Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 22 Mar 2026

Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off

Yard with fruiting tropical trees

Yard with fruiting tropical trees

Landscaped yard in Florida

Landscaped yard in Florida

Mango tree fruiting in the garden

Mango tree fruiting in the garden

Do Fruit Trees Increase Property Value? Tropical Plants That Pay Off 🏡

Can your backyard pay for itself? Learn which 12 tropical fruit trees real estate experts say are the smartest investment for your landscape. Discover how tropical fruit trees like mango and avocado add "edible equity" and curb appeal to your property, making it more desirable to future buyers. Turn your yard into a private paradise that lowers grocery bills and boosts home value.

In warm climates like Florida, a mango tree isn't just landscaping - it’s a food-producing asset. Mature tropical fruit trees offer "edible equity," saving homeowners hundreds in grocery bills while creating a unique, memorable aesthetic for buyers.
  • 🥭 1. Focus on "Instant Recognition" Favorites



    Trees buyers already know and love provide the strongest ROI. They signal that the yard is already productive - something new builds can’t offer.

  • •  Top Picks: Mango, Avocado, Papaya, Banana, Guava, and Loquat.
  • •  The Value: A single mature avocado or mango tree can yield hundreds of pounds of fruit annually.


🥭 2. Create a "Memorable Discovery" with Exotic Varieties



Unusual fruits turn a standard yard into a tropical orchard, acting as a conversation piece during home tours.
  • •  The Exotic List: Jackfruit, Sugar Apple, Soursop, Sapodilla, Ice Cream Bean, and Star Fruit.


🥭 3. Strategic Placement for Energy Savings



Large-canopy trees like jackfruit or mango do more than provide food; they act as natural insulation.
  • •  Natural Cooling: Strategic planting reduces afternoon sun exposure and lowers AC costs.
  • •  Indoor/Outdoor Flow: Use trees to frame window views, block neighbors, and create private "outdoor rooms."


🥭 4. The Power of the "Mini Orchard"



A collection of 3–5 trees creates a stronger emotional pull than a lone plant. Buyers begin to visualize a lifestyle of smoothies and harvests.
  • •  Winning Combos: Mango + Avocado + Papaya or Guava + Star Fruit + Banana.


🥭 5. Maintenance: Health Equals Value



Fruit trees only add value if they look manageable. A neglected tree suggests a neglected home.
  • •  Pre-Sale Prep: Prune for tidiness, mulch the base, and clear fallen fruit.
  • •  Spacing Matters: Avoid overcrowding; ensure buyers can walk comfortably through the yard without feeling "closed in."


🥭 The Long-Term Play



Unlike decorative plants that may need frequent replacement, fruit trees appreciate over time. Because a mango tree takes years to reach peak production, the best time to plant for future resale value is now. By the time you list, your yard will offer shade, privacy, and a harvest that buyers find hard to resist.

🛒 Start Growing Your Edible Equity - Find the Perfect Fruit Tree for Your Yard

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Mangifera indica
Mango
USDA Zone: 9-11
Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunModerate waterYellow, orange flowersPink flowersEdible plantSeaside, salt tolerant plant

Mango trees in Plant Encyclopedia

#Food_forest #How_to #Discover

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Date: 5 Apr 2016

Jungle on Windowsill 101

Q: I got a Jasmine Sambac and a Tahitian gardenia as presents, they are very cute plants with flowers and flower buds. I would like to be able to keep them alive and hopefully happy for a long time, but I don't know much about growing tropical plants, and I am not sure if my thumb is green enough to make everything right. What do they need? How much sun? How much water? What kind of soil? Sorry for all these (maybe silly) questions, but I want to keep them alive, please help! I live in Wisconsin and we had some snow again last week.

A: Growing tropicals is not a hard work, it is a lot of fun! These plants are actually a good starters for a beginner who wants to try growing tropical plants, no matter if you live in a mild frost-free climate, or up North where you can have these beauties as houseplants. Below are a few simple steps for you:

1. Read. Follow planting instructions included with your plants. Check plant names on the tags and learn more about them from our online catalog.

2. Soil. Plant in quality potting mix - it must be porous and well-drained, never use heavy soils (top soil or garden soil are no-no), in a pot exactly the size of the root system. You can step up your plants in the next size container once you notice vigorous new growth. Next size means: 4"pot can go into 6" pot, 6"pot into 10" pot, etc. Too big of a pot may create rotting environment, root system must fill the entire container to use all the moisture from the soil. Container must have good hole(s) for excess water to drain through. Put the pot in a saucer and get rid of excess water every time after watering.

3. Light. Most tropical plants require lots of light in order to produce flowers. If you ever visited Florida, remember the bright sun? - these are ideal light conditions for tropicals. Up North, provide as much light as possible: a bright spot on a windowsill of Southern or Western exposure would work the best. If the sun gets too hot in summer afternoon, you may shade the window a little bit with a sheet of white paper to avoid leaf burn.

4. Water. Keep soil slightly moist but not soggy. The best way is to wait until the top of the soil feels dry to touch - this is time to water again. Jasmines prefer to stay on a dry side; gardenias do not like soil to dry out - keep them slightly moist as long as soil is very porous and well-drained. The main reason of most problems with potted indoor plants is over watering. With experience, you will feel the right balance of moisture in the soil: the brighter the light, the more water is consumed by a plant; the less light, the less frequent you should water.

5. Trimming. In low light conditions, plants tend to become leggy. Trim branches as they become too long: the more you trim, the busier the plant gets. New growth promotes more profuse blooming in many species.

6. Fertilizing. Fertilize indoor plants with slow-release granulated fertilizer from march to November.

7. Insects. Check for insects at least once a month, especially underneath the leaf. If notice any problems (deformed leaves, residue, holes, or tiny insects) - clean the leaves/stems with a solution of warm water (1 cup), vegetable oil (2 table spoons), and a few drops of a dish soap.

8. Fresh air and air humidity. As soon as air temperature gets above 65F, bring your tropicals outside in the sun and fresh air: porch, balcony, outside in the yard. Air circulation is essential for your plant health. Bright light and high air humidity will promote vigorous growth, and lots of flowers for you to enjoy!

For more information on growing Tropical Plants 101, see Problem solving with potted plants - how can we help them?.

Date: 20 Sep 2025

How to make lots of Insulin Ginger plants quickly and get more health benefits

Costus igneus (Chamaecostus cuspidatus) - Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag

💚 How to make lots of Insulin Ginger plants quickly and get more health benefits

  • Costus igneus (Chamaecostus cuspidatus) - Fiery Costus or Spiral Flag is believed to help lower blood glucose levels naturally and managing diabetes.
  • Have you heard of Insulin Ginger? Everyone wants to have it in the garden!
  • Gardeners in India grow it not just for its pretty spiral leaves, but for what those leaves do. People with diabetes often chew them fresh or brew them into tea, saying it helps keep their blood sugar under control.
  • Researchers have found something interesting: the leaves contain an insulin-like compound, along with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. In animal studies, extracts from the plant lowered blood sugar, protected the liver and kidneys, and even made the body more sensitive to insulin.
  • The way folks use it is simple. You can chew a leaf right off the plant, steep dried leaves for tea, or find it in powders and capsules. It's one of those plants that shows how tradition and science sometimes meet in the garden.
  • Its lush, turmeric-like leaves spiral around upright stems, with a glossy dark green top and a striking light purple underside. In warm months, it produces bright orange, cone-like flowers that stand out beautifully in the garden.
  • Beyond its beauty and natural insulin effects, the insulin plant is credited with aiding digestion, reducing cholesterol, boosting energy, improving skin health, supporting weight loss, relieving stress, and promoting heart wellness. A real botanical multitasker!


🎥 In this video, we’ll show you how to multiply Insulin Ginger fast, so you’ll have plenty of plants for yourself and even extras to share with friends and family.

✅ Don’t forget to use Green Magic fertilizer for the best results. Gingers absolutely love this plant food - they thrive on it and respond better than any other plant, with vigorous growth, lush foliage and loads of leaves you’ll need for all the benefits.

🛒 Grow your own sugar-fighter - the Insulin Ginger

📚 Learn more:


#Food_Forest #Remedies #Shade_Garden #Discover

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Date: 21 Nov 2024

How this breath-taking flowering tree stays so compact

🌸 How this breath-taking flowering tree stays so compact


  • 🌸 Ceiba hybrid - Dwarf Pink Princess - is one of the #Nature_Wonders that takes your breath away!

  • 🌸 A compact marvel of nature that redefines beauty in small spaces, this exquisite hybrid of the Pink Silk Floss Tree (Ceiba speciosa) grows to a manageable height of just 8-12 feet, making it perfect for small yards or container gardening.

  • In bloom, the tree is a spectacle: nearly leafless, with its crown exploding into tens of thousands of pink flowers, creating a vibrant, colorful mass.

  • 🌸 Its spreading crown and profusion of blossoms make it a showstopper, proving that you don’t need a giant tree to make a big impact.


🛒 Order Pink Princess

#Trees

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Date: 25 Sep 2025

How do we ship plants? Part 1: prepare the plant

How do we ship plants? Part 1: prepare the plant.

🚚 How do we ship plants? Part 1: prepare the plant.

  • 📦 We hear it all the time: "You guys ship plants? Wow! How do you ship a plant? It's... live!"
  • 📦 Well, we've been doing it for almost 25 years now - that's a quarter of a century! Top Tropicals was one of the first nurseries to figure out plant shipping, long before Amazon and all the big online platforms where today you can order just about anything.
  • 📦 After so many years, our Team worked it to perfection. Want to see how it's done?
  • 📦 Like they say, it's better to see once than hear a hundred times. In this video, we'll show you the tricks that keep plants safe on their journey from our nursery to your doorstep.


🎥 Part 1 covers how we prepare the plant before it goes into the box.

❗️Stay tuned for the next step in our upcoming video!

🛒 Shop plants online

📚 Learn more:


Shipping information page

#How_to

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