Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 12 Jun 2026

The Tree That Turns Streets Purple Every Spring: Why Gardeners Fall in Love with Jacaranda

Jacaranda tree

Jacaranda tree

💜 The Tree That Turns Streets Purple Every Spring: Why Gardeners Fall in Love with Jacaranda

For a few magical weeks each year, a mature Jacaranda looks almost unreal. Its canopy disappears beneath thousands of lavender-blue flowers, while the ground below becomes covered in a purple carpet of fallen blooms. Native to South America, Jacaranda mimosifolia has become one of the world's most beloved flowering trees. In bloom, it transforms ordinary streets, parks, and gardens into scenes people stop to photograph.

💜 When Entire Cities Turn Purple



Few trees create such a dramatic display.

In places where Jacarandas are planted by the thousands, flowering season becomes an event. Streets, sidewalks, and lawns are blanketed with violet-blue petals, creating the impression that spring has been painted across the landscape.

The spectacle is so striking that entire cities have become famous for it. Pretoria, South Africa, is known worldwide as "The Jacaranda City" because of its thousands of flowering trees. In Australia, parts of Sydney and Brisbane attract visitors specifically during Jacaranda season, while neighborhoods in Los Angeles become social-media hotspots when the trees burst into bloom.

For a few short weeks each year, ordinary streets are transformed into unforgettable purple landscapes.

I think that's worth the extra space. It's specific, visual, and memorable, while still staying compact. In fact, this may become one of the most quoted sections of the article because readers love discovering that a tree can become famous enough to define an entire city.

💜 Beautiful Even Without Flowers



Unlike many flowering trees that are forgettable after blooming, Jacaranda remains attractive year-round.
Its finely divided, fern-like foliage gives the tree a soft, tropical appearance and casts light, filtered shade. Even without flowers, its graceful branching structure makes it a standout specimen tree.

💜 How Large Does It Get?



A mature Jacaranda typically reaches 25-30 feet tall with a broad, spreading canopy of similar width.
Because of its eventual size, it works best as a lawn tree, shade tree, or focal point where its canopy has room to develop.

💜 Growing Jacaranda Successfully



For the best flowering display, provide:

· Full sun
· Well-drained soil
· Warm subtropical or tropical conditions
· Protection from severe freezes while young

Once established, Jacaranda is fairly drought tolerant, although occasional watering during extended dry periods helps maintain vigorous growth.

💜 Cold Hardiness



Jacaranda is best suited to USDA Zones 9-11.
Established trees can tolerate brief light freezes, but young trees are more sensitive to cold. Hard freezes may cause dieback, though mature trees often recover when warm weather returns.

💜 Why Gardeners Love It



Some trees provide shade. Others provide flowers.
Jacaranda provides both.
Its fern-like foliage, elegant form, and unforgettable clouds of lavender-blue blooms make it one of the most spectacular ornamental trees for warm-climate gardens. Few trees can transform an ordinary landscape into something people stop to photograph.

🛒 Plant your own Purple Jacaranda tree

📚 Learn more:

Jacaranda Plant Facts

Botanical name: Jacaranda mimosifolia, Jacaranda acutifolia
Also known as: Jacaranda
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyBlue, lavender, purple flowersWhite, off-white flowersPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

· Jacaranda tree in Plant Encyclopedia
· Why the Purple Tango of Jacaranda is so hypnotizing
· Three top tropical trees - from the legends of Caribbean
· Awe-inspiring Jacaranda and its legends

#Trees #Discover

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Date: 9 Aug 2021

Care of Desert Roses

Q: I am looking forward to my three desert roses I just ordered from you and I am wondering how to take care of them, especially during winter time. Should I put the pots in full sun or shade? What kind of soil do they like? How often should I water them? When it gets cooler, should I bring them inside? We do have occasional frost here during winter.

A: Here are a few tips for your desert roses:

1. When received Adenium from mail-order, unpack carefully; branches are fragile. Plant in well-drained potting mix. Cactus mix will do, but we recommend special Adenium mix. If using regular acidic peat-based potting mix, you may add sea-shells on top of soil to neutralize acidity: adeniums prefer alkaline soils. Using clay pots is beneficial. Water once and do not water again until soil gets dry. Place in bright shade until new leaves sprout, then the plant can be moved to full sun.

2. Adenium is a succulent, but not a cactus. It needs watering, however let soil dry before waterings. Reduce watering during cool season and discontinue when plant gets dormant (drops all leaves in winter).

3. Bright light is the best for profuse flowering. However, adeniums look much healthier in slightly filtered light rather than in all-day full sun.

4. Fertilize and spray leaves with liquid fertilizer SUNSHINE Megaflor - Nutrition Bloom Booster. Phosphorous is responsible both for flowering and caudex development. Avoid caudex, spray over foliage only. Dry fertilizer can be used only during hot months.

5. Watch for spider mites during hot and dry season.

6. Give plants a break during winter dormant season. Keep in bright shade and reduce watering to 1-2 per month or stop watering if temperature is below 65F.

More info on growing Desert Roses:
What you need for successful growing Adeniums
Overwintering Adeniums outside of tropics
Growing Exotic Adeniums - Growing Exotic Adeniums

Date: 4 Jun 2021

Tahitian Gardenia

Q: I am interested in your Tahitian Gardenia and I would love to try and grow this plant in a large container/fabric pot. The soil here where I live is terrible as it's hard rock, clay, and sand! So I'm not sure if amending the soil would help to plant in the ground? Can you tell me if this will do okay in a container or best in ground? I live here in Las Vegas, NV (zone 9a). Any information would be great to help me make a this decision, I love the selection of cool tropical plants you offer! Also my daughter does Tahitian/Polynesian dance and this would be a cool "topping on the cake" if she could have a live Tiare flower in her performances.

A: Tahitian Gardenia will be doing best if grown in container in your area. In its natural habitat, it grows full sun but also it enjoys mild weather conditions and high air humidity. All gardenias prefer acidic soils. In your area, if planted in the ground, it may be exposed to some harsh conditions: too high temperatures, too hot sun, dry air, and as you mentioned - heavy clay and sandy soil. You can enjoy this plant grown in container, which can be moved as needed away from too much sun during summer months. Use well-drained potting mix. Use plastic pot, do not use fabric or clay pots - soil will dry out too quickly.
Also remember to fertilize this plant on regular basis with a liquid fertilizer SUNSHINE Pikake - Fragrant Flower Booster.
Grow gardenia in full sun or semi-shade during the hottest months. You may spray it with pure water if the air too dry and hot. Enjoy your Tropical Beauty and good luck!

Date: 4 Sep 2020

Healthy Plant Food: Q&A from Mr Booster

Encouraging blooms on the Hawaiian Sunset Bell Vine

Q: Please can you advise how to encourage the Stictocardia beraviensis the Hawaiian Sunset Bell vine blooms? Mine is all beautiful leaves and full sun in Miami.

A: Providing full sun, Stictocardia blooms profusely. In your area, it should be happy and thriving. However, keep in mind that these flowers can be seasonal (meaning, not ever-blooming). The good news it, Hawaiian Sunset Bell usually blooms several times a year on and off. In our garden, we have a large plant growing in the ground and covering a whole fence; we see flowers 3 times a year:
- Early Spring
- Summer (sporadically)
- Late Fall to early Winter

Make sure to provide proper fertilizer to encourage blooms. It is especially important if you grow this plant in container (where nutrients are very limited). We suggest the following fertilizer for your Stictocardia:

SUNSHINE Megaflor - Bloom Nutrition Booster

Date: 25 Dec 2021

Easy Sunday Morning Deals: Tropical Asparagus

Saving on your favorite plants is Easy.
Easy like Sunday Morning...

Photo above: Aphelandra hartwegiana - is at peak of its flowering season now. Spectacular flower for a shade garden.


It's time for our favorite day and another Easy stroll through Top Tropicals' Garden with savings of 50% and MORE! Christmas Day has come and gone, and now it's time to treat yourself with our Easy Sunday Deal!

This week we bring you one of the most popular leaf vegetables in South Asia and Southeast Asia, the Tropical Asparagus - Sauropus androgynus. Notable for its high yields and palatability, Tropical Asparagus is a favorite with crab meat, minced pork, dried shrimp, or to make soup... and has delicious young shoots!

Tropical Asparagus
50% OFF and MORE!

For this Easy Sunday we have priced these at incredible savings:
Sauropus androgynus, regularly $39, is on Easy Sunday sale for only $19
Sauropus Variegata, regularly $39, is on Easy Sunday Sale for only $19.
Combine the two for your own Tropical Asparagus Kit and save even more, only $29 for the kit!

While supply lasts.

About Sauropus androgynus - Katuk, Tropical Asparagus

Sauropus, or Katuk, is a perennial shrub grown in some tropical regions as a leaf vegetable. It is one of the most popular leaf vegetables in Southeast Asia. It is among only a few flora containing vitamin K. Leaves and stemmed can be cooked as vegetable; young shoots are delicious eaten out of hand and taste just like sweet peas, they can be added to salads. The plant has many medicinal properties.

Katuk is fast growing and keeps growing as you trim it for your kitchen needs. Multiple upright stems can reach 6-7 ft high. It has great ornamental value, has pretty red flowers and ornamental fruit showing shiny black seeds when they crack open. Varieties with green leaves and variegated leaves have slightly different flavor but are equally good for your healthy, fiber-rich diet.

Remember, the Easy Sunday Deal expires on Wednesday December 29th.

Enjoy your Hot Deals!

December 26th - Boxing Day

Remember, December 26th is Boxing Day, with different theories on the roots of Boxing Day, but one commonality: Boxing Day is a day for charity and kindness. Let's all continue to be charitable and kind humans!