Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 17 Nov 2023

Hedges with Benefits
Reference Chart

Hibiscus  mutabilis  flowering  hedge

Large and fast growing

Tithonia diversifolia - Sunflower tree
Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa
Calliandra surinamensis - Powderpuff
Aloysia virgata - Almond Bush
Dombeya x wallichii - Tropical Hydrangea
Cornutia grandifolia - African lilac
Gmelina philippensis - Parrots Beak
Hibiscus mutabilis Cotton Candy - Mallow Hibiscus
Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant

Medium or easy-trim

Acalypha hispida - Cat tail, Chenille plant
Bauhinia galpinii - Pride of De Kaap
Cestrum nocturnum - Night blooming jasmine
Dombeya seminole - Tropical Rose Hydrangea
Gardenia thunbergia - Forest gardenia
Hamelia patens - Fire Bush
Hibiscus variegated Snow Queen
Jasminum sambac Maid of Orleans
Ochna integerrima - Vietnamese Mickey Mouse, Hoa Mai
Odontonema callistachyum - Lavender Butterfly Bush
Odontonema cuspidatum - Firespike, Red
Rondeletia leucophylla - Panama Rose
Tecoma stans - Yellow Elder

Short or slow growing

Aglaia odorata - Chinese Perfume Plant
Allamanda schottii - Dwarf Allamanda Bush
Brunfelsia pauciflora Compacta - Dwarf Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow
Clerodendrum incisum - Musical Note
Calliandra schultzii - Dwarf calliandra
Gardenia vietnamensis - Vietnamese Gardenia
Leonotis leonurus - Lions Ears
Neea psychotrioides - Pigeon Plum, Hoja de Salat
Plumbago auriculata Imperial Blue

Garden Specimens

Combretum constrictum Thailand, Ball of Fire
Caesalpinia pulcherrima - Red Dwarf Poinciana, Bird of Paradise
Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst
Euphorbia leucocephala - Snows of Kilimanjaro, Pascuita
Gardenia nitida - Shooting Star Gardenia
Hibiscus schizopetalus - Coral Hibiscus
Jatropha integerrima compacta
Kopsia fruticosa - Pink Gardenia
Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - Summer Snow
Mussaenda philippica x flava - Calcutta Sunset (Marmelade)
Plumeria pudica - Bridal Bouquet

Semi-Shade to Shade

Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower
Clerodendrum paniculatum - Pagoda Flower
Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage, Lead Flower
Clerodendrum speciosissimum - Java Glorybower Mary Jane
Justicia carnea - Pink Brazilian Plume, Jacobinia
Magnolia figo - Banana Magnolia
Megaskepasma erythrochlamys - Brazilian plume
Thunbergia erecta - Kings Mantle
Tibouchina lepidota - Ecuador Princess, Jules Dwarf

Edible Hedges

Eugenia uniflora - Black Surinam Cherry Lolita
Camellia sinensis - Tea Leaf
Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica, Karkade Sorrel
Laurus nobilis - Bay Leaf
Manihot esculenta - Yuca Root
Nashia inaguensis - Moujean Tea, Bahamas Berry
Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus
Sauropus Variegata - variegated Katuk

Date: 6 Jul 2024

Why red flowers are so attractive?

Bauhinia galpinii (punctata) - Pride of De Kaap, Nasturtium Bauhinia

Why red flowers are so attractive? ❤️

💋 If red is your favorite color for flowers, this is your plant!👇
  • ❤️ Bauhinia galpinii (punctata) - Pride of De Kaap or Nasturtium Bauhinia - belongs to Orchid trees that we mentioned earlier. But this one has very unusual color of flowers for Bauhinias: bright red or scarlet!
  • ❤️ Native to South Africa, this is a woody, vining shrub that also can be trained into a small tree, reaching 6-10 ft in height.
  • ❤️ As a all orchid trees it has deep green, bilobed leaves are resembling butterfly wings.
  • ❤️ Blooms almost year around, from Summer through late Fall, with vibrant orange-red, resembling those of nasturtiums, coming in clusters. Well-known for its stunning floral display.
  • ❤️ Hardy, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant once established. Prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
  • ❤️ Attracts butterflies and bees


🛒 Order Pride of De Kaap

#Hedges_with_benefits

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Date: 28 Jul 2024

Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana

🌼 Why Poinciana is super popular tropical flowering tree

  • 🟡 Peltophorum - Golden Flamboyant, Yellow Poinciana, in one of the most popular flowering trees of Tropics, along with Delonix and Jacaranda.
  • 🟡 Golden Showers: It has bright yellow flowers bloom in clusters, creating a stunning, sunshiny display.
  • 🟡 Butterfly Magnet: Attracts butterflies and bees, bringing life and movement to your garden.
  • 🟡 Shade Provider: Its wide, spreading canopy offers a cool, shady spot to relax under.
  • 🟡 Easy Maintenance: Low-maintenance and hardy, making it perfect for those who want beauty without the hassle.
  • 🟡 Tropical Vibe: Adds a lush, tropical feel to any garden, making you feel like you're on a permanent vacation.
  • 🟡 Fast Grower: Quick to grow, so you don’t have to wait long to enjoy its full beauty.
  • 🟡 Elegant Foliage: Delicate, fern-like leaves add an elegant touch and sway gracefully in the breeze.
  • 🟡 Long Blooming Season: Enjoy its gorgeous flowers for an extended period, adding color and joy to your garden.


📚 Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean

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#Trees #Butterfly_Plants

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Date: 26 Jul 2024

What are the most interesting edible gingers?

Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai

Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai

Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron.

Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron.

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger

🍱 What are the most interesting edible gingers?

  • Boesenbergia rotunda - Chinese Keys Ginger, Fingerroot, Kra Chai. A medicinal and culinary herb from China and Southeast Asia. It is used in Javanese cuisine in Indonesia, as well as in Thai cooking where it is called krachai. In the west it is usually found pickled or frozen. Kra Chai is used as a male tonic, vigor, health promotion, longevity, aphrodisiac.
  • Curcuma longa - Turmeric, Spice Turmeric, Longevity Spice, Indian Saffron. Turmeric powder might well be the healthiest spice on Earth. Made by grinding this dried root, this ancient superfood and key ingredient in curry powder has been used by Indian Ayurvedic healers for centuries.
  • Zingiber officinale - Spice Ginger, Cooking Ginger - the one you eat with sushi! Plant this ginger in the garden to produce your own fresh ginger for pickling or healthy lemonade.


📚 More gingers in previous posts:


5 most beautiful flowering gingers
Alpinia formosana x zerumbet Variegata - Variegated Ginger
Costus spicatus x woodsonii - Red Button Ginger, French Kiss
Hedychium coronarium - Butterfly Ginger
Kaempferia angustifolia - Laos Silver Stripe

What is your favorite Ginger? Share in comments👇

🛒 Shop Gingers

#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden #Food_Forest


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Date: 10 Jun 2024

What is the best shade tree that is fast growing and beautiful?

Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree flower

Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree flower

Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree

Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree

🌳 What is the best shade tree that is fast growing and beautiful?

  • 🌸 Orchid trees that we mentioned earlier are one of the most popular shade trees in Southern gardens.
  • 🌸 Bauhinia blakeana - Hong Kong Orchid Tree - is the most beautiful of all orchid trees.
  • 🌸 It has the largest flowers, brightly colored.
  • 🌸 Winter bloomer.
  • 🌸 Starts flowering in very small size, when only 2-3 ft tall.
  • 🌸 Very fast growing.


📚 Learn more: Bauhinias - trees with Orchid Flowers and Butterfly Wings
🎥 YouTube Video: Hong Kong Orchid Tree

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#Quotes #Trees

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