Can you eat bird-looking flowers? You can eat the whole tree!

• 🐧 Sesbania grandiflora - Hummingbird Tree - is named for its flowers resembling little birds.
• 🐧 It produces a mass of large, 3-4", curved flowers from November to June. Flowers can be coral red or white.
• 🐧 The fun part is - the flowers are edible! As well as the rest of the plant: tender leaves, green fruit (bean pods), and flowers, used in curries, salads, or fried in batter.
• 🐧 Medicinal uses: bark, leaves, gums, and flowers have medicinal properties.
• 🐧 Lower branches form a beautiful floral canopy. It is a fast growing, but a small tree that will fit any yard. Great everblooming tree for container culture.

🛒 Get an edible Hummingbird Tree

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Butterfly_Plants #Container_Garden #Fun_Facts

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How old is Southern Magnolia? 95 million years old!

• 💮 #Fun_Facts: Magnolia grandiflora - Southern Magnolia, is a unique and ancient flowering plant dating back about 95 million years to the time of the dinosaurs!
• 💮 Its beautiful, large perfumed flowers are "primitive" and evolved before bees existed, relying on beetles for pollination. The tough petals and reproductive parts are a result of adapting to beetle activity.
• 💮 Another fascinating feature is its cone-like fruit, which contains striking bright red seeds. These seeds are covered in a fleshy coating that attracts birds and small mammals, aiding in their dispersal, making the magnolia not only stunning but important for the ecosystem.

🛒 Order Southern Magnolia

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

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🐓 What plant you need if your kid is afraid of chickens

• 🐣 Neea psychotrioides - Pigeon Plum, Hoja de Salat, Saltwood - from Central America is rare in cultivation. This small tree or bush should get more attention from tropical plant collectors.
• 🐣 Neea is very nice, easy growing and make those "jelly beans" like berries. The flowers are almost unnoticeable. The berries are very showy and come right after. It fruits for several months non stop.
• 🐣 Mature fruit is edible. In its native countries, this plant is widely used medicinally.
• 🐣 From the book "Messages from the Gods. A Guide to the useful plants of Belize": "It is used to treat babies who can not sleep, often accompanied with crying, especially when they have been frightened by chickens..." So the plant is very useful especially for those who are afraid of chickens!

🛒 Order Neea Pigeon Plum

#Hedges_with_benefits #Remedies

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⚠️ 10 common mistakes to avoid with mail order plants

⁉️ Q: How to get happy and healthy plants from mail order? Will they survive the trip and grow well after transportation? What mistakes should I avoid?

✅ A: At Top Tropicals, we have over 20 years of experience shipping plants. We know how to pack them properly and ensure the safest journey possible. We ship the biggest and healthiest plants, and our customers are often amazed at how great they look after a few days in a dark box. But receiving a healthy plant is only half the adventure. Now that the plant is in your hands, it's up to you to keep it thriving. The first couple of weeks after shipping are critical. With the right care, your new plant can reward you with beautiful flowers and fruit for years to come. Here are 10 common mistakes to avoid when buying plants by mail order.

• 
  ⏺1. Not unpacking plants immediately
Leaving plants in the box too long can cause stress or damage. Unpack them as soon as they arrive to let them breathe and adjust.
• 
  ⏺2. Ignoring acclimation
Plants need time to adjust to their new environment. Don't place them in full sun or extreme conditions (heat, wind) right away.
• 
  ⏺3. Overwatering right after arrival
Many people water their new plants too much. Plants often need time to recover from transit, and too much water can cause root rot.
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  ⏺4. Stepping up too soon
Repotting immediately in a large pot can cause root rot. Plant in a pot just the size of a root ball, step up only after the plant is showing new growth.
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  ⏺5. Ignoring the plant's needs

Research the specific needs of your plant before it arrives. Light, water, and soil requirements vary greatly, and misunderstanding them can lead to issues.

⬇️ Continued in next post 👇

#How_to

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