🐈 Tacca wants to be a cat! And everyone loves cats!

That’s probably the real evolutionary secret no botanist will admit! Those whiskers? Pure marketing genius from nature.
Cats had it figured out first — look mysterious, add long elegant whiskers, and everyone falls in love.
Tacca just took notes and said, “Alright, I can work with that!”

So now we have a tropical plant that looks half orchid, half bat, and just enough cat to make people stop, smile, and want one for their collection!

Tacca is also called the Bat Lily or Devil Flower. This tropical wonder grows bat-shaped wings and foot-long whiskers. The black form (Tacca chantrieri) looks straight out of a gothic dream, while the white one (Tacca nivea) is ghost-like and elegant.

Some of our plants are blooming right now in the nursery — true Halloween magic! Blooms are delicate and may not travel, but the plants are strong and will flower again soon in your care.

Tacca colors: Black, White, Green:

Tacca nivea - White Tacca
Tacca chantrieri - Black Tacca
Tacca leontopetaloides - Green Tacca

📚 Learn more:

The mystery of the White Bat Lily - the plant with wings and whiskers
A flying bat with whiskers
The rarest Green Tacca - Tacca leontopetaloides
When Bat Head Devil Flower is in bloom
Bat Head - Devil Flower

🛒 Add Taccas - Bat Lilies to your collection

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Nature_Wonders

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❄️ How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?

Growing Avocado trees in cooler regions is possible with the right variety and care. By choosing Cold Hardy types and protecting them during cold spells, you can successfully grow avocados outside tropical climates. The more mature your tree, the better it handles the cold.

❄️ What is Avocado cold hardiness?

Most Avocados are sensitive to frost, but some Mexican varieties can survive lows around 15°F once established, and brief dips near 10°F with good care.

👉 Cold tolerance depends on:

✦ Duration of cold: Short freezes are easier to survive.
✦ Sun exposure: More sun means better cold resistance.
✦ Wind protection: Wind can do more harm than temperature alone.
✦ Tree health: Regular fertilization, such as Sunshine Boosters, helps strengthen plants.

❄️ How to protect avocados from cold

✦ Bigger is better: Mature trees resist cold better than young ones.
✦ Wind protection: Plant on the south or southeast side of a building for warmth.
✦ Good fertilization: Healthy trees are stronger and more resilient.
✦ Watering: Water less in winter; overwatering in cold weather can cause root rot.

❄️ Protection for young plants

✦ Cover and mulch: Before a freeze, mound mulch around the base and cover with a blanket. Add Christmas lights or a small heater for extra warmth (use caution).
✦ Use microclimates: Plant near walls or buildings where it’s warmer and wind is reduced.

With a little planning and protection, you can enjoy fresh avocados even in cooler climates!

✔️ Check outAvocado Variety Guide interactive chart. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

🛒  Shop Cold Hardy Avocados

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?
· Hard copy · PDF File Download

📚 Learn more:

· Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?
· Avocado Variety Guide
· How to grow cold-hardy avocados and how cold-hardy are they?
· Avocado that laughs at frost: Mexicola Grande for cooler climates
· Cold hardy Avocado Joey: you can eat with the skin
· Posts about #Avocado

#Food_Forest #Avocado #How_to

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🕺 Updates from Mittens

🐾 Hi everyone, it’s me - Mittens! I’m all grown up now (well, almost). I still go to work with my Mom Chiane - every single day. I help pack your plants, inspect boxes, and sometimes take important naps on the shipping table. I haven’t missed a single day of work!

🐾 Everyone says I’m part of the team now, not just a trainee. I think they’re right - after all, who else leaves magic paw prints on your boxes?

🐾 If you stop by our Garden Center in Ft Myers, come say hi to me, King, Snitch, and my other friends. We’re the #PeopleCats, and we work hard to make sure your plants travel happy and safe to their new homes!

🐈📸 Chiane and Mittens getting ready for work at TopTropicals / PeopleCats.Garden

#PeopleCats

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🍴 Avocado coconut popsicles: Quick-n-Fun exotic recipes

🔵Puree avocado with coconut milk and sugar.
🔵Pour into molds and freeze.
🔵Enjoy the creamiest tropical ice pops ever!

🛒 For home-grown ingredients you will need:

Home grown Avocado
Home grown Coconut

Avocado Coconut Popsicles

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 2 tbsp sugar (or to taste)

Instructions

1. Puree avocado with coconut milk and sugar.
2. Pour into molds and freeze.
3. Enjoy the creamiest tropical ice pops ever!

#Food_Forest #Recipes #Avocado

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🐟 When the Goldfish blooms...

🐡 If you’ve never seen a Columnea Melissa - Flying Goldfish Plant in full bloom, get ready for a surprise. Columnea Melissa is one of those houseplants that looks almost too whimsical to be real. Its bright orange flowers pop out along long, velvety stems, and every single one looks like a tiny goldfish with wings. When the plant starts cascading, it really does look like a whole school of flying fish drifting through the air.

🐡 This plant comes from tropical cloud forests, so it loves humidity, gentle light, and steady moisture. An airy mix, a hanging basket, and a bright window are all it really asks for. Cooler winter temps are fine, just keep watering on the light side.

🐡 Give it a kitchen or bathroom windowsill and it will reward you with nonstop color. It’s one of those plants that visitors always point at and say… okay, what is THAT?

🛒 Add showy Flying Goldfish Plant to your collection

📚 Learn more:

The most colorful houseplant
This goldfish lives in a pot and Why is it called Gold Fish Plant
Six colorful plants for your indoor garden

#Container_Garden

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