Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 16 Jan 2026

The most asked-about tree in the Sunshine State: Bauhinia

Purple Orchid tree - Bauhinia purpurea

🌸 The most asked-about tree in the Sunshine State: Bauhinia

  • 🌸 If you visit Florida in winter, chances are you will notice a tree covered in orchid-like flowers and wonder what it is. That tree is often an orchid tree, most commonly Bauhinia purpurea. It is fast growing, wide spreading, and blooms from late winter through spring, sometimes with a second round in summer. The flowers range from magenta to lavender, are lightly fragrant, and stand out even from a distance. The leaves are just as distinctive - split into two halves like butterfly wings, which is why these trees are also called butterfly trees.
  • 🌸 Orchid trees are easygoing and practical. They thrive in full sun, tolerate many soil types as long as drainage is good, and need little water once established. Growth is quick, often 2–3 feet per year, making them excellent shade trees for hot climates. The flowers attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and in some cultures the buds and blossoms are used in cooking, while the bark has a long history in folk remedies. Beautiful, useful, and low maintenance, orchid trees are a perfect fit for Southern landscapes.


🛒 Discover Bauhinias - Orchid trees

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Bauhinia acuminata
Dwarf White Orchid Tree, White Bauhinia, Kaa-long, Snowy Orchid
USDA Zone: 9-11
Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunModerate waterWhite, off-white flowersDeciduous plant
  • Bauhinias - Orchid trees in Plant Encyclopedia
  • Compact Bauhinias - everblooming container trees
  • Cassia vs Bauhinia: which is better as an everblooming container tree?
  • You won’t believe this red orchid tree exists!
  • Rare Orchid Tree you may never find again and everyone wants
  • Why gardeners love the Pink Butterfly Tree: blooms, shade, and zero fuss
  • Napoleons Plume - Orchid Tree that blooms in a pot
  • How to grow Orchid Trees in pots
  • Bauhinias: trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings
  • Why Bauhinias are called Orchid Trees: orchid flowers with butterfly wings...
  • Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree
  • Bauhinia galpinii (punctata) - Pride of De Kaap or Nasturtium Bauhinia

    • #Trees

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

    Date: 22 Mar 2026

    Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off

    Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off
    Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off 🏡

    Can your backyard pay for itself? Learn which 12 tropical fruit trees real estate experts say are the smartest investment for your landscape. Discover how tropical fruit trees like mango and avocado add "edible equity" and curb appeal to your property, making it more desirable to future buyers. Turn your yard into a private paradise that lowers grocery bills and boosts home value.

    In warm climates like Florida, a mango tree isn't just landscaping - it’s a food-producing asset. Mature tropical fruit trees offer "edible equity," saving homeowners hundreds in grocery bills while creating a unique, memorable aesthetic for buyers.

    • 🥭 1. Focus on "Instant Recognition" Favorites


    Trees buyers already know and love provide the strongest ROI. They signal that the yard is already productive - something new builds can’t offer.

    • •  Top Picks: Mango, Avocado, Papaya, Banana, Guava, and Loquat.
    • •  The Value: A single mature avocado or mango tree can yield hundreds of pounds of fruit annually.


    🥭 2. Create a "Memorable Discovery" with Exotic Varieties



    Unusual fruits turn a standard yard into a tropical orchard, acting as a conversation piece during home tours.

    • •  The Exotic List: Jackfruit, Sugar Apple, Soursop, Sapodilla, Ice Cream Bean, and Star Fruit.


    🥭 3. Strategic Placement for Energy Savings



    Large-canopy trees like jackfruit or mango do more than provide food; they act as natural insulation.

    • •  Natural Cooling: Strategic planting reduces afternoon sun exposure and lowers AC costs.
    • •  Indoor/Outdoor Flow: Use trees to frame window views, block neighbors, and create private "outdoor rooms."


    🥭 4. The Power of the "Mini Orchard"



    A collection of 3–5 trees creates a stronger emotional pull than a lone plant. Buyers begin to visualize a lifestyle of smoothies and harvests.

    • •  Winning Combos: Mango + Avocado + Papaya or Guava + Star Fruit + Banana.


    🥭 5. Maintenance: Health Equals Value



    Fruit trees only add value if they look manageable. A neglected tree suggests a neglected home.

    • •  Pre-Sale Prep: Prune for tidiness, mulch the base, and clear fallen fruit.
    • •  Spacing Matters: Avoid overcrowding; ensure buyers can walk comfortably through the yard without feeling "closed in."


    🥭 The Long-Term Play



    Unlike decorative plants that may need frequent replacement, fruit trees appreciate over time. Because a mango tree takes years to reach peak production, the best time to plant for future resale value is now. By the time you list, your yard will offer shade, privacy, and a harvest that buyers find hard to resist.

    🛒 Start Growing Your Edible Equity - Find the Perfect Fruit Tree for Your Yard

    📚 Learn more:

    Plant Facts

    Mangifera indica
    Mango
    USDA Zone: 9-11
    Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunModerate waterYellow, orange flowersPink flowersEdible plantSeaside, salt tolerant plant

    Mango trees in Plant Encyclopedia

    #Food_forest #How_to #Discover

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

    Date: 22 Apr 2022

    Spend time among trees...

    "...Time spent among trees is never time wasted..."
    - Katrina Mayer -

    Ceiba pentandra

    One of the most impressive and massive trees in the world - Ceiba pentandra - Kapok Tree. A majestic tropical tree! The ancient Maya of Central America believed that a great Ceiba tree stood at the center of the earth... Would you like to try growing it in the center of your backyard? Considering it will take decades to grow this big...

    Ficus

    Ficus macrophylla (Banyan). Did you know that exotic Banyan Trees are close related to Fig trees

    Date: 7 Jul 2016

    Growing fruit trees in containers

    Will it fruit in a pot? YES! Many tropical fruit trees can be grown in a pot. We get many calls from customers in cooler climates asking if our tropical trees can grow and fruit in a pot. The answer is yes!

    Several plants fruit well in pots. Blackberries and raspberries, barbados cherries, blueberries and many more start fruiting even in their 1 gallon containers. We are especially excited about our new Pixie grapes, which are heavily laden with grapes even at only a foot long!

    While some plants are small and will fruit easily in a container, others are large trees. For the tree type fruits, we recommend growing only non-seedling plants for pot culture. We have cuttings, air layers and grafted plants that are great options. These have the ability to fruit right away, as they are the same age as the parent tree. Some horticulturists recommend removing the first year fruit to allow the plant to focus on growth and establishing. If the plant is being kept in a pot, this is not necessary.

    We also have several dwarf varieties of fruit trees that will thrive in a pot. For avocados, we carry the Wurtz variety which is a dwarf tree... read more...

    Date: 25 Jan 2021

    Healthy Plants: Q&A from Mr Booster

    How to get Canistel tree to produce
    without dropping flowers and fruit

    Q: My Canistel tree is 3 1/2 years old and is growing very well, see the picture below. It gets hundreds of pea sized "berries" but then they fall off. No canistel fruit. What's wrong?

    A: You have such a nice looking tree, it is a shame you can't get any fruit to ripen.
    In our experience, Pouteria trees dropping fruit prematurely is a very common problem. There may be one of the following reasons, or a combination of them:
    - Cold winters may affect production, and while Canistel is generally pretty hardy tropical plant that can easily withstand short periods of chill, the fruit may never form properly if it had a cold winter.
    - Lack of water. Canistel tree is pretty drought tolerant, but for the proper production cycle it needs regular irrigation. Especially during hot summer.
    - The tree may be not strong enough; young trees drop fruit very often when they don't have enough "fruiting energy" built up in their system.
    Your tree looks well established and vigorous, however, flower/fruit drop is often a sign of insufficient nutrients of particular kind, usually Boron (B) and/or Molybdenum (Mo): either when a tree is too young and not strong enough, or because of poor soils and lack of necessary elements.

    Here is what can be done, considering you live in a warm, frost-free climate.

    1. Provide regular fertilizing program. We recommend liquid fertilizers Sunshine Boosters that are safe to use with every watering and year around. It is beneficial to switch plants from traditional "slow-release" fertilizer to the liquid one because it makes a huge difference in plant growth and flower/fruit quality and quantity. See also:
    - Why liquid fertilizers are better than dry
    - Article about benefits of liquid fertilizers.

    Use this plant food for your Canistel tree:
    SUNSHINE C-Cibus - Crop Nutrition Booster

    2. Apply micro-element remedies that are very effective for improving fruit production, especially when flower or fruit drop occurs:

    SUNSHINE Honey - promotes more efficient blossoming and pollination, makes flowers bigger and reduces bud drop.
    SUNSHINE SuperFood - improves plant vigor and quality and size of flowers These are all natural, eco-friendly supplements that work great for fruit trees and other edibles.

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