Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 12 Apr 2016

Hot novelty plant for hot Arizona

Q: What plants would you recommend for very hot and dry spot in front of my house that gets full sun all day long? I live in AZ, we recently had a couple good rains but this is going to be it for a long time. It gets so hot during the day that every plant I tried didn't make it. We have a few nice orange trees growing well but I would like to plant something compact, colorful and hopefully fragrant if there is such plant.

A: There is a perfect small size plant for you that is extremely fragrant and yet will be thriving in these conditions. It is the famous Jasmine sambac. It will appreciate dry air of Arizona and will bloom profusely for you in full sun or in partial shade. It doesn't mind heat at all.

For colorful accents, a proven winner is Crown of Thorns - Euphorbia millii. New giant size flower varieties were recently selected in Thailand, and we just received a great selection, look at the colors! These plants don't mind hot sunny location at all. The more sun, the better the bloom! Small plants need regular watering until establish, then once they start developing, they will require less water.

Giant Euphorbia flowers from Thailand are 4-5 times bigger than regular flower euphorbia. Diameter of the flower is around 2". Compare giant flower to normal size - picture on the right.

See full list of plants for hot and dry spots

Date: 13 Mar 2016

Growing Vanilla Orchid

Q: I want to buy Vanilla orchid and I wonder if I can grow it in my bathroom by the skylight.

A: Growing Vanilla orchid is no different than other orchids. It is very simple. All that the plant needs is a good light, good air humidity, and good porous support.

Light. Grow Vanilla orchid in a very bright light, but protected from direct hot sun.

Air humidity.The higher the air humidity, the better your plant will grow. Many people grow orchids in a bathroom where these plants can enjoy occasional "humidity treats" after showers.

Growing media. Vanilla orchid cuttings are rooted very often in a regular potting mix with high content of pine bark and/or Perlite, Coconut Husk Chips

Date: 4 Apr 2025

Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?

👍 Why settle for ordinary when you can have this?


  • 🌸 Transform your garden with the Chinaberry Tree (Melia azedarach) - a fast-growing, fragrant beauty that doubles in size in just one season!

  • 🌸 Its lilac flowers and sweet vanilla-like scent will fill your garden with elegance, while its hardy nature ensures it thrives even in colder climates.

  • 🌸 Enjoy lush, green foliage and a lovely shade canopy, all with minimal care. Plus, it's low-maintenance, pest-resistant, and has medicinal benefits!

Ready to add this aromatic gem to your landscape? Don't wait bring home the Chinaberry Tree today!

📚 Learn more about Chinaberry Tree

🛒 Order Chinaberry Tree and breathe in the Vanilla Fragrance

#Trees #Remedies #Perfume_Plants #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 19 Mar 2026

Guava chili glaze: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Guava chili glazed grilled chicken

Guava chili glazed grilled chicken

Guava fruit

Guava fruit

🍴 Guava chili glaze: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

  • 🔴Simmer guava puree with chili flakes and a squeeze of lime.
  • 🔴Brush onto grilled chicken


🌿 About the plant:


Guava is a tropical tree with fragrant fruit rich in vitamin C and aromatic pulp.

🏡 In the garden:


Thrives in warm climates, tolerates some drought. Responds well to pruning and can be grown in containers.

🛒 Grow your own guava tree

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Psidium guajava
Tropical Guava, Guajava
USDA Zone: 9-11
Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunRegular waterWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeFlood tolerant plant
  • Guava trees in Plant Encyclopedia
  • Guava fudge: quick-n-fun exotic recipes
  • Six guava varieties that will keep you picking year-round
  • How to grow a Guava Tree: Practical Guide to Growing Guava
  • More about #Guava

  • #Food_Forest #Recipes

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

    Date: 1 Apr 2026

    Happy Passover!

    Happy Passover!
    Happy Passover!

    Sunshine: I fixed the donut problem. And I brought mango.
    Smokey: Non-traditional. Compliant. Happy Passover.

    • 🥭 Some traditions stay exactly as they are. Others - adapt. On our patio this Passover, Smokey kept things properly grounded (wine in hand), watching closely as the table filled with familiar symbols. Sunshine, meanwhile, solved a practical problem the only way he knows how: creatively. No leavened donuts allowed? Fine. Matzah donuts it is. And since no celebration should be short on sweetness, a plate of fresh mango quietly found its place at the table.

    • 🥭 That is gardening in a nutshell. You respect the rules, but you work with what grows, what thrives, and what brings joy. A tropical garden teaches the same lesson every day: conditions change, but abundance is always possible if you choose the right plants.

    • 🥭 This season, whether you are planting something new or enjoying the fruits already within reach, take a note from Smokey and Sunshine. Stay within the rules - but do not be afraid to make them work for you.


    🛒 Explore Mango varieties · Shop fruit trees

    #Mango #Food_Forest

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals