Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

⚡️ What is the best undemanding yet interesting plant for dry, hot area

• 🌿 Pedilanthus tithymaloides – better known as Devils Backbone or Jacobs Ladder – is a fun, quirky plant with zig-zagging stems that definitely catch the eye! Despite its name, it's anything but evil, it's just a name that adds intrigue.
• 🌿 Its curious structure looks like nature decided to make an origami plant! Its cute pink blooms add to the charm.
• 🌿 Whether you’re into drought-tolerant landscaping/xeriscaping or need an easy-going houseplant, this one fits the bill. Plus, it's a survivor, tolerating dry conditions with style.
• 🌿 Perfect for those who like a bit of plant personality.

📸 More photos in the next post👇

🛒 Get your own Devils Backbone

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⭐️ What plant can bloom profusely in full shade in Winter

• 🍬 Philippine violet (Barleria cristata) - is a blooming star for a shade garden! It is a cheerful, fuss-free shrub that can brighten up shady spots with its trumpet-shaped flowers.
• 🍬 Standing about 3-4 feet tall, it fits perfectly as a hedge or can be trimmed into neat shapes for a tidy look.
• 🍬 Its flowers, in lovely shades of lilac purple, mauve, white, or even striped, burst into clusters from November to mid-December, adding a pop of color when many plants take a rest.
• 🍬 Each flower lasts a couple of days, only to be replaced by fresh blooms from its many buds. The fallen petals create a gorgeous purple blanket around the plant, making it a visual treat even on the ground.
• 🍬 This plant thrives in both sun and full shade! It doesn't ask for much - just a little pruning now and then to keep it bushy and happy.
• 🍬 Add this eye candy to your shade garden, and let these Winter flowers steal the show!
• 🍬 Philippine violet is also a perfect exotic plant for container culture or even an indoor collection.

🛒Shop Barleria varieties

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✨ What is the most spectacular Clerodendrum?

• 🌸 Clerodendrums are tropical favorites, easy to grow, and bloom year-round. Thriving in sun or shade, they're perfect for home gardens. Many bloom in winter, brightening dark days - even on a windowsill!
• 🌸 One of our favorites is Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glorybower Mary Jane. This fast growing bush blooms with bright coral flowers, virtually year around!

🎥 Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glorybower Mary Jane

📚 More about Clerodendrums in previous posts:

• 💋How to grow Clerodendrums
• 💋Fireworks of Winter
• 💋Fragrant Cashmere Bouquet
• 💋Fountain Clerodendrum
• 💋What is better - Blue or Pink?
• 💋Why is it called Blue Butterfly?
• 💋Clerodendrum paniculatum
• 💋Seaside Clerodendrum
• 💋Pink Bleeding Heart
• 💋Why is it called Musical Notes?
• 💋Bleeding Heart Vine
• 💋Cashmere Bouquet!

🛒 Shop Clerodendrums

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🌸 When Brunfelsia is in bloom? Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!

• 
  🅱️ Purple-flowered Brunfelsias are at the peak of their bloom right now!
• 
  🅱️ Known as Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow for their magical color transformation from purple to lavender to white over three days: B. grandiflora, B. paucifolia, B. australis.
• 
  🅱️ Brunfelsias are wonderfully fragrant winter bloomers
• 
  🅱️ Perfect flowering shrub for shaded areas
• 
  🅱️ Ideal for growing in containers. Compact and graceful growers.

📚 Learn more about purple Brunfelsias:
The number one flower for shady spots
Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil

🛒 Shop purple Brunfelsias - Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow

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🌗 The number one flower for shady spots! Every tropical gardener wants Brunfelsias: the magical, fragrant shrubs of Day and Night.

• 💠 Brunfelsias are truly enchanting tropical flowers. There are two groups - purple-flowered and cream/white-flowered.
• 💠 All Brunfelsias are wonderfully fragrant.
• 💠 Perfect flowering shrub for shaded areas; ideal for growing in containers.
• 💠 Compact and graceful growers.
• 💠 Purple-flowered are known as Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow for their magical color transformation from purple to lavender to white over three days. Examples: B. grandiflora, B. paucifolia, B. australis.
• 💠 White-flowered: intensely fragrant at night, earning the name Lady of the Night.

Examples: B. americana, B. nitida, B. plicata, B. manaca.
• 💠 Hybrids: A standout hybrid is Brunfelsia isola, that we mentioned earlier. It is blending the best of both purple and white varieties, inheriting purple color from the purple parent and night fragrance from the white one.

📚 Learn more about purple Brunfelsias:
Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil

🛒 Shop different Brunfelsias

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💔 When is the season for the Bleeding Hearts

• ❣️ Bleeding Heart Vine (Clerodendrum thomsoniae) is named for its red and white flowers that look like dangling hearts.
• ❣️ Native to tropical West Africa, this climber thrives in bright light and can be grown as a houseplant or trained on a trellis.
• ❣️ It shows off its most spectacular blooms in winter, but with enough light, it'll happily flower year-round.

📚 More about Clerodendrums in previous posts:

• 💋What is the most spectacular Clerodendrum
• 💋How to grow Clerodendrums
• 💋Fireworks of Winter
• 💋Fragrant Cashmere Bouquet
• 💋Fountain Clerodendrum
• 💋What is better - Blue or Pink
• 💋Why is it called Blue Butterfly
• 💋Clerodendrum paniculatum
• 💋Seaside Clerodendrum
• 💋Pink Bleeding Heart
• 💋Why is it called Musical Notes
• 💋Bleeding Heart Vine
• 💋Cashmere Bouquet

🛒Get your own Bleeding Heart

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🗂 Index of TopTropicals Telegram Channel

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🌳 #Hedges_with_benefits - Practical approach to your landscape and how to properly select showy and useful plants for your yard.

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🌺 How to grow Mandevilla: Practical Guide to Growing Mandevilla Vine

• 🌺 Mandevilla is a tropical vine known for its vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom throughout the warm months. This fast-growing climber thrives in warm climates and adds a stunning display of color to gardens and patios.
• 🌺 Difference Between Mandevilla and Dipladenia

The names Mandevilla and Dipladenia are often used interchangeably, creating confusion. While they are closely related, there are key differences. Mandevilla is a vigorous woody vine with large, stiff leaves, ideal for trellises and fences. Dipladenia, on the other hand, has a more compact growth habit with smaller, smooth leaves. Dipladenia can be also trained on a trellis but also thrives in hanging baskets or as a compact specimen plant. As a bushier type of Mandevilla, its smaller, more compact varieties are excellent for mixed containers.
• 🌺 Growing in the Ground

💋Soil. Mandevilla prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. A mix of garden soil, compost, and sand ensures good drainage and fertility. Both Mandevilla and Dipladenia require acidic soil. If your native soil contains limestone, consider growing them in containers with a peat-based potting mix to maintain a lower pH.

• 💋Light. Plant in a location with full sun to partial shade; at least 6 hours of direct sunlight promotes the best blooms.

Water Mandevilla regularly, keeping the soil moist but not soggy. During hot months, water deeply a few times a week. Reduce watering in cooler seasons.
• 💋Feeding and Encouraging More Blooms: Feed Mandevilla with Sunshine Boosters Megaflor with every watering to encourage more blooms. Prune lightly after flowering to promote new growth and continuous flowering.

• 🌺 Most Interesting Varieties

Mandevilla flowers come in a wide range of colors, including shades of red, mauve, pink, white, and even yellow. For vibrant color and impact, consider these varieties:

💋Mandevilla ‘Alice du Pont’– A classic pink variety with large flowers and vigorous growth.

• 💋Mandevilla ‘Sun Parasol’ Series – Offers compact plants in deep red, pink, or white, great for containers or small spaces.
• 💋Mandevilla ‘Crimson Red’– Deep red blooms stand out against glossy green foliage.
• 💋Dipladenia ‘Stars and Stripes’ - features striking red-and-white striped blooms.

In Florida, Sun Parasol and Alice du Pont perform exceptionally well, thriving in the heat and humidity while providing season-long blooms.

• 🌺 Pests and Problems

Mandevilla is relatively pest-resistant but can attract aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies. To manage pests:

💋Spray with a neem oil solution weekly if pests are present.

• 💋Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs to control aphids naturally.
• 💋Remove affected leaves and rinse plants with a strong stream of water.
• 💋Watch for fungal diseases in humid climates; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering.

🌺 Growing Mandevilla in Pots and Winter Care
Mandevilla grows beautifully in containers, making it a great option for cooler climates where it can be brought indoors for winter.

• 💋Pot Growing Tips:

· Use a well-draining potting mix with added perlite for aeration.

• · Choose a pot at least 12-16 inches in diameter, with several drainage holes, for vigorous growth.
• · Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, avoiding waterlogged conditions.

💋Winter Care:

• · In regions with frost, move potted Mandevilla indoors to a bright, cool location (50-60°F).
• · Reduce watering and stop fertilizing during cooler season.
• · Prune lightly before bringing indoors to maintain shape and size.
• · Repotting: Repot every 2-3 years in early spring before active growth begins, refreshing the soil and upgrading to a slightly larger container if needed.

With the right care, Mandevilla provides stunning, long-lasting blooms and thrives in gardens or pots, making it a versatile and rewarding addition to any space.

📚 Learn more from previous post:
How to overwinter Mandevilla indoors

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💐 What plant is fragrant, easy and fast growing? Cashmere Bouquet!

Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower, Cashmere bouquet.

🌸 Need a fast growing, spreading shrub for privacy? Cashmere bouquet is a shrub with benefits - the flowers are beautiful and sweetly fragrant.

Also ideal for the container grown patio plant.

Attracts butterflies to the large flower trusses.

🌡 Hardy to zone 8.

🛒 Order online

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