Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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Researchers discover what a perfume from Ancient Rome was made of: Patchouli! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Researchers discover what a perfume from Ancient Rome was made of: Patchouli!

Pogostemon cablin - Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin - Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin - Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin - Patchouli

Researchers discover what a perfume from Ancient Rome was made of: Patchouli!
  • ⚡️ A research team at the University of Cordoba has identified the composition of a Roman perfume more than 2,000 years old thanks to the discovery of a small vessel of ointment in Carmona, Spain.
  • ⚡️ The mausoleum held the remains of six individuals in six urns, one of which was made of glass and contained the remains of a woman who died between 30 and 40 years of age. Her cloth bag held a rock crystal flask sealed with a stone and bitumen and three amber beads...
  • ⚡️The well-preserved material inside the flask was examined with X-ray diffraction, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The study determined that the scent was derived from Pogostemon cablin, a plant from India used to produce the scent Patchouli.
  • ⚡️Patchouli only grows in the tropical climates of southern and southeastern Asia. This means it would have been imported into Roman territory and sold in products crafted for wealthy patrons who craved access to exotic ingredients.
  • ⚡️ The high quality of the flask holding the scent suggests that it was a valuable product.


⚠️ Get your own valuable Patchouli Plant and always have the heavenly smell with you!

🛒 Plant your own Patchouli

#Perfume_Plants #Remedies #Fun_Facts

🏵 TopTropicals

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Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around! A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant flowers

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant flowers

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant hedge

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant hedge

🍋 Tired of an ugly hedge? Replace it with Aglaia - Chinese Rice Flower, and enjoy Lemony Fragrance year around!
  • 🟡 Aglaia odorata is also known as Chinese Perfume Plant, Chinese Rice Flower, or Mock Lemon.
  • 🟡 The plant has an outstanding fragrance from tiny, rice-sized yellow flowers.
  • 🟡 Aglaia grows into a dense bush without pruning. It is relatively slow-growing; so large plants are rare and hard to find.
  • 🟡 Easy to grow bush, it is perfect for a cold tolerant tropical hedge.
  • 🟡 Aglaia has many medicinal uses; contains odorine and odorinol, which have cancer chemopreventive activity.


🛒
Get a few bushes of Aglaia for lemony-fragrant hedge

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Remedies

🏵 TopTropicals

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The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
  • 🍷 The Pimenta racemosa, or Bay Rum Tree, is a charming small tree closely related to Allspice that we mentioned earlier.
  • 🍷 Known for its aromatic leaves, this tree produces a natural essential oil that has a warm, clove-like fragrance.
  • 🍷 Historically, this oil was distilled with rum and water to create a popular cologne known as "Bay Rum", lending the plant its common name.
  • 🍷 The scent of Bay Rum is captivating and present year-round, with no need to wait for flowers or fruit to enjoy its fragrance!
  • 🍷 The Bay Rum Tree is not just aromatic; its leaves can be used in cooking and tea, adding a unique, spicy note to culinary creations. It’s also valued in folk medicine, making it a multipurpose addition to any herb or indoor plant collection.
  • 🍷 An especially rare and intriguing variety, the rare variety "Citrifolia" - Lemon Bay Rum Tree, also known as Citrus Bay, has all plant parts infused with a refreshing, lemony scent that's both calming and energizing. Cuttings of this variety are challenging to root, making it a unique and sought-after plant for collectors and aromatherapy enthusiasts alike.


🛒 Plant fast growing Bay Rum Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Perfume_Plants

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What tree will produce for you right away? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What tree will produce for you right away?

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

🍂 What tree will produce for you right away?
  • 🍂 Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica) is a delightful plant that brings the warm, spicy fragrance of allspice right to your home.
  • 🍂 The leaves and bark of this remarkable tree carry the same aromatic scent as the familiar spice made from its dried berries, meaning you don't need to wait for blooms or fruit to enjoy its rich aroma!
  • 🍂 Allspice is an excellent container plant, ideal for indoor or greenhouse cultivation.
  • 🍂 Its captivating fragrance creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and its antimicrobial properties add even more appeal.
  • 🍂 Perfect for both spice enthusiasts and plant collectors, this compact tree adds a touch of the tropics while offering year-round enjoyment.


🛒 Enjoy your own Allspice spice

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Perfume_Plants

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Index of TopTropicals Telegram Channel. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Index of TopTropicals Telegram Channel

Index of TopTropicals Telegram Channel
🗂 Index of TopTropicals Telegram Channel

Follow these tags to find your interests:

#Butterfly_Plants - Butterfly attracting plants.

#Container_Garden - Plants suitable for container garden and indoor culture.

#Fertilizers - All the truth about fertilizers, plant food supplements, and our recommendations for different types of plants.

#Food_Forest - Fruit trees, Spice plants, and Edibles.
Including: #Avocado, #Mango, #Papaya, #Guava, #Jackfruit, #Loquat

📖 #Fun_Facts - interesting plant facts and legends.

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

♍️ #Horoscope - Plant Horoscopes and Cat Horoscopes. Did you know that cats also have their Zodiac signs?

🛠 #How_to - Q&A about growing plants, tropical garden lifehacks.

👀 #Nature_Wonders - Unusual, amusing, outrageous, bizarre plants...

🐈
#PeopleCats - our Favorite PeopleCats (and some PeopleDogs, too).

🌸 #Perfume_Plants - Fragrant plants and perfume trees.

✍️ #Quotes - Interesting quotes.

#Recipes - Exotic recipes for tropical fruit and edibles.

💊
#Remedies - Medicinal plants.

☁️ #Shade_Garden - Plants suitable for low light conditions.

🌼 #Tree
s - Spectacular flowering tropical trees.

🏆 #Win - Contests, Sweepstakes, and other specials.

Join and share with friends👇🏵
TopTropicals

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Why settle for ordinary when you can have this? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?

👍 Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?

  • 🌸 Transform your garden with the Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) - a fast-growing, fragrant beauty that doubles in size in just one season!

  • 🌸 Its lilac flowers and sweet vanilla-like scent will fill your garden with elegance, while its hardy nature ensures it thrives even in colder climates.

  • 🌸 Enjoy lush, green foliage and a lovely shade canopy, all with minimal care. Plus, it's low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and has medicinal benefits!


Ready to add this aromatic gem to your landscape? Don't wait bring home the Chinaberry Tree today!

📚 Learn more about Chinaberry Tree

🛒 Order Chinaberry Tree and breathe in the Vanilla Fragrance

#Trees #Remedies #Perfume_Plants #Discover

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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)

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What is the most useful tree in the world? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the most useful tree in the world?

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

Moringa oleifera - Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree

🌐 What is the most useful tree in the world?
  • 💚 One of the most versatile and valuable trees known to humanity is Moringa oleifera, also called: Horseradish tree, Bridal veil, Horseradish tree, Drumstick Tree, Ben Oil Tree. It is indeed considered one of the most useful trees in the world. This reputation stems from its wide range of nutritional, medicinal, and practical applications.
  • 💚 Moringa is a beautiful flowering tree with fragrant white flowers. It produces long green pods (looking like drumsticks!) and the seeds have been compared to a cross between peanuts and asparagus.
  • 💚 Moringa leaves are rich in vitamins (A, B, C, E), minerals (calcium, potassium, iron), and amino acids, and have strong antioxidant properties. they are used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation. Moringa can help lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
  • 💚 Almost every part of the tree is edible, including the leaves, pods, seeds, and flowers. Each part has its unique nutritional profile and culinary uses. Used in teas and cooking.
  • 💚 The roots are used as a substitute for horseradish and the edible leaves make a highly nutritious vegetable. The roots have also been used in many folk remedies.
  • 💚 Many Moringa products produced commercially: leaves, powder, oil. Moringa oil, extracted from the seeds, is used in cosmetics, skincare products. Seeds can be used to purify water, making it safer to drink.
  • 💚 The plant can be used as a natural fertilizer and pesticide. Leaves are used as a nutritious feed for livestock.


📚 Learn more: How to grow a happy Moringa Tree

🛒 Plant your own Moringa Tree and save the Planet

#Food_Forest #Remedies

🏵 TopTropicals

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What is the most delicious Annona fruit? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What is the most delicious Annona fruit?

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

What is the most delicious Annona fruit? Guanabana!
  • 🍐 Annona muricata - commonly known as Soursop, Guanabana, or Graviola, is widely regarded as the best-tasting annona fruit.
  • 🍐 This tropical tree, native to Tropical America, produces large, unusual-looking fruits with a unique blend of sweet and slightly sour flavors. The custard-like pulp is fragrant, smooth and creamy, making Soursop perfect for milkshakes, desserts, or simply enjoyed fresh.
  • 🍐 Soursop is evergreen in warm climates, though it's highly sensitive to cold and requires temperatures above 50°F to thrive. However, it can also be grown indoors in containers, making it possible to enjoy its delicious fruit even in cooler regions. The tree itself is medium-sized, fast-growing, and relatively easy to manage in a pot, offering a wonderful option for indoor fruit growing.
  • 🍐 Soursop is one of the largest of the Annonas, and its quirky, bumpy fruit shapes make it a fun conversation starter. We even have an interesting article on how to grow, hand-pollinate and fruit Soursop in an apartment - ideal for plant lovers looking to bring a taste of the tropics into their homes!
  • 🍐 Soursop leaves are superheroes in the world of natural remedies. Known for their potential to fight cancer, these leaves are packed with compounds that may help keep rogue cells in check. Whether brewed into tea or turned into extracts, they've become a popular go-to in holistic health circles.


📚 Tropical Treasures Magazine:
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)
Spoiler in the next post ⬇️⬇️⬇️

More about Anonnas in previous posts:
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #1. Annona
Why everyone wants the Sugar Apple?
The best tropical fruit tree for container growing, and the fastest to fruit: Annona
Spiny Hedgehog fruit: what does it taste like?

🛒 Plant your own Guanabana

#Food_Forest #Remedies

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Date:

What vine to plant over a big fence. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What vine to plant over a big fence

Chonemorpha fragrans - Frangipani vine

❗️ What vine to plant over a big fence.
  • 🔹 Chonemorpha fragrans, or Frangipani vine, that we mentioned before, is a large woody tropical liana with clusters of large, perfume-fragrant flowers and lush green foliage. It is close related to perfumed Plumeria - Frangipani.
  • 🔹 The fragrance is very fresh and pleasant, similar to Plumeria, fills the air around.
  • 🔹 Leaves reaching up to 12 (!) inches - very tropical, majestic look!
  • 🔹 Requires sturdy support - it can grow pretty big and heavy!
  • 🔹 Takes both sun or shade. Full sun and regular fertilizer is essential for profuse blooming.


🛒 Buy Frangipani Vine

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits

🏵 TopTropicals