Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date:

Big color in a small tree: Maroon jacaranda and why Jacaranda trees are so popular. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Big color in a small tree: Maroon jacaranda and why Jacaranda trees are so popular

Maroon jacaranda - Jacaranda jasminoides

👏 Big color in a small tree: Maroon jacaranda and why Jacaranda trees are so popular
  • 💜 Jacaranda jasminoides (Maroon Jacaranda) is a charming, compact tree that brings a touch of drama to small gardens and patios. It grows 10-12 feet tall, with a bushy habit that makes it perfect for tight spaces or even containers.
  • 💜 What really steals the show are its deep maroon to dark purple trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters from late spring through summer. In warm climates, it may surprise you with blooms at other times too!
  • 💜 The fine, fern-like leaves add a delicate, lacy texture to the overall look.
  • 💜 This jacaranda loves full sun but will tolerate a bit of shade, and it is happiest in fertile, well-drained soil. Water it regularly when it is young or during dry spells, but once established, it is fairly easygoing. It s best suited for USDA zones 9 to 11, and while mature plants can handle brief cold snaps down to 20F, younger ones appreciate a little extra protection when the temps dip.
  • 💜 Whether in the ground or in a pot, the Maroon Jacaranda is a low-maintenance beauty. A little pruning here and there keeps it tidy, and its elegant blooms make it a standout wherever it s planted. In warm places it may keep its foliage year-round, giving you a long-lasting touch of tropical color. A great pick for anyone who wants big color in a small footprint!


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Shop Jacaranda trees

#Trees #Container_Garden

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why you need to plant Chinaberry tree. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree flowers close up

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree flowers close up

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree flowers

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree flowers

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree

Melia azedarach, Chinaberry tree

🔮 Why you need to plant Chinaberry tree
  • 🟣 Looking for a compact tree that combines beauty, speed, and a touch of fragrance? The Melia azedarach, also known as the Chinaberry tree, could be the perfect pick!
  • 🟣 This small but mighty tree is a showstopper with its clusters of lilac-purple flowers, giving off a sweet vanilla-like scent that will make your garden smell amazing. When in full bloom, it can even remind you of the elegant Jacaranda tree, but with a little extra cold hardiness!
  • 🟣 The Chinaberry is super tough, standing strong in some frost, even as far north as USDA zone 7.
  • 🟣 It's a fast grower too, often doubling its size in a single season - perfect if you want some quick shade or just a dash of tropical flair in your landscape.
  • 🟣 With its "architectural" leaves and medium size (around 20-25 ft when fully grown), this tree offers plenty of personality without taking over your yard. Whether you need some instant green or just want to add a beautiful, fragrant centerpiece, the Chinaberry's got you covered.


🛒 Plant Chinaberry tree

#Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing

Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing
💃 Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing

  • 💜 The Jacaranda Tree enchants with its stunning purple-blue trumpet-shaped blooms that create a mesmerizing, lilac carpet when they fall.

  • 💜 A true spectacle of spring, its fern-like leaves and fast-growing nature make it perfect for landscaping. It’s often compared to dancing in the streets of Buenos Aires or Pretoria, where Jacarandas paint the cities in a dazzling purple.

  • 💜 This tree is not just eye candy but a symbol of wisdom, rebirth, and good fortune, rooted in legend and tradition.


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Plant your own Purple Jacaranda tree

#Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing

Jacaranda Tree flowers

Jacaranda Tree flowers

Jacaranda Tree flowers

Jacaranda Tree flowers

Jacaranda Tree

Jacaranda Tree

💃 Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing
  • 💜 The Jacaranda Tree enchants with its stunning purple-blue trumpet-shaped blooms that create a mesmerizing, lilac carpet when they fall.
  • 💜 A true spectacle of spring, its fern-like leaves and fast-growing nature make it perfect for landscaping. It’s often compared to dancing in the streets of Buenos Aires or Pretoria, where Jacarandas paint the cities in a dazzling purple.
  • 💜 This tree is not just eye candy but a symbol of wisdom, rebirth, and good fortune, rooted in legend and tradition.


📚 Learn more:

🛒 Plant your own Purple Jacaranda tree

#Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree
🌼 Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree

  • 🟡 Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana, in one of the most popular flowering trees of Tropics, along with Delonix and Jacaranda.

  • 🟡 Golden Showers: It has bright yellow flowers bloom in clusters, creating a stunning, sunshiny display.

  • 🟡 Butterfly Magnet: Attracts butterflies and bees, bringing life and movement to your garden.

  • 🟡 Shade Provider: Its wide, spreading canopy offers a cool, shady spot to relax under.

  • 🟡 Easy Maintenance: Low-maintenance and hardy, making it perfect for those who want beauty without the hassle.

  • 🟡 Tropical Vibe: Adds a lush, tropical feel to any garden, making you feel like you're on a permanent vacation.

  • 🟡 Fast Grower: Quick to grow, so you don’t have to wait long to enjoy its full beauty.

  • 🟡 Elegant Foliage: Delicate, fern-like leaves add an elegant touch and sway gracefully in the breeze.

  • 🟡 Long Blooming Season: Enjoy its gorgeous flowers for an extended period, adding color and joy to your garden.


📚 Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean

🛒 Order online

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

🌼 Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree
  • 🟡 Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana, in one of the most popular flowering trees of Tropics, along with Delonix and Jacaranda.
  • 🟡 Golden Showers: It has bright yellow flowers bloom in clusters, creating a stunning, sunshiny display.
  • 🟡 Butterfly Magnet: Attracts butterflies and bees, bringing life and movement to your garden.
  • 🟡 Shade Provider: Its wide, spreading canopy offers a cool, shady spot to relax under.
  • 🟡 Easy Maintenance: Low-maintenance and hardy, making it perfect for those who want beauty without the hassle.
  • 🟡 Tropical Vibe: Adds a lush, tropical feel to any garden, making you feel like you're on a permanent vacation.
  • 🟡 Fast Grower: Quick to grow, so you don’t have to wait long to enjoy its full beauty.
  • 🟡 Elegant Foliage: Delicate, fern-like leaves add an elegant touch and sway gracefully in the breeze.
  • 🟡 Long Blooming Season: Enjoy its gorgeous flowers for an extended period, adding color and joy to your garden.


📚 Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean

🛒 Order online

#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana paintings

Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana paintings

Yellow Poinciana

Yellow Poinciana

Jacaranda

Jacaranda

Royal Poinciana

Royal Poinciana

💛💜♥️ Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean. Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana: three happy colors of the Tropics.

While traveling through the vibrant and diverse Caribbean, we acquired three exquisite local paintings rendered on jacaranda wood plates and a calabash. These pieces of art celebrate the three most spectacular and revered flowering trees of the Tropics:
  1. Yellow Poinciana, with its bright golden blossoms, associated with joy and sunlight, symbolizing the warmth of the Caribbean spirit💛
  2. Jacaranda, known for its striking lavender-blue flowers, is a symbol of wisdom and rebirth, blooming in a breathtaking display that signals the change of seasons 💜
  3. Royal Poinciana, that we mentioned earlier, with its fiery red and orange flowers, is a symbol of passion and energy, referred to as the "Flamboyant" tree due to its bold and dramatic appearance ♥️


    4. Get them now while we have them. No need to go too far into Caribbean!

    🛒 Shop flowering trees

    #Nature_Wonders

    🏵 TopTropicals

Date:

The Magic of 3 top tropical trees
from the legends of Caribbean

Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana:
Three happy colors of the Tropics

paintings of 3 top tropical trees - Royal Poinciana, Yellow Poinciana, and Jacaranda

While traveling through the vibrant and diverse Caribbean, we acquired three exquisite local paintings. Two of these are masterfully rendered on jacaranda wood plates, and the third is beautifully crafted on a calabash. These stunning pieces of art celebrate the three most spectacular and revered flowering trees of the Tropics: Yellow Poinciana, Jacaranda, and Royal Poinciana.

These trees are not only visually stunning but also deeply embedded in Caribbean culture, legends, and folk remedies.

The Yellow Poinciana, with its bright golden blossoms, is often associated with joy and sunlight, symbolizing the warmth of the Caribbean spirit.
The Jacaranda, known for its striking lavender-blue flowers, is a symbol of wisdom and rebirth, often blooming in a breathtaking display that signals the change of seasons.
The Royal Poinciana, with its fiery red and orange flowers, is a symbol of passion and energy, often referred to as the "Flamboyant" tree due to its bold and dramatic appearance.

These trees hold a special place in the hearts of the Caribbean people. They are featured in numerous local stories and songs, and their flowers and leaves are used in traditional remedies and rituals. Owning these paintings feels like possessing a piece of the Caribbean's soul and its natural beauty.

Now, we are fortunate to have not only the paintings but also the actual trees. Watching them grow and bloom in our garden brings a piece of the Caribbean to our home, a constant reminder of our travels and the vibrant culture we experienced. These trees and their representations in art are a testament to the region's rich heritage and its enduring connection to nature.

Get them now while we have them. No need to go too far into Caribbean!

Peltophorum africanum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum africanum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana. An excellent garden shade tree, beautiful in flower. This variety starts flowering at young age, in 3 gal pot.

Jacaranda mimosifolia (acutifolia)

Jacaranda mimosifolia - Hypnotizing bluish-purple, trumpet-like flowers create the magical image of the tree. Incredible, long-lasting purple blooms. When the trumpet-shaped blooms finally fall, they form a lilac carpet beneath the awe-inspiring Jacaranda for luxuriant curb appeal...

Royal poinciana, Flamboyant tree, Delonix regia

Royal poinciana, Flamboyant tree, Delonix regia - "One of the most spectacular flowering trees in the USA, and probably among the top 10 on this planet. In full bloom, it is like a regal elephant caparisoned in red and yellow brilliance." (Larry M. Schokman, The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden)

Shop Flowering Trees

Date:

What plants are good to order in Winter?

Christmas dog and night moon with snow

Photo above: Christmas time in Ukraine (left) and Florida (right)

Q: Are there any tropical plants that will do well if I order them in Winter? We just bought a house in New Jersey with a large sunroom, and I can't wait to fill it with tropical beauties! Should I wait until Spring, or do you have something for a Winter start?

A: This is indeed a very good question, as many tropical plant collectors grow their treasures outside the tropics. The short answer is - yes! You can start filling your tropical sunroom any time of the year, but some plants are easier to deal with in Winter than others. Below are some guidelines.

Winter bloomers: Jatropha, Champaka, Brunfelsia, Calliandra, Leonotis

Winter bloomers today, left to right: Jatropha, Champaka, Brunfelsia, Calliandra, Leonotis.

1. Plants that prefer Winter shipping to avoid overheating stress:
- All plants with lush foliage such as Philodendrons, Medinilla
- Trees with fine feathery leaves such as Moringa, Jacaranda, Poinciana
- Some fruit trees sensitive to overheating during shipping: Papaya, Stawberry Tree, Starfruit (Carambola), Bilimbi.

2. Subtropical plants that are relatively cold hardy
- Fruit trees: Loquats, Olives, Avocados, Tropical Cherries: Eugenia, Malpighia, Noni (more cold hardy than you may think), Canistel.
- Flowering trees: Champaka, Tabebuia.
- All Bananas
- see all relatively cold hardy plants

3. Winter-dormant and/or deciduous plants: Adeniums, Plumerias, Gingers, Sugar Apple , Peaches and Plums, June Plum and Hog Plum.
See all deciduous/winter dormant plants.

4. Orchids, including Ground Orchids.

5. Winter flowers. Keep in mind that many tropical plants are winter bloomers, and their flowering is most profuse in Winter months, so you can enjoy the blooms right away:
Dombeya, Thunbergia, Gloxinia, Brunfelsia, Calliandra, Tibouchina, Barleria, Leonotis, Clerodendrums, Chinese Hat (Holmskioldia).
See all Winter bloomers.

Winter bloomers: Clerodendrum minahasse, Malvaviscus Summer Snow, Kopsia fruticosa

Winter bloomers today, left to right: Clerodendrum minahasse, Variegated Malvaviscus Summer Snow, Kopsia fruticosa

6. Winter plant care. During Winter the daylight is shorter and temperatures are cooler.
- Reduce watering
- Use only liquid amino-acid based fertilizer Sunshine Boosters (safe to use year around)
- Monitor insects.

7. Shipping in Winter. We ship year around. However, if it gets below freezing in your area, you may use FedEx Hold location, they are temperature controlled so you don't have to worry about a box being dropped off at your cold porch outside.

8. A note for mild climate residents. Most tropical plants can be planted in the ground year around. Some ultra-tropical tender species such Chocolate tree, Ylang Ylang, or small size Mango trees can be grown in pots until Spring and planted out once chances of cold spell are gone. Until then, they can be moved indoors for cold nights.

Think outside the box and bring tropical paradise indoors during the time when we need warmth the most! Tropical plants will brighten your short winter days and help you to have truly HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Check out Winter Bloomers

Winter bloomers: Gloxinia, Barleria, and ever-bright Crotons

Winter bloomers today, left to right: Gloxinia, Barleria, and ever-bright Crotons...

Date:

Five Favorite Winter Bloomers

#5. Parrots Beak

Gmelina philippensis - Parrots Beak. An extraordinary fountain-like shrub with pendant branches, large long leaves and exotic flowers comprised of yellow blossoms which emerge at the end of a tube-like structure of overlapping bracts. The flower resembles parrot's beak!

#4. Royal Queens Wreath

Petrea - Royal Queens Wreath, Tropical Wisteria. Spectacular tall clusters of purple flowers similar to those of Wisteria come in racemes reaching over 1 foot long!

#3. Chinese Hat

Holmskioldia sanguinea - Bronze Chinese hat. Rare variety with orange-bronze flowers. Unique flowers are the main interest: each is a narrow tube backed by a broad, circular calyx, just like an oriental hat!

#2. Jacaranda

Jacaranda - all-time favorite winter flowering tree. Hypnotizing bluish-purple, trumpet-like flowers create the magical image of the tree...

#1. Royal Poinciana

Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant. one of the most popular tropical trees covered with bright red orchid-like flowers from late winter through early summer. A must for any tropical garden, this tree however requires space since it spreads its branches 30-40 ft wide or more.

Next page >Most recent entryBlog table of contents