Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 8 May 2025

What bougainvillea doesnt need pruning and grows into a tree? Kristis Garden Secrets - sound on!

Bougainvillea arborea - Thornless Bougainvillea Tree

🌸 What bougainvillea doesn't need pruning and grows into a tree? Kristi's Garden Secrets - sound on! 🎤
  • 🌸 Tired of pruning your thorny bougainvillea that takes over your yard? Here’s one that breaks all the rules.
  • No thorns, no pruning - and it grows into a bushy little tree!
  • 🌸 It's called Bougainvillea arborea, or Thornless Bougainvillea Tree.
  • 🌸 It stays tidy, blooms lavender flowers with a light scent, and it won’t overgrow your space. A total gem if you want beauty without the chaos!


🛒 Plant the Bougainvillea That Behaves!

📱 ' target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Watch in high quality on YouTube

#Trees #How_to

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 4 May 2025

Top Eight irresistible vines for a hummingbird haven

vines for a hummingbird haven

vines for a hummingbird haven

🕊 Top Eight irresistible vines for a hummingbird haven. Part 1.



Below is the Hummingbird Haven Plan designed for continuous blooms, vertical interest, and year-round hummingbird attraction.

Centerpiece (Tall Structure / Arbor)
  • Thunbergia, especially Thunbergia mysorensis (Clock Vine). Provide strong overhead support for its hanging blooms. Let this showstopper trail over a sturdy pergola or arbor. Its long, red-and-yellow flowers will be your garden’s main hummingbird magnet.

  • Side Support (Trellis or Fence)
  • Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine) - A hardy, fast-growing native that clings to supports. Train it on a trellis for early-spring blooms that attract the season’s first hummingbirds.
  • Tecomaria (Cape Honeysuckle) - A vigorous, evergreen bloomer that loves full sun. Its bright red-orange tubular flowers draw hummingbirds throughout the year and are perfect for training along fences or trellises.

  • Mid-layer (Fence, Arch, or Large Pot Trellis)
  • Passiflora (especially vitifolia or coccinea). Needs full sun, rich soil, and regular water; prune to manage size and boost flowering. Let it twine near seating areas for bold red blooms and close-up hummingbird visits.

  • Ground-Level Accents
  • Ipomoea (including Prince Kuhio Vine) - Thrives in warm, frost-free zones with sun and moisture. Plant at the base of structures or in containers to sprawl or climb with vivid purple-pink blooms.
  • Lonicera (including L. sempervirens - Coral Honeysuckle) - Plant at the base of a trellis or fence, near the arbor. This cold-hardy native has red-orange or yellow tubular blooms from spring to fall and adds a delicate contrast to tropical textures.

  • Wild Touch / Quick Filler
  • Antigonon leptopus - Mexican Coral Vine - Loves sun and drains well; drought-tolerant but frost-sensitive. Great for fences and open trellises as a fast-growing, summer-to-fall bloomer buzzing with activity.
  • Pyrostegia venusta (Flame Vine) - Bursting in fiery orange, perfect for fences or pergolas. Plant along a back fence or side trellis where it can sprawl wide and fill empty space. Thrives in full sun, blooms in winter-spring, and complements vertical stars like Thunbergia and Passionflower.


📝 These vines feature tubular, nectar-rich blooms that hummingbirds adore.
Add a shallow birdbath or feeder nearby, and you'll have a full-service nectar station!

See full list of Hummingbird favorite vines in next post ⤵️

🛒
Turn Your Garden Into a Hummingbird Paradise!

#Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants #How_to

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 16 May 2025

Stunning kaleidoscope of Nancy Tree

Nancy Tree, Golden Spoon, Nance (Byrsonima crassifolia)

🎆 Stunning kaleidoscope of Nancy Tree

  • 🎇 Look at this beautiful kaleidoscope of colors! The flowers of the Nancy Tree glow in vibrant shades of yellow, orange, and red, creating a stunning display that lights up any garden. What a breathtaking tree! But it’s not just about beauty - the fruits of the Nancy Tree are not only delicious but also has health benefits.
  • 🎇Nancy Tree (Byrsonima crassifolia), also known as Golden Spoon or Nance, is a stunning medium-sized tree with round crown and glorious flowers, transitioning from yellow to orange and red as they age, make it a true standout.
  • 🎇Native to tropical and subtropical climates, the Nancy Tree is not commonly seen in cultivation, making it a rare gem for plant lovers. The fruits are a tasty treat that can be enjoyed fresh or cooked, often used in desserts, soups, or as stuffing for meats.
  • 🎇
  • The roots and stems of the Nancy Tree have antibacterial properties, giving it a natural medicinal edge.
  • 🎇Nancy Tree is highly drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for water-wise gardens.
  • 🎇Perfect for those seeking a colorful, health-boosting, and low-maintenance tree, the Nancy Tree is a must-have for tropical and subtropical landscapes.


🛒 Add colorful Nancy Tree to your garden today

#Food_Forest

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 15 May 2025

Which Banana has red fruit and leaves?

Banana Bordelon

Which Banana has red fruit and leaves?

  • 💃 Banana Bordelon - Red Leaves, Red Fruit, Real Wow!
  • Not just leaves - this banana bears red fruit too!
  • 💃 Banana Bordelon is a show-stopping ornamental AND edible HARDY banana that gardeners love for its bold look and surprising resilience.
  • Here's why it's in high demand:
  • 💃 Striking Red-Striped Leaves: The main attraction is its dramatic foliage - large green leaves boldly striped with deep red. It instantly adds a tropical, exotic flair to any garden.
  • 💃 Tall and Impressive: Grows 10-15 feet tall, making it a fantastic focal point or privacy screen in warm climates.
  • 💃 Hardy for an Ornamental: Despite its tropical look, 'Bordelon' is more cold-tolerant than many bananas. With protection, it survives mild winters and can even flower and fruit in zone 8b and up.
  • 💃 Flowers and Fruits: It's not just eye candy. With proper care and winter protection, Bordelon produces deep purple flowers and striking red fruit - a rare and beautiful bonus in ornamental bananas.
  • 💃 Native Charm: Originally discovered in Bordelonville, Louisiana, it's adapted to Southern gardens and thrives in warm, humid conditions.
  • 💃 Why everyone wants Bordelone Banana? Because it's both beautiful and tough. Bordelon brings color, height, and a tropical vibe to any landscape - and unlike many ornamentals, it can survive a chilly season and still reward you with vibrant foliage, flowers, and fruit. It’s perfect for collectors, Southern gardeners, and anyone who wants bold impact with low maintenance.


🛒 Bring home Bordelon: the Banana that paints your garden RED!

📚 Learn more about #Bananas

#Food_Forest #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 18 May 2025

Discover the health benefits of Katuk: a Superfood for your mind and body

Katuk,Tropical Asparagus - Sauropus androgynus

🏆 Discover the health benefits of Katuk: a Superfood for your mind and body

  • 🌿 Katuk, or Tropical Asparagus (Sauropus androgynus), is a delicious leafy vegetable popular in South and Southeast Asia. Its young shoots, often referred to as tropical asparagus, are highly prized for their taste and high yields.
  • 🌿 In Vietnam, Katuk is commonly cooked in soups with crab meat, minced pork, or dried shrimp, while in Malaysia, it’s stir-fried with egg and dried anchovies.
  • 🌿 The plant is unique for being one of the few plants that contains vitamin K. It’s also rich in folate, vitamin K, and lutein - nutrients linked to improved memory and reduced cognitive aging.
  • 🌿 Katuk thrives in full sun or semi-shade, making it a versatile and healthy addition to your garden or kitchen.

Lean more:
📚 Tropical Asparagus, Katuk: Grow your own food
📱 How to cook with Katuk

🛒 Add Katuk Superfood to your edible garden today

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals