Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 6 Oct 2021

Top Tropicals Top House Plants

Photo above: Clerodendrum indoor garden of Ludmila Ezhova, St Petersburg, Russia.

Enjoy the Tropics Year round!
Bring them inside...

Q: I just discovered your amazing website and spent hours browsing your beautiful tropical plants! I wish I could have them all! But it's getting cold here (I live in Chicago area), too late? Can you recommend something of a small size, colorful, that I can easily overwinter indoors? Thanks for bringing this beauty into our lives!

A: Don't get discouraged even in colder climates. Yes, you can grow tropical plants indoors! Remember that all traditional houseplants are in fact tropical plants that grow in tropics in a wild habitat. Humans didn't invent them as indoor plants, they originally collected them from the rain forests and jungles! Most of tropical plants, including trees and fruit trees, can be grown in containers and even indoors. It's just a matter of space limitations and amount of time you are willing to spend caring of your exotic babies. Many gardeners up North are very successful with their tropical plant collections.
Below are a few suggestions of compact growing, easy species for your indoor collection. Enjoy the Tropics Year round!

See more plants well-suitable for indoor culture and our specials at the end of this newsletter.

Photo above: small tropical indoor garden of Julia Nikolayeva, St Petersburg, Russia.

Date: 4 Nov 2024

How to overwinter tropical plants indoors

Mandevilla indoors

Mandevilla indoors

Mandevilla indoors

Mandevilla indoors

❄️ How to overwinter tropical plants indoors



I have two Mandevillas that thrived on my balcony all summer. Now that cold weather is approaching, I've moved them indoors to bright spots, but they're dropping and wilting leaves. How can I keep them healthy until spring? Should I fertilize them? Can Mandevillas grow indoors year-round?

✔️ First, keep in mind that the plants we call "indoor plants" or "house plants" are all tropical. However, not all tropical plants are suitable for indoor living. Some, especially shade-loving ones, thrive in indoor conditions, which is why we refer to them as "house plants" (philodendrons, monsteras, calatheas, peperomias, and many others, including some succulents). Others are less adaptable to the lower light and humidity typical of indoor spaces, but with a little extra care, you can overwinter them inside and move them back outdoors in spring. Mandevillas are no exception! Even tropical trees, including fruit trees, can tolerate a few months indoors if given the right conditions for semi-dormancy. Below are the 10 key tips for successfully overwintering tropical plants indoors.

Find out the secrets of overwintering in our next post ⬇️

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#How_to

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Date: 30 Dec 2024

What is the most popular Winter-flowering shrub?

Tropical Hydrangea - Dombeya x wallichii

💋 What is the most popular Winter-flowering shrub?



🌸 Tropical Hydrangea - Dombeya x wallichii - is a Queen sister of the popular Princess - Dombeya seminole that we introduced in our earlier post.

🌸 Tropical Hydrangea is a stunning winter bloomer with fragrant, pink, hydrangea-like flowers that will turn heads and attract pollinators.

🌸 Spectacular blooms: Clusters of fragrant, pink flowers brighten the landscape in winter and draw in bees and butterflies.

🌸 Lush foliage: Large, heart-shaped leaves add tropical charm year-round.

🌸 Fast-growing: Quickly creates a multi-stemmed bush, perfect for screening or covering unwanted views.

🌸 Versatile landscaping: Ideal for hedges, garden accents, or a statement plant in any tropical or subtropical garden.

🌸 With its beauty and utility, Tropical Hydrangea is a must-have for creating a vibrant, pollinator-friendly garden with minimal effort!

🛒 Shop Dombeyas

#Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants

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Date: 4 Oct 2024

Three must-have fruit for every tropical garden

Three must-have fruit for every tropical garden

🏆 Three must-have fruit for every tropical garden



🍍Pineapple is a tropical favorite that's incredibly easy to grow, making it a perfect choice for beginners. With minimal care, Pineapples don't take mush space, you can grown them underneath other fruit trees. Plant good varieties, and when you get your crop, plant the tops and you will have your little Pineapple plantation in no time: you'll enjoy sweet, juicy fruit from those little babies in about 18-24 months. Freshly harvested pineapples are delightful in smoothies, salads, or grilled, adding a tropical flair to your garden.

🥭 Mango trees are not only a staple in tropical gardens but are also easy to cultivate. They flourish in sunny spots and well-drained soil, requiring little maintenance once established. These vigorous trees can yield an abundance of juicy, flavorful fruit in just a few years. They are perfect for fresh eating or adding to salsas and chutneys. Condo varieties are dwarf trees and can be grown in containers.

Avocado trees are fun to grow and add both beauty and nutrition to tropical gardens. Grafted cultivars start yielding fruit within a few months with proper care. The rich, creamy avocados are a culinary favorite, perfect for salads, spreads, and smoothies. With their lush foliage and bountiful harvests, avocado trees are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for ease and abundance.

📚 Learn more from previous post:


· The most luscious Hospitality Fruit
· Mango Rainbow
· What is the best Avocado variety

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#Food_Forest #Mango #Avocado

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Date: 11 Apr 2025

What is better than Apricot? Tropical Apricot!

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

Pitomba, Eugenia luschnathiana - The Tropical Apricot Tree fruit

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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