Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
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
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. An excellent garden shade tree, beautiful in flower. This variety starts flowering at young age, in 3 gal pot.
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 - "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)
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
- 💚 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
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 - 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
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
What are Health Benefits of Alpinia galanga (Galangal)
Alpinia galanga (Galangal)
🌿 Galangal, also known as Thai ginger, is more than just a fast growing ornamental ginger and flavorful root - it's also a powerful healing plant with centuries of use in both kitchens and traditional medicine. Here are some of its top health benefits:
- Digestive aid - Galangal stimulates digestion, reduces bloating, and relieves nausea. It's especially helpful after heavy or oily meals.
- Anti-inflammatory properties - Contains compounds like galangin that help reduce inflammation, making it useful for joint pain and inflammatory conditions.
- Antioxidant rich - Packed with flavonoids and polyphenols that fight oxidative stress and may help slow aging and support overall wellness.
- Immune support - Traditionally used to fight colds and infections thanks to its antimicrobial and antiviral properties.
- Respiratory health - Used in Thai herbal remedies for clearing the lungs, soothing sore throats, and reducing coughs.
- Brain function - Some studies suggest galangal may help protect brain cells and improve cognitive performance due to its antioxidant profile.
- Circulatory support - Acts as a natural stimulant and may help improve blood flow and circulation.
🛒 Grow your own Thai ginger – fresh, healing, and flavorful!
#Food_Forest #Discover #Remedies
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Health benefits of a simple plant: Coral bean
Don't let the tough, thorny branches fool you - this native plant has a long history of traditional use. While the seeds are poisonous, the young leaves and flowers have been safely cooked and eaten in small amounts by various cultures.
Traditionally, Erythrina herbacea - Coral Bean has been used in folk remedies for calming the nerves, easing muscle pain, and even promoting better sleep.
Modern science hasn’t fully explored these uses yet, but the plant contains alkaloids that may have sedative and muscle-relaxing properties. It's a reminder that even rugged native plants can carry powerful natural potential.
As a bonus, Erythrina herbacea is also beautiful and beneficial in the garden, drawing in hummingbirds and butterflies with its vibrant pink flowers - hummingbirds can't resist this wild bloomer! It grows well in poor soil and dry conditions - low effort, high reward!
🛒 Plant once, enjoy for years
#Food_Forest #Remedies #Butterfly_plants #Discover
🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Shocking content: flowers with ladys parts used for making tea
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea Blue
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea Lavender
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea White double flower
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea Blue
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea Blue Double flower
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea White
Clitoria ternatea - Butterfly Pea Blue Tea
Now that you've met the Sausage Tree, it's time to introduce you to Clitoria...
- 💙 Clitoria ternatea - also called Butterfly Pea, has distinctive, delicate blooms resembling certain anatomical features... These curious flowers have the shape of
clitoris - hence the name of the plant. - 💙 Nature's Wink: the Clitoria vine boasts these beautiful sexy flowers in vibrant shades of blue, white, or purple. They’re an absolute showstopper!
- 💙 Herbal Benefits: beyond its looks, the clitoria flower is known for its traditional uses as a herbal tea, including stress relief and cognitive support. The flowers also used in salads. The plant is both pretty and practical!
- 💙 Blue Tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea, or Tisane - a beverage made from a decoction or infusion of the Clitoria flower. This stunning blue tea changes color with a squeeze of lemon 🍋 - science and beauty in your cup!⛾
- 💙 In Thailand and Vietnam the Blue Tea is mixed with honey and lemon for a drink served after dinner, or as a refreshment at hotels and spas; a preparation called Nam Dok Anchan in Thai.
- 💙 Pollinator's Paradise: Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators can't resist Clitoria's allure 🐝
- 💙 Easy to grow: Clitoria vine is a gardener’s dream. It is very delicate, fine vine that is both fast growing and easy to control. It can cover a small fence, trellis in a few months. It is also great for containers - this vine will grow just the way you want it.
📚 Learn more about Clitoria and its Tea Infusion
🛒 Get your own Clitoria Vine for fun and Blue Tea
#Nature_Wonders #Recipes #Fun_Facts
#Remedies #Butterfly_Plants #Food_Forest
🏵 TopTropicals
How to make sour taste sweet and what causes the miracle?
Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum
Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum
Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum
- 🍭Miracle Fruit, Synsepalum dulcificum - is one of the strangest tropical fruit that makes sour taste sweet!
- 🍭 The miracle is that if lemon or other sour food is eaten after the miracle fruit, the sour tastes sweet, as if sugar has been added. That kind of magical experience is unforgettable!
- 🍭 A natural chemical in the fruit masks the tongue sour taste buds so that lemons taste like lemonade or lemon pie, or lemon candy! The sweet sensation lasts for half an hour to a few hours.
- 🍭 Miracle fruit berries are valued as a food supplement for chemo-therapy patients to improve the taste of food.
- 🍭 This small, evergreen shrub grows very slowly to a height of 4-6 ft in container, and 6-10 ft in natural habitat. A 10 years old plant might be easily only 4-5 feet tall. It forms an oval to pyramidal shaped bush or small tree.
- 🍭 Miracle fruit is a small compact bush, and can be a rewarding indoor plant. It can be grown in a 1-3 gal pot and produce most of the year. Seed to fruit in 2 to 3 years. Flower to fruit in 30 to 45 days.
📚 Learn more about Miracle fruit, its history, and how to grow it:
Everyday Miracle - Grow the Dream!
🛒 Plant your own Miracle Fruit
#Food_Forest #Nature_Wonders #Remedies
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
Spooktacular Halloween Sale!
Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant
- 😀 Halloween is creeping in, and it's time to treat your garden to some tropical magic! No tricks - just bold, exotic beauties ready to boo-st your outdoor space. Our plants have flourished all summer, growing large and vibrant, and are now ready to keep your garden bursting with life year-round.
- 😀 Don't let these deals disappear into the night - offer ends November 1! To save 10% on your order, use code:
- 💸 Halloween24 💸
Min order $100, excluding S/H. Exp. 11-1-24
📸 Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant 🐍
Celebrate Halloween with this exotic Thai plant that marries beauty and folklore!
Its striking blooms resemble the open mouths of snakes, adding a mysterious allure to your garden. Traditionally used in Thailand for snake bite relief, this captivating specimen not only enhances your space but also sparks conversation among guests. Don't miss the chance to impress with this enchanting plant during the spooky season!
🛒 Order Snake Plant
#Container_Garden #Nature_Wonders #Remedies #Fun_Facts
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals💸
Why is Jujube Tree called the Tree of Happiness?
Jujube Tree (Ziziphus jujuba)
Jujube Tree (Ziziphus jujuba) fruit
Jujube Tree (Ziziphus jujuba)
Jujube Tree (Ziziphus jujuba)
- 😇 The Jujube Tree (Ziziphus jujuba) is often called the "Tree of Happiness" and is one of the #Nature_wonders.
- 😇 Nutritious Fruit: The Jujube tree (Ziziphus jujuba) produces small, sweet, and slightly tangy fruits that are enjoyed by both children and adults.
- 😇 Hardy and Easy: This small, spreading tree with drooping branches grows quickly and thrives in poor, dry, and even moderately saline soils. It requires minimal care to flourish.
- 😇 Medicinal Uses: Every part of the Jujube tree, from its leaves to its bark and fruit, has medicinal properties. The fruit is known for its stress-relieving and immunity-boosting benefits.
- 😇 Thousands of Years in cultivation: Widely cultivated in China and India, jujubes have been grown for over 4,000 years. China has more jujube trees than any other type of fruit tree.
- 😇 Symbolism:
- 😇 Greek Mythology: Some horticulturists draw a comparison between the Jujube tree and the Greek myth of Sisyphus. Like Sisyphus' boulder that endlessly rolls back down, the Jujube tree regrows tirelessly, symbolizing resilience, perseverance, and renewal.
- The name Ziziphus comes from the Persian zizfum or Arabic zizouf.
- The tree is associated with Ziziphus spina-christi, the Christ's Thorn Jujube, which provided the thorns for the biblical crown of thorns.
- In Indian legends, the Jujube tree is said to be blessed with a boon: no matter how badly it is cut, it will never die, and a single root will cause it to regrow.
- Revered in India, the Jujube is known as the "Tree which removes sorrow" and is often offered to the god Siva.
📚 Learn more:
The tree of Happiness that removes sorrow
🛒 Plant Jujubу - Tree of Happiness
#Food_Forest #Remedies
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals
What is the miracle behind the Miracle fruit?
Miracle Fruit, synsepalum dulcificum
- 🍭 Miracle Fruit, synsepalum dulcificum is a small, red berry that can temporarily make sour foods taste sweet. The berry contains a protein called miraculin, which binds to taste buds and alters the way sour foods are perceived. Sour turns into sweet!
- 🍭 Native to West Africa, this fruit has been used for centuries as a natural sweetener and is often enjoyed at "flavor-tripping" parties.
- 🍭 It's also used by chemotherapy patients to help improve their sense of taste, as it can make bitter or metallic-tasting foods more palatable.
📚 Learn more from earlier posts:
How to make sour taste sweet and what causes the miracle?
Everyday Miracle - Grow the Dream!
🛒 Plant your own Miracle Fruit
#Food_Forest #Nature_Wonders #Remedies #Fun_Facts
🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals