Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
Date: 18 Feb 2026
Date: 18 Feb 2026
By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals
One of the reasons Jasmine Sambac is so fascinating is that it does not come in just one form. Each variety has its own personality.
If you want a compact patio plant, Arabian Nights or Little Duke are excellent choices. They stay tidy, bloom generously, and are easy to manage in containers.
If you prefer elegant, elongated petals and a refined look, Belle of India is a favorite. It can be grown as a small bush or trained lightly as a vine.
For those who love full, carnation-like double flowers, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Grand Duke Supreme are classic selections. They are vigorous and make impressive shrubs in warm climates.
If you need a stronger climber for fences or hedges, Maid of Orleans performs beautifully in full sun while Mysore Mulli prefers semi-shade.
Collectors often enjoy rare forms like Mali Chat or newer hybrids such as Gundu Malli, which combine traits from different lines.
How to Grow Jasmine Sambac SuccessfullySambac is not difficult, but it responds best to consistency.
Light: Full sun produces the most flowers. In very hot climates, light afternoon shade is acceptable. Indoors, place it in the brightest window available.
Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix such as Sunshine Abundance. Sambac does not like heavy, constantly wet soil.
Water: Water thoroughly, then allow the top layer to dry slightly before watering again. Reduce watering during cooler months.
Pruning: Light trimming after a bloom cycle encourages branching. More branches mean more flower buds.
Feeding: Sambac is a heavy bloomer, and fragrance takes energy. During active growth, feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer that supports flowering such as Green Magic (controlled release every 6 months) or liquid Sunshine Boosters Pikake (formulated especially for fragrant flowers) - with every watering. I prefer formulas slightly higher in potassium to encourage stronger bud formation and richer bloom cycles. Consistent feeding during warm months makes a visible difference in both flower count and intensity of scent.
With proper care, Jasmine Sambac will reward you not just with flowers, but with perfume that changes the atmosphere of your entire garden.
Celebrate 2026 with the fragrance of Jasmine plants. For a limited time, enjoy special savings when you grow one of the most wanted perfume plants in cultivation.
Date: 18 Feb 2026
By Tatiana Anderson, Horticulture Expert at Top Tropicals
Every new year carries its own energy.
2026 is the Year of the Horse - a year of movement, fire, momentum, and bold decisions. It is not a quiet year. It pushes us forward.
When fellow gardeners ask me what to grow in a year like this, my answer
is simple:
Grow something that balances strength with grace.
For me, that plant is Jasmine Sambac.
In many cultures, Sambac represents devotion, purity, and deep affection. In the Philippines it is the national flower - Sampaguita - woven into garlands for weddings and sacred ceremonies. In Hawaii, it becomes leis - a symbol of welcome and connection - Pikake. In India, it perfumes temples and homes.
This is not just a fragrant shrub.
It is a plant tied to love, loyalty, and continuity.
The Horse runs forward.
Jasmine anchors the heart.
In a fiery year like 2026, I believe we need both.
And that is why I always return to Jasminum sambac.
Over the years I have grown thousands of plants, but very few have the staying power of Jasmine Sambac.
It is not just fragrant. It is intensely, unmistakably fragrant. One open flower can perfume an entire patio. In the evening, the scent becomes deeper and richer.
But what makes Sambac truly special is its adaptability.
It can grow as a compact patio shrub, a flowering hedge, or a climbing vine. It performs beautifully in containers. It tolerates both full sun and partial shade. The more light you give it, the more flowers it rewards you with.
And unlike many tropicals, Sambac does not bloom just once. With proper care, it flowers in cycles throughout the warm season.
For gardeners, that combination is rare: beauty, perfume, flexibility, and repeat bloom.
That is why it has remained one of the most wanted fragrant plants in cultivation.
Date: 17 Feb 2026
Date: 17 Feb 2026
Date: 16 Feb 2026
Date: 15 Feb 2026
Date: 14 Feb 2026
Date: 14 Feb 2026
Vanilla is not complicated, but it does have preferences. Start with a pot and regular, well-draining mix. It does not need anything exotic. Give it:
Most importantly, give it something solid to climb. A wooden trellis, a log, or a burlap-covered board works well. The surface should be porous so the aerial roots can grip.
As it grows, guide the vine gently. You can prune it to control size. Vanilla is slow to mature. That is normal.
Vanilla does not bloom just because it looks healthy. It blooms when it feels secure.
This is a climbing orchid. It must attach firmly to a solid, porous support such as a wood log, trellis, or burlap-covered board. When the aerial roots grip and the plant reaches maturity, flowering becomes possible.
Once the flowers appear, they usually need to be hand pollinated to produce pods. Each flower stays open for only a short time, so timing matters.
How to pollinate vanilla: In this video, we show you exactly how to pollinate vanilla step by step
We also offer Vanilla dilloniana, a rare Florida native species with distinctive flowers.
One remarkable specimen of this species, grown by our friend Robert Riefer, became so vigorous over many years that it outgrew a 100 gallon container and was eventually moved into a 250 gallon pool on wheels.
The plants we offer are propagated from that very specimen:
That kind of growth reflects deliberate cultivation and ideal conditions - not something that happens unintentionally.
Vanilla grows according to the space and structure you provide.
For gardeners focused on producing real vanilla beans for the kitchen, Vanilla planifolia remains the right place to start.
Date: 14 Feb 2026
Vanilla does not come from a bottle. It comes from a climbing orchid. Vanilla planifolia is the plant that produces real vanilla beans - and yes, you can grow it at home. It starts simply. A potted orchid with glossy leaves. Then it begins to reach. Vanilla is a climber. It wants something solid to attach to. This is where most people go wrong. They keep it in a pot and wait. Vanilla needs support - a log, a trellis, a wooden board. Once its aerial roots attach firmly and the plant matures, flowering becomes possible.
It is not instant. You need patience. The pods form green and only develop their aroma after curing. That slow process is part of what makes vanilla so valuable. For gardeners who enjoy growing something meaningful - something edible and beautiful - vanilla is worth it. Vanilla is not a novelty plant. It is a long conversation with your garden.
