Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 1 May 2025

🌸 Plumeria Power: The Signature Scent of the Tropics

Plumeria  collage

Q: What is the most fragrant variety of Plumeria? Are some colors more fragrant than others? How do you keep Plumeria blooming?

A: From Kristi, TopTropicals Flower Expert: At Top Tropicals, we used to think yellow Plumeria was the most fragrant. That was until we discovered multi-colored hybrids and stunning "rainbow" varieties! These rare beauties are prized not just for their sweet, strong fragrance but also for their dazzling mix of tropical colors.

We just received new arrivals of stunning new Plumeria varieties - but quantities are limited, so don't wait! Choose your favorite colors and bring home the irresistible scent of the tropics.

Plumerias are famous for their rich colors and unforgettable fragrance. With just a few simple steps, you can grow your own blooming tree and enjoy flowers just like in the pictures.

5 simple rules how to grow a fragrant Plumeria

1. Use well-drained soil. Choose a potting mix rich in perlite, bark, and coconut fiber. We recommend Sunshine Abundance professional soil mix for best results.

2. Choose the right container. Use a pot just slightly larger than the root ball to prevent water-logging. Plumeria prefers dry conditions - water only when the soil is slightly dry.

3. Give it full sun. Plumeria needs plenty of light to bloom. If grown indoors, place it in the brightest spot and bring it outside for sunbathing whenever possible.

4. Let it rest in winter. Plumeria drops its leaves and goes dormant during the cooler months. When this happens, reduce watering to a minimum and let the plant rest until new growth begins.

5. Feed it to bloom. Plumeria is a heavy feeder and needs fertilizer to flower well. Use a plant food high in phosphorus, like Sunsine Megaflor Bloom Booster liquid fertilizer. It's safe to use with every watering, all year round.

New Video of Exotic Plumeria Hybrids

Check out different varieties of Plumerias in full bloom. Just look at these colors in this short video !

Watch 2 min video

Date: 24 Jun 2018

Growing Bougainvillea and Plumeria in Florida

Q: I have recently moved from New Jersey to Florida (Orlando area) and I am so excited to start my own Tropical Paradise Garden! A few years ago I visited Hawaii and saw many beautiful colorful Bougainvilleas as well as fragrant Frangipani. Do they grow well in Florida? These are flowers of my dream!

A: Both Bougainvillea and Plumeria grow well in most parts of Florida, especially South and Southwest. Bougainvillea can tolerate some light freeze and can be seen in the streets of Central Florida (young plants require some cold protection for the first year), so it is a very good candidate for your new garden. Keep in mind that unlike in Hawaii, where they bloom year around, Bougainvilleas tend to have a distinctive flowering season which in Florida is winter time - these plants enjoy dry weather that triggers their bloom. To enjoy Bright bougainvillea flowers for a long time, apply balanced fertilizer, prune regularly (this promotes flowering on new growth) and keep established plants on a dry side. Dwarf cultivar Pixie is super compact and can be grown in pots or in a small garden without any pruning! See photo of Pixie on the left.
Plumerias, all-time perfume favorites and symbols of Hawaii, are also residents of many gardens and collections throughout state of Florida. Their cold hardiness is close to the one of Bougainvillea, however keep young plants protected from frost. There are also many new exciting cultivars including multiple "rainbow" colors, and several dwarf varieties, some of them are evergreen - Plumeria obtusa

Date: 21 Oct 2025

Cassias - colorful flowering trees

Cassias - colorful flowering trees
🌈 Cassias - colorful flowering trees

📸 Pictures for the previous post, Cassias:

Cassia bicapsularis - Butterfly Bush
Cassia x natalensis - Rainbow Cassia
Cassia grandis- Red Cassia
Cassia didymobotrya- Popcorn Cassia, similar to Senna alata - Empress Candles
Cassia x nodosa - Pink Shower
Cassia roxburghii - Ceylon Senna
Cassia fistula - Golden Shower
Cassia javanica - Apple Blossom Tree

🛒 Explore Cassia trees

#Trees

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Date: 17 Jan 2026

Ti plant leaf color meaning

Hawaiian Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

Hawaiian Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa)

🌈 Ti plant leaf color meaning



The Hawaiian Ti plant (Cordyline fruticosa) is more than just a colorful tropical accent. Across Polynesian, Hawaiian, and Southeast Asian cultures, the color of ti plant leaves has long been associated with different meanings, moods, and uses - both symbolic and practical.
  • 🌈 Green leaves
  • Green ti plants are linked to peace, balance, and steady growth. Traditionally, they were planted around homes for protection and good fortune. In the garden, green varieties are usually the toughest and most shade-tolerant.
  • 🌈 Red and deep burgundy leaves
  • Red ti plants are associated with strength, power, and protection. In Hawaiian tradition, red ti leaves were believed to ward off negative energy and were often used in ceremonies. Garden-wise, deeper reds usually mean more sun exposure and stronger pigmentation.
  • 🌈 Pink, magenta, and multicolor leaves
  • These colorful ti plants symbolize joy, celebration, and creativity. They are often used as ornamental focal points and in festive plantings. Variegated and pink types tend to prefer brighter light to keep their colors sharp.
  • 🌈 Purple and dark-toned leaves
  • Purple ti plants are linked to mystery, spirituality, and transformation. Their dramatic color comes from high anthocyanin levels and usually intensifies in bright light with good nutrition.
  • 🌈 Yellow or light variegation
  • Yellow tones often represent optimism and new beginnings. Plants with lighter variegation may grow a bit slower and need protection from harsh sun, but they add a softer contrast in tropical landscapes.
  • 🌈 One practical note
Leaf color is influenced not just by variety, but also by light, temperature, and nutrition. Fading color usually means too little light or depleted soil, while rich, bold tones signal a happy plant.

Ti plant colors tell a story - part cultural tradition, part plant health, and part personal style in your garden.

🛒 Ti plants rainbow: collect them all

📚 Learn more:


#Container_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Shade_Garden #Discover #Horoscope

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Date: 15 Mar 2026

Adeniums from a world of imagination - where Thai names become living stories

Adenium Thong Samsee - "Three Colors of Gold"

Adenium Thong Samsee - "Three Colors of Gold"

Adenium Ploysai - "Clear Crystal Gem"

Adenium Ploysai - "Clear Crystal Gem"

Adenium Bua Sawan - "Heavenly Lotus"

Adenium Bua Sawan - "Heavenly Lotus"

Adeniums from a world of imagination - where Thai names become living stories

Some plants are grown for their flowers. Adeniums are also grown for their names!
  • 🌸 Thong Samsee - "Three Colors of Gold"
  • Golden Adenium blooms in soft yellow, cream, and pink shades - a perfect example of why Thai growers love the word Thong, meaning gold, in plant names that suggest prosperity and good fortune.
  • 🌸 Ploysai - "Clear Crystal Gem"
  • A treasure chest filled with glowing flowers, like precious stones discovered by a lucky explorer. In Thai plant names, Ploy means gemstone - a symbol of beauty and value.
  • 🌸 Bua Sawan - "Heavenly Lotus"
A vision of Adeniums blooming like lotus flowers in a dream garden. The name suggests purity, beauty, and something that feels almost otherworldly.

🛒 Explore Exotic Thai Adeniums

📚 Learn more:


#Container_Garden #Adeniums #Horoscope #How_to #Discover

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