Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 11 Apr 2025

Thinking outside of the box

🕯 Thinking outside of the box

"Don't think outside of the box. Think of what you can do with the box."

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Date: 11 Apr 2025

What is better than Apricot? Tropical Apricot!

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

🍑 What is better than Apricot? Tropical Apricot!

🍑 Looking for a small, ornamental fruit tree with big flavor? Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana) - The Tropical Apricot Tree - is a Brazilian gem that's as beautiful as it is delicious.
🍑 This slow-growing evergreen reaches 15-20 feet, with glossy dark green leaves and a striking light brown trunk. In spring, it bursts into white and yellow flowers, followed by apricot-colored fruits ripening from May to July.
🍑 The fruit is juicy, aromatic, with a flavor and texture similar to apricots. Rich in vitamin C, minerals, and dietary fiber, Pitomba is perfect eaten fresh or turned into jams, jellies, and juices.
🍑 Pitomba grows best in full sun, likes acidic soil, and appreciates regular water and feeding. Whether in the ground or in a pot, it’s a stunning and fruitful addition to your edible landscape.
🍑 Why grow Pitomba?

🟡Unique tropical fruit with apricot-like flavor

🟡Beautiful, compact tree for small yards or containers
🟡Fruits in 2–3 years from seed
🟡Cold-hardy to the upper 20s (°F) once mature. Grows in USDA zones 9–11 or indoors with winter protection
🟡Traditional medicinal uses in Brazil for colds and digestive health

🛒 Buy Pitomba to add a small fruit tree with big flavor to your yard

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts #Discover

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Date: 11 Apr 2025

Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

🌳 Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

💜 Looking for a fast-growing, elegant tree with year-round beauty and seasonal magic? Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) is a fragrant fountain of color!
💜 The Lilac Treeis a stunning evergreen native to Africa. Reaching 25 feet tall, it forms a graceful, fountain-like shape with lush, architectural foliage.
💜 In late summer and fall, this tree bursts into fragrant lavender to purple-blue blooms that fill the air with a scent reminiscent of lilac.
💜 Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the flowers, bringing your garden to life. Long, slender seed pods follow, adding unique texture.
💜 Cold hardy to the 30s F for short periods, it's perfect for USDA Zones 9–11. Whether you're after fast growth, tropical charm, or simply a breathtaking flowering tree, the Lilac Tree checks all the boxes - graceful, fragrant, and irresistible.

🛒 Add Lilac Magic to Your Garden

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

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Date: 11 Apr 2025

Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers on a branch

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus)

🌳 Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

💜 Looking for a fast-growing, elegant tree with year-round beauty and seasonal magic? Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) is a fragrant fountain of color!
💜 The Lilac Treeis a stunning evergreen native to Africa. Reaching 25 feet tall, it forms a graceful, fountain-like shape with lush, architectural foliage.
💜 In late summer and fall, this tree bursts into fragrant lavender to purple-blue blooms that fill the air with a scent reminiscent of lilac.
💜 Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the flowers, bringing your garden to life. Long, slender seed pods follow, adding unique texture.
💜 Cold hardy to the 30s F for short periods, it's perfect for USDA Zones 9–11. Whether you're after fast growth, tropical charm, or simply a breathtaking flowering tree, the Lilac Tree checks all the boxes - graceful, fragrant, and irresistible.

🛒 Add Lilac Magic to Your Garden

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

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Date: 10 Apr 2025

Do good

🔍 Do good

"While you are young, strong, and full of energy, never tire of doing good! Happiness does not exist, nor should it. If life has meaning and purpose, that meaning and purpose are not in our happiness but in something more rational and greater. Do good!" - Anton Chekhov

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Date: 10 Apr 2025

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

Ginkgo Biloba

Turmeric (Curcuma)

Moringa

Piper betle (Betel Leaf)

Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf)

Coconut tree with fruit

Longevity Spinach

Katuk

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters)
Edible Plants and Herbs:

Continued from previous post ⤴️

🟡 Ginkgo Biloba - Improves blood flow to the brain, supports memory and concentration.
🟡 Turmeric (Curcuma) - Contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound shown to protect neurons and boost memory.
🟡 Moringa - Loaded with antioxidants, may protect brain cells and support cognitive function.
🟡 Piper betle (Betel Leaf) - Traditionally used as a mild stimulant. Contains compounds that may improve alertness and support mental clarity.
🟡 Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf) - Used in traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
🟡 Coconut Oil - Contains MCTs, which may fuel brain cells directly, especially beneficial in age-related cognitive decline.
🟡 Cinnamon - is inked to improved memory and brain function. The tree's powerful scent comes from cinnamaldehyde, a natural compound with medicinal properties.
🟡 Green Leafy Vegetables (like Longevity Spinach and Katuk) - High in folate, vitamin K, and lutein, all linked to better memory and reduced cognitive aging.

🛒 Give your brain what it craves, shop tropical brain boosters: Fruit Trees & Herbal Plants

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

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Date: 10 Apr 2025

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 1

Blueberries

Avocado

Red Banana

Papaya

Pineapple

Amlak (Indian Gooseberry)

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 1

Want to stay sharp, focused, and energized - naturally?
Don't just eat smart - plant smart. These tropical fruits and herbs aren't just delicious - they're packed with memory-boosting, focus-enhancing, and brain-protecting compounds. When you grow them in your own garden, you're building a personal pharmacy of mental clarity and cognitive power. No pills. No plastic bottles. Just real plants with real benefits, right outside your door.

Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters)
Tropical Fruits:

🟡 Blueberries – Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants; support memory and cognitive performance (Note: not tropical, but widely grouped due to powerful brain benefits).
🟡 Avocado – High in monounsaturated fats, supports healthy blood flow to the brain.
🟡 Banana – Contains vitamin B6 and potassium, essential for neurotransmitter function.
🟡 Papaya – High in antioxidants and vitamin C, may protect brain cells from oxidative stress.
🟡 Pineapple – Contains bromelain and vitamin C, which may reduce inflammation and support brain health.
🟡 Amla (Indian Gooseberry) – One of the richest natural sources of vitamin C. Used in Ayurvedic medicine to enhance memory, focus, and longevity. Acts as a neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogen.

Edible Plants and Herbs: continued in next post ⤵️

🛒 Give your brain what it craves, shop tropical brain boosters: Fruit Trees & Herbal Plants

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Bananas #Discover

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Date: 10 Apr 2025

Pre-hurricane season tips: how to protect your trees from winds

Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree

Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree crooked with wind

🌪 Pre-hurricane season tips: how to protect your trees from winds

Some trees like mango have deep roots and handle wind well. Others - like our favorites Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree or Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree (in the photos) - need extra care. You've likely seen crooked Tabebuias in South Florida or lost a bushy Tulip Tree to strong winds. Their wide crowns act like sails in a storm.

💨 To help your trees withstand wind damage:

✅ Stake young trees with strong support - use a tripod-style setup (three bamboo sticks or boards secured around the tree for balance from all sides)
✅ Check and adjust supports every 6 months
✅ Trim long or rubbing branches - they break first
✅ Add extra support if a storm is coming (larger trees benefit from sturdy tripod-style bracing with boards)
✅ Lighten bushy growth, less sail = more survival

💡 Some remove all leaves from plumeria before a hurricane - it works!
💡 We pruned our Tulip Tree and Ceiba - and they withstood Hurricane Milton while others fell

✅ If a tree falls, stand it up ASAP and support it. Trim broken branches - they’ll remind you what needed pruning before, not after!
✅ Trees protected young, grow strong for life.

🛒 Grab your beautiful Tulip Tree and Tabebuia Tree today - support them early for strength and beauty later!

📚Learn more:
Everyone loves these tulips growing on a tree

#How_to #Trees #Discover

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Date: 9 Apr 2025

Everyone can

🐱 Everyone can

"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something." - Ronald Reagan

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Date: 9 Apr 2025

Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?

Mexican Avocado

Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?

👍 Yes - with the right variety and care.
While avocados love tropical and subtropical climates, certain cold hardy Avocados types - especially Mexican varieties - can survive outside the tropics, even in USDA Zone 8b (like San Antonio, TX). Once established, some can handle short freezes down to 15F, even as low as 10F in dry climates.

Key Factors for Cold Hardiness:

🔤 Plant Size: Young trees are tender. Protect with mulch, blankets, and even Christmas lights during freezes. Mature trees are tougher.
🔤 Wind Protection: Wind chills do more damage than cold air alone. Plant near a south-facing wall or sheltered spot.
🔤 Tree Health: Healthy trees handle cold better. Fertilize regularly during the growing season.
🔤 Water & Humidity: Water less in winter. Avoid soggy soil - good drainage is a must. Trees in dry winter climates tolerate more cold than those in humid areas.

✏️ Tip: Always check the hardiness rating for your avocado variety. Protection matters most during the first 1-2 winters.

📚More about Avocado:
Posts about #Avocado
Avocado Variety Guide

🛒 Shop cold hardy Avocados and grow your own guacamole

#Food_Forest #Discover #Avocado

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