Date: 10 Sep 2024
Discover Coral Trees - Erythrinas
the brightest flowers of the Tropics
Q: What tropical tree do you recommend that has a small size and bright showy flowers, specifically red? I love red flowers, they are the most beautiful!
A: Erythrinas are small trees with a legendary beauty and are often considered a symbol of exotic allure. They bring a touch of the extraordinary to a Southern landscape.
Vivid red blooms: striking, coral-red flowers that create a breathtaking visual display.
Eye-catching: makes a stunning focal point with its bold and vibrant floral clusters.
Fast-growing: quickly develops into a magnificent tree.
Unique branch structure: an interesting, sculptural form that adds architectural interest even when not in bloom.
Pollinator magnet: attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, supporting local wildlife.
Drought tolerant: withstands dry conditions once established.
Adaptable: thrives in a range of soils, demonstrating versatility and hardiness.
Low maintenance: requires minimal care.
The Erythrina tree is a must-have for any tropical garden, with its stunning coral-red blooms and unique branch structure that add beauty year-round. Fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance, this eye-catching tree supports pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies while thriving in a variety of conditions. It's the perfect addition for those seeking a vibrant, exotic touch to their landscape.
Date: 14 Oct 2024
Let's grow green again - together!
20% OFF post-hurricane discount
"We rise by lifting others." - Robert Ingersoll
Dear Valued Customers,
We're reaching out to let you know that Top Tropicals made it through Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and we are fully back up and running. While these storms caused some damages to our facilities and brought down trees, we were fortunate that our plants and inventory remained safe and beautiful. After a lot of cleanup and repairs, we are excited to resume shipping your orders as scheduled!
Thank you for your kind messages and continued support during this time. If you were unaffected by these hurricanes, we invite you to support us as we restore our nursery and raise fallen trees.
Every order, no matter the size, makes a difference in our recovery.
For those who lost plants and trees to the storms, we've included a 20% discount code below to help you start fresh. Let's grow green again - together!
Thank you for being part of our community! Use the code:
SUPPORT
This code saves 20% off all orders over $150
(excluding S/H).
Exp. 10-31-24
Additional deals:
In the photos: Koelreuteria paniculata - Golden Rain Tree, is a winter bloomer that is starting flowering now and throughout the winter. It one of the most spectacular trees of subtopics that is actually very cold hardy, drought resistant, wind-resistant and fast growing - nice solution for a shade tree. According to ancient Chinese manuscripts, the Golden Rain Tree is crucial for Dragons, as it is believed to be connected to their existence, guarding and complementing each other. Growing these plants is considered auspicious and is believed to safeguard the Dragon family. 2024 is a year of Dragon... Let's please the Dragon and plant this tree this year so it will protect us from hurricanes in the future!
Date: 17 Sep 2025
🍇Mulberries – the hidden gems of every garden
Picture this: it’s July, the sun is warm, and you step outside to a tree dripping with berries. You reach up, and your fingers come away stained purple. The taste? Like blackberries kissed with raspberry — sweet, juicy, unforgettable.
That’s what a Mulberry gives you. And the best part? You don’t wait years. Many trees fruit the very next season. Dwarf types can even fruit nearly year-round in pots — fresh berries on your patio, without leaving home.
🌟 Varieties gardeners swear by:
In the photo above: mulberry varieties - Illinois Everbearing, Dwarf Everbearing, Shangri-LA, White Mulberry, Pakistani Giant, Issai, Florida Giant
- Illinois Everbearing – legendary flavor, harvests all summer.
- Dwarf Everbearing & Issai – perfect for patios, nonstop fruit.
- Florida Giant – big tree, big berries, big flavor.
- Shangri-La – thrives in heat, huge leaves, steady crops.
- Pakistani Giant – 2-3"long fruit, very juicy.
- Tise – sweet, large flavorful fruit, early season.
- White Mulberry – sweet and clean, no stains.
Mulberries aren’t just delicious — they’re loaded with antioxidants, help balance blood sugar, and make your garden come alive with birds and shade. Don’t wait another season. Plant your Mulberry now and taste the difference by next summer.
Watch short videos:
💲 Special Offer – 20% off Mulberry Trees!
Get 20% OFF already discounted Mulberry Trees with code
MULBERRY2025
Min order $100. Excluding S/H, valid online only, cannot be combined with other offers.
Hurry, offer expires September 23, 2025!
Date: 6 Dec 2018
Seven rules of cold protection for tropicals
Q: I was always wondering how you guys manage to grow true tropical trees in Florida? I live in Puerto Rico and we have Breadfruit trees growing here in a wild... but my sister lives not far away from you, in Orlando, which is much colder, and I wonder if I can get her a Breadfruit tree for Christmas?
A: Your
sister can grow a Breadfruit tree in Orlando either in a pot (and bring it indoors during
cold periods) or in the ground inside a structure (an elclosed conservatory
with heating system). See our customer's Greenhouse in Virginia. Cold protection of tropical plants is a lengthy
subject and we have many interesting publications about it in our managine
Tropical
Treasures and on the website. In a nutshell, when growing tropicals outside of
tropical climate, you need to follow these 7 rules:
1. Cut watering to a minimum. Cold+wet kills tropical roots.
2. Water thirsty plants before a cold night. Jucy leaves have fewer
chances to be cold-zapped.
3. Wind protection is more important than a temperature drop. Plant
tropicals close to a house or surrounded by other trees.
4. Duration of a cold period is more critical than the cold itself. If
expecting long cold hours, bring up all available protection resources.
Christmas lights or propane heaters - as long as there is a heat source,
everything helps!
5. Remove plastic covers during the daytime so plants don't get
"cooked" in the sun. Fabric covers are better than plastic.
6. Grow ultra-tropicals in containers and bring them inside the garage
or even indoors during the cold.
7. Use SUNSHINE plant boosters and feed your plants well during Summer to improve cold hardiness.
Related topics:
About Cold Protection
Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection
Improving cold hardiness before winter: fertilizer and micro-elements
Cold hardy tropical fruit trees
Date: 24 Jun 2018
Our honest advise on Holiday Gift Plants
Q: Any suggestions on gift plants? With Holidays around the corner, I've been thinking of getting a present for my grandma, she lives in FL and is an experienced gardener. I also have a friend that lives in CA, also warm climate, but she doesn't have a green thumb. Any "easy" plants I can try for her?
A:
Live plant is a perfect gift, as we all know. However when
ordering a plant online as a present, for a happy
experience, you should have three things to consider:
1) Gardener's experience. Planting instructions are
included with every order, and usually success is there if
you follow them. But all plants go through shipping stress
(some more, others less) and need time, patience and love
to recover. Also, a plant will need a new home after
shipping: a pot and a good soil mix. It would be wise if
you add potting mix with a gift
order; the plant should be planted in a permanent pot as
soon as possible, but normally can wait a day in a packing
bag until its new owner gets a pot, if it is not ready
yet.
2) How easy the plant is? If buying a plant for a
beginner, chose something easy, as well as showy. Adeniums - Desert Roses, Jasmines, Clerodendrums, Cordylines are always a good
choice. Calatheas, Gingers and
Heliconias are always showy, even when not in bloom.
Spice trees and herbs are
fun, easy to grow and one can enjoy their aroma right away
without waiting on them growing bigger. Miracle Fruit is an awesome
present, it comes with detailed instructions how to grow
the Miracle!
3) How easy the plant ships? Some plants can be
easy in cultivation, but they don't take shipping well.
After being in a dark box for a few days, most plants
usually recover well in experienced hands. When making a
present, you want something showy, not just a stick to
arrive. Besides Adeniums and Jasmines, many fruit trees
usually take shipping without a problem - such as Mango or Sapote trees. You may not
want to start with Avocado, Papaya, Carambola, or Cacao - unless they go to
an experienced grower - these may take some time and skill
to etanblish. Fig trees are super easy in
shipping, but figs may drop leaves in Winter - for this
same reason, you may think twice about deciduous plants
like Sugar Apples, Grapes, Mulberries or Persimmons to be sent as
gifts. On the other hand, if you are sending a deciduous
tree to a gardener who can appreciate the variety, this
may be a good choice - dormant plants take shipping with
less stress!
Holiday special: On the picture: Adenium Xmas Santa. A Holiday Special Desert Rose with Christmas-colored flowers - deep-red and white.
Still not sure which plant to choose? You may buy a Top Tropicals Gift Certificate