Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 29 Sep 2024

Why so many gardeners this year planted Native American Persimmon

American Persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana), fruit on the branch

American Persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana), fruit

🙃 Why so many gardeners this year planted Native American Persimmon

🍯 The American Persimmon tree (Diospyros virginiana) is a hardy, low-maintenance tree known for its delicious, sweet fruit that ripens in the fall. This small to medium-sized tree is perfect for gardens, attracting wildlife while providing a nutritious harvest.

🍊Native to North America, known for its sweet, flavorful fruit.
🍊Small to medium-sized tree, easy to grow in various soil types.
🍊Fruits are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, ripening in fall.
🍊Great for wildlife, as birds and animals love the fruit.
🍊Cold-hardy and drought-tolerant, making it a resilient choice for gardens.

📚 Learn more from previous post:

Persimmon: cold hardy, dramatic fruit tree with a sweet fruit

🛒 Order American Persimmon

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Date: 21 May 2024

Who wants a cold hardy, dramatic looking tropical fruit tree with a sweet fruit? Or, who doesnt?

Persimmon (Diospyros sp.)

🍯 Who wants a cold hardy, dramatic looking tropical fruit tree with a sweet fruit? Or, who doesn't?

🍑 Persimmon (Diospyros sp.) is a graceful, small, subtropical fruit tree from China, with multitrunked or single-stemmed structure and drooping leaves and branches, turning dramatic shades in autumn.
🍑 People love Persimmon fruit for its sweet and unique flavor, often described as a blend of honey and apricot.
🍑 The tree thrives in deep, well-drained loam soil, tolerating alkaline conditions.
🍑 The fruit classified into astringent (soft, sweeter pulp) and non-astringent (crunchy) cultivars.
🍑 Best Varieties for Container Culture:

Non-Astringent:

Astringent:

🍑 Hardy to USDA zones 7-10, may need protection in colder regions.

📚 How to grow Persimmon tree

🛒Order Persimmon Tree

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🏵 TopTropicals

Date: 16 Dec 2019

Hardy Dwarf Red Jade Vine

by Onika Amell, tropical plant specialist

Q: I simply adore Jade vines. I think they are the Queens of all the vines! I have been very been successful growing the green Strongylodon macrobotrys and purple Jade Mucuna pruriens vines here in Clewiston Florida but I am struggling to make the Red Jade vine (Mucuna benettii) thrive. It keeps dying on me during cold snaps. Any suggestions?

A: ...Here is our solution for you. Consider growing a Dwarf Red Jade Vine or Camptosema grandiflora. It is closely related to the regular and ultra tropical Red Jade Vine Mucuna benettii but much tougher and hardier. It is considered to be one of the more cold hardy of the Jade Vines...
This gorgeous, rare and unusual vine is a sheer showstopper. It is easy to grow and it will reward you with long fiery chains of dangling orange-red flowers that bloom from late fall to early spring. Even though it is listed as a dwarf do not be fooled. This vine will get quite large and will need a strong support over time. The flowers are long and heavy and will show best when planted on an arbor or pergola where they are able to hang down and wow you and your visitors. It puts on a wonderful display. Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds will all thank you for growing this stunner!...

CONTINUE READING >>

Date: 3 Dec 2019

Ghost Cold Protection

Q: Has anyone ever tried using heat packs under frost blankets to protect tropical plants from frost?

A: The reality is, the heat packs used for shipping do not have enough heat capacity to create efficient warming effect. From our own experience, the best way is to use small 25W incandescent bulbs which produce lots of heat (considering observing all safety precautions and fire safety). Some gardeners use Christmas lights. See picture of our plants in the ground during a cold night. We called them Ghost Cold Protection! ;)

See more columns on cold protection:
Seven rules of cold protection for tropicals
About Cold Protection
Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection
Tropical Treasures articles

Date: 14 Oct 2025

Yes, you can grow a tropical fruit tree in a pot!

🥭 Yes, you can grow a tropical fruit tree in a pot!

🍒 If you dream of picking fresh tropical fruit - Mango, Avocado, exotiс Annona and more - but only have a patio, balcony, or small yard, you’re not out of luck. Many tropical fruit trees grow perfectly well in large containers. The key is choosing the right variety, pot, and care routine.
🍒 Pick a compact tree type

Start with a dwarf or semi-dwarf variety. Regular tropical trees can grow huge, but container-sized cultivars stay under 8–10 feet and are much easier to manage. For example, Condo varieties of Mango like Pickering or Ice Cream stay small and still produce full-sized fruit. The same goes for Dwarf Avocados like Wurtz (also called Little Cado) and Sugar apples. Blackberry Jam fruit tree (Randia formosa) and Peanut Butter Fruit tree (Bunchosia argentea) are also excellent choices.

🍒 Choose the right pot

Begin with a 5-gallon container and move up as the tree grows. A mature plant will be happy in a 20–25-gallon pot. Drainage is critical - roots will rot if the pot stays soggy. Use a sturdy plastic, ceramic, or wooden container with multiple holes in the bottom.

🍒 Soil and watering

These trees all like loose, well-draining soil. Mix potting soil with perlite or pine bark for better aeration. Water deeply but not too often - let the top few inches dry before watering again. Overwatering is the quickest way to kill a potted tropical.

🍒 Light and feeding

Full sun is a must - aim for at least 6 hours daily. Fertilize during the growing season with a balanced fruit tree or slow-release fertilizer like Green Magic or liquid Sunshine Boosters. Many tropicals appreciate an extra boost of micronutrients like iron and magnesium to keep their leaves green.

🍒 Cold protection and pruning

If you live where winters get chilly, move the pot indoors or into a greenhouse before frost. Prune lightly in spring to keep shape and airflow. Container trees can fruit heavily if given light, warmth, and consistent care.

At the end of the day, container culture lets you grow the tropics anywhere - from a city balcony to a backyard deck.

➡ Next: The best tropical fruit trees for containers...

📸 Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)

🛒 Explore tropical fruit trees

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