Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 8 Feb 2026

How to grow Chinese Hat Flower

Holmskioldia sanguinea - Chinese Hat Flower

🎩 How to grow Chinese Hat Flower - when winter colors most needed



The Holmskioldia sanguinea, better known as the Chinese Hat Flower, gets its name honestly. Each bloom looks like a tiny hat or parasol - a little tube backed by a flat, round disc. Once you notice it, you cannot unsee it!

Chinese hat Plant Facts

Botanical name: Holmskioldia sanguinea
Also known as: Chinese hat, Cup and Saucer, Parasol Flower, Mandarins hat
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallVine or creeper plantSemi-shadeFull sunKeep soil moistRed, crimson, vinous flowersPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeSeaside, salt tolerant plant
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What really makes this plant special is when it blooms. While most gardens slow down, Chinese Hat Flower kicks into gear from winter through early spring. The branches fill with flowers first, and the leaves follow later. It is one of those plants that quietly steals the show when everything else is taking a break.

More than one color


Most people know the classic red form, but there are several color varieties worth mentioning:
🔴 Red - the most common and bold
🟡 Yellow - Holmskioldia citrina, bright and cheerful, harder to find
🟠 Bronze / orange-bronze - warm tones that glow in winter light
Having different colors makes it easy to mix them or use just one as a winter focal point.

How it grows and where it works best


Chinese Hat Flower is a fast-growing, scrambling shrub. It is not stiff or formal. Think loose, graceful branches that like support. It does great when trained on:
· Trellises
· Fences
· Arbors
· Large containers with a support
· You can also let it grow as a free-form shrub and lightly prune to keep it tidy.

Care, the practical version


· Light: Full sun to light shade
· Water: Regular watering, especially while establishing
· Soil: Well-drained, not picky
· Pruning: After flowering to shape and encourage new growth
Once established, it is easygoing and forgiving.

Bonus points


· Blooms when the garden needs color most
· Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
· Works as a flowering screen or accent plant
· Looks tropical without being high-maintenance

If you like plants that earn their space and do something interesting in winter, Chinese Hat Flower is one to keep in your garden.

🛒 Explore varieties of winter-blooming Chinese Hats

📚 Learn more:


· Holmskioldia - Chinese Hat - in Plant Encyclopedia
· This is the bush you should let flower for you: Chinese Hat is in bloom
· Why is it called Chinese Hat Flower
· Colorful varieties of Holmskioldia sanguinea - Chinese Hat Flower
· 13 festive shrubs with bright flowers that bring color to your Winter Garden when everything else is dormant
· Ten shrubs you need to have for winter colors

#Butterfly_Plants #How_to #Hedges_with_benefits

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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.

Hawaiian Ti Leaf Plant Facts

Botanical name: Cordyline fruticosa, Cordyline terminalis
Also known as: Hawaiian Ti Leaf
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeShadeFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyOrnamental foliageUnusual colorPink flowersSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
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🌈 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:


✦ Cordyline fruticosa in Plant Encyclopedia
✦ Ti plant: bold color, easy care
✦ Color that lasts year-round

#Container_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Shade_Garden #Discover #Horoscope

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Date: 29 Oct 2024

How can you use Elephant Ears?

🐘 How can you use Elephant Ears?



🟢 Alocasias and Colocasias, or Elephant Ears, are both remarkable and popular plants that can bring a touch of tropical elegance to any garden.
  • 🟢 Striking Foliage: large, lush foliage. The leaves can be enormous, resembling the shape of elephant ears, hence the common name. The foliage is usually rich green, but there are also varieties with hues of purple, black, or variegated patterns. These vibrant leaves create a dramatic focal point.
  • 🟢 Tropical Aesthetic: large, architectural leaves add a sense of drama and create a stunning backdrop for other plants.
  • 🟢 Versatility: work well in containers, making them suitable for patio gardens. In larger landscapes, colocasias and alocasias can be planted directly in the ground, either as standalone specimens or as part of mixed border plantings. They can also be utilized around water features or in bog gardens since they enjoy moist conditions.
  • 🟢 Low Maintenance: thrive in full to partial shade. Regular watering and occasional fertilization will help them grow vigorously.
  • 🟢 Impressive Size: Some varieties can grow several feet tall, creating a stunning vertical element in the garden.


📸 Colocasia esculenta Jacks Giant: This astonishing elephant ear is well-named, it really does look like something that would grow for the giant! The foliage is absolutely massive, many feet long and wide, with a glossy texture, prominent ribbing, and a rich blue-green cast that lightens to chartreuse around the edges.

📚 Learn more from previous posts:


What to plant by the pond?
Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
Mojito Elephant Ears
Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?

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Date: 19 Jul 2025

☀️ When tropical plant takes a Summer break

Tropical landscape

Why your plants might stop growing in mid-Summer
and what to do about it

Q: Why some tropical plants stop growing when it gets too hot? Aren't they supposed to like the heat? Should I use more fertilizer during hot Summer?

You've been watching your tropical tree thrive all spring. New leaves, steady growth, maybe even a flower or two. Then July hits, and… nothing. The heat cranks up, and your once-busy plant just sits there. No new shoots, no blooms, not even a twitch. If it feels like your plant ghosted you - but don't worry! It's not dying. It's just hot!

Q: What happens to tropical plants when it gets extremely hot?

When the heat hits, plants hit pause. In the peak of summer, especially with temperatures above 90F, many tropical and subtropical plants go into heat survival mode. Growth above ground may slow down or stop entirely. It's not because you forgot to water or skipped a fertilizer dose - it's just too hot. The plant's energy shifts underground, where roots may still be growing. Think of it like a tropical version of a siesta - less margarita, more mulch. This stage might last a few weeks or longer, depending on how intense the heat gets. But the important thing is: it's normal.

Q: What NOT to do?

  • Don't drown it in extra water. That leads to root rot.
  • Don't dump dry fertilizer on it. That can burn the roots or just get flushed away. Use controlled release or liquid fertilizer dozed proportionaly to the plant's water usage.
  • Don't prune aggressively, hoping to jolt it awake.

None of that helps - in fact, it can make things worse.

Q: What you CAN do?

  • Water deeply in the early morning, and let the soil dry a bit between waterings.
  • Add mulch to help keep the root zone cool and reduce evaporation.
  • Provide temporary shade for potted plants or young trees.
  • Hold off on pruning or heavy feeding until you see new growth.

Just like you wouldn't run a marathon in a heatwave, your plant needs a break too.

Q: Why you shouldn't fertilize stressed plants with dry fertilizer?

Fertilizing seems like the obvious solution when a plant stalls, but in the heat of summer, it can backfire. When temperatures soar, roots slow down, and absorption becomes inefficient. You might pour in nutrients, but your plant can't use them - and what's worse, any tender new growth that does emerge can get scorched or sunburned before it has a chance to harden.

Feeding a plant with strong fertilizers during a heatwave is like telling someone to sprint in a sauna. It's not just unhelpful - it's risky. That's why you need a fertilizer that’s engineered for hot weather - not just any slow-release formula.

Liquid Sunshine Boosters mild formulas are safe to use year around. Controlled release fertilizer like Green Magic are safe as well, just make sure to follow directions and dosage.


Q: Why Green Magic fertilizer works in heat better that Osmocote?

Green Magic controlled release fertilizer

Not all slow-release fertilizers are built for hot summer. Some popular brands might seem like a good choice - but they’re optimized for soil temperatures around 70-75F. That's a mild Spring day in the South, but in real-world Florida or Arizona heat? Not even close.

Here's the problem: Osmocote releases nutrients based on moisture, not temperature. When it's hot and humid - or worse, when you water heavily - it can dump too many nutrients at once. That nutrient surge can:

  • Burn your plant's roots
  • Force tender new growth that gets fried in the heat
  • Leach straight out of the pot, wasting both fertilizer and money

It's unpredictable, especially in containers that heat up faster than ground soil. What you think is "slow-release" can behave more like a fertilizer bomb.

Green-Magic, by contrast, uses a temperature-sensitive polyurethane coating that responds gradually and consistently as the soil warms. That means:

  • No sudden nutrient spikes
  • No wasted runoff
  • And no risk of heat-triggered burn

It's designed to feed steadily and predictably - even when temps hit 90F and stay there. For potted tropical plants, that kind of control is the difference between stressed and thriving.

Q: How does Sunshine Boosters help with daily plant recovery in summer?

Once your plant begins to show signs of life again - maybe a new bud, or evening perkiness - it's safe to resume feeding. But skip the salts, and reach for something gentler: Sunshine Boosters.

These amino-acid based liquid fertilizers are designed for daily use, even in containers during the hottest days. They enhance nutrient uptake, even when roots are stressed or sluggish. Unlike synthetic chelators like EDTA, Sunshine Boosters won't bind nutrients or burn root system. They stay gentle, available, and effective. Learn more from this short video.

Use SUNSHINE Robusta for foliage support, or Ca-Support PRO for strong structure and recovery. It's like hydration and nutrition in one - perfect for tropical plants fighting through summer heat.

Q: How can I help my plants during extreme heat?

Don't fight the heat - work with it. If your tree looks stalled this summer, don't panic. It's following a rhythm older than all of us. Support it with smart watering, the right fertilizer combo, and a little patience. Before long, you'll see buds again - and know your plant made it through the heat.


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Read more plant care tips in Garden Blog

Date: 18 Aug 2023

NEW VIDEO:
Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant

Need a fast growing, colorful, exotic looking solution for your garden? Here it is!
Empress Candle, or Candelabra Plant - is a true garden wonder. Imagine a plant that grows fast, almost always in bloom, and covers large spaces with its lush leaves...
Empress Candle has beautiful golden flowers resembling candles. The huge leaves create nice cool shade for many feet around it which keeps weeds away. Providing full sun and regular water Empress Candle grows up to 10 ft wide and 6-8 ft tall just in one or two seasons!

WATCH THE VIDEO

Senna alata - Empress Candle, Candelabra Plant

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