️ Why grow Akee?
✔️Fresh fruit that you simply can’t buy in U.S. stores.
✔️You decide when it's ripe and safe, straight from the pod.
✔️A taste of Jamaica in your own garden - both food and culture in one tree.
So don't wait for the fruit that never arrives at the port. Plant your own Akee tree and enjoy the harvest tomorrow! 🛒 Plant your own Akee (Achee) tree
Watch this before cooking with black pepper! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.
Watch this before cooking with black pepper!
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.
Mulberry Care and Growing Tips
