Q: I am
looking for a suitable vine for my home. The wall/trellis which I would like to
plant the vine(s) is a two-story wall. The area gets lots of light at midday
but not direct sunlight. Most of the light comes from the north. Our home is
in South Florida (Miami). Would you please suggest a lovely colorful vine(s)
that would flower well under these conditions? Maybe one that has
fragrance.
This one is the most wanted variety with
elongated petals that are sweetly scented. Compact and
slow growing shrub, it makes a great houseplant and
flowers freely throughout the year. The most profuse
flowering is from Spring to Summer.
Called pikake in Hawaii, Jasmine sambac is the plant
used to flavor the jasmine tea and making perfumes.
Perfect houseplant takes both sun or shade, it is a
beautiful fragrant everbloomer for your home and garden.
Belle of India is a slow grower, with pale green pointed
leaves and double flowers with elongated narrow petals.
Prefers filtered light for a better look of the leaves,
but will tolerate full sun. In fact the more sun the
more flowers you get.
Secrets of successful culture:
1) use only well-drained potting soil
2) keep the plant a little bit on a dry side so roots
don't get too wet. Water again when the soil gets
slightly dry.
3) Use micro-element mix - SUNSHINE Superfood works
the best. It will keep leaves nice and green and induce
more profuse flowering.
Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by
subscribing to our channel at
YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video
news of what is fruiting and blooming!
Q: Q: My Jasmine sambac Maid of Orleans is
growing very fast and produced lots of branches and dark green leaves, when will I
see flowers? I only saw 2 or 3 flowers since since Spring. I is planted by East wall of the house. Should I use some special fertilizer perhaps?
A:Jasmine sambac is a tropical bush or vine that enjoys hot summers. Since it
tolerates wide range of light conditions, it can be grown both in shade or sun; this is why it is highly recommended for indoor
culture where light level is limited. Remember though that profuse blooming directly depends on the light level. Your Eastern
exposure location may not be providing enough light for the flowering. Dark green leaves are also a sign of a filtered light
sitution. Extra fertilizing may not help to induce flowering if the light is low, although it is always beneficial for a plant
(it may just start producing even more leaves and branches). The ideal conditions for Sambac's flowering are - full sun all
day long, high temperatures (upper 80's-90's, even over 100F is fine), and very good drainage. Some gardeners call Jasmine
sambac "almost a succulent", referring to its low watering needs. To be exact, this plant requires regular watering, but will
produce lots of flowers only providing perfect drainage. You may never see flowers if the plant has wet feet or water-logging
occurs. If your summers are rainy (like in Florida), make sure your jasmine is planted with at least 4-5"elevation and not in a
low/wet spot.
See Top Tropicals Video about jasmine Sambac:
- varieties, history and use.
Date: 26 Jan 2017
Aquarius Zodiac lucky plants
Aquarius - 1/22 - 2/18.
Aquarius is an AIR sign ruled by odd-ball Uranus.
The water-bearer's plants will often grow in unusual places and may vary in appearance. They often have purple or blue flowers, or may have unusual colors.
The most healing and beneficial plants for Aquarius are the ones that help circulation, relax the nervous system, or promote inspiration. When Uranus was discovered, it replaced Mercury as ruler of Aquarius. Physiologically, Uranus rules the bioelectrical impulses that power the body's nervous system (nervous tension and nervous exhaustion brought on by powerful changes in the environment are related to both Mercury and Uranus). Physically, Aquarius rules the lower legs, the calves, and the ankles, and the electrical impulses that travel through the body's nervous system. The nervous system itself is ruled by Mercury, and Uranus is said to be a "higher octave" of Mercury. Since Uranus was discovered after the correspondences with plants had been established, the herbs used in Aquarius are Mercury herbs. Always difficult to pinpoint, quirky Aquarius appreciates the unusual and complex flavor of star anise. Use this star-shaped spice when you wish to bring happy surprises into your life.
New Video: TopTropicals at TPIE show in Ft Lauderdale. Last week, your friends at Top Tropicals attended the 2017 Tropical Plant International Expo in sunny Ft. Lauderdale Florida. The Expo was an opportunity for Top Tropicals to introduce our SUNSHINE in a Bottle plant boosters as well as to bring a very rare plant Enchanted Incense to the tropical plant market!
Stay updated with TopTropicals Videos by subscribing to our channel at YouTube.com/TopTropicals and get our latest video news of what's fruiting and blooming!
Date: 20 Feb 2026
What tropical plants survived Floridas historic freeze without protection
Florida historic freeze
What tropical plants survived Florida's historic freeze without protection
In the first week of February 2026, arctic air pushed deep into Florida. For many areas, this was the coldest event in over a century.
We received one question over and over: How did your gardens do?
Top Tropicals Farm in Sebring, Florida is up and running - and this freeze became a real-world hardiness test for tropical and subtropical plants. Below is our initial field report after inspecting established plantings.
📊 Weather data - February 1-6, 2026
Sebring, Florida - 132 years of recorded observations
This was not a light frost. It was prolonged, windy, penetrating hard freeze.
🌡 Minimum temperature: 25F ❄️ Wind chill: 14F ⏳ Duration: 3 nights of 8-10 hour hard freeze ☀️ Daytime temperatures: around 50F for 7 days 🌀 Wind: sustained 20 mph, gusts 40-50 mph
Cold protection
In-ground trees: selected plants covered with frost cloth, especially
Mango Plant Facts
Botanical name: Mangifera indica Also known as: Mango
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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mango and young
Avocado Plant Facts
Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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avocado trees. Tender container plants: moved into greenhouses with propane heat above 34F. Hardy container plants: frost cloth and wind protection only - no plastic Nutrition support: plants fertilized regularly during the growing season with Green Magic and Sunshine Boosters to maintain vigor and hardiness.
However, the plants listed below had no protection at all.
All were established trees 2-3 years in the ground.
The plants below had NO PROTECTION, established trees 2-3 years old
Botanical name: Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium littorale Also known as: Cattley Guava, Sand Plum, Strawberry Guava
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Eugenias (Grumichama, Rio Grande, Surinam and more)
Olive trees
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Fig trees (Ficus carica)
Prunus sp - Peaches, Plums, Nectarines
Persimmons
Rubus (Blackberries) including Tropical Mysore Raspberry
Elderberry (Sambucus)
Yerba Mate - Ilex paraguariensis
Opuntia - Nopal Cactus, Prickly Pear
🌸 Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Beaucarnea recurvata - Pony Tail
Ponytail Palm Plant Facts
Botanical name: Beaucarnea recurvata, Nolina recurvata Also known as: Ponytail Palm, Pony Tail, Bottle Palm, Nolina, Elephant-foot Tree
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
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Callistemon - Bottlebrush
Yucca
Tabebuias
Magnolia figo and Little Gem
Banana Magnolia Plant Facts
Botanical name: Magnolia figo, Michelia figo, Magnolia fuscata Also known as: Banana Magnolia, Banana Shrub, Port Wine Magnolia
USDA Zone: 7 - 10
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Calliandra tweedii - Red Powderpuff
Sophora tomentosa
Yellow Necklace Pod Plant Facts
Botanical name: Sophora tomentosa Also known as: Yellow Necklace Pod, Silverbush
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
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Galphimia gracillis - Thriallis
Thriallis Plant Facts
Botanical name: Galphimia gracillis, Galphimia gracilis, Galphimia glauca Also known as: Thriallis, Rain of Gold, Spray of Gold
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Acacia trees
Osmanthus fragrans
Tea Olive Plant Facts
Botanical name: Osmanthus fragrans, Olea fragrans, Olea ovalis, Osmanthus longibracteatus, Osmanthus macrocarpus Also known as: Tea Olive, Fragrant Olive, Sweet Olive, Kinmokusei in Japan
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
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Abutilon trees
Erythrina - several species
Monkey Ear tree - Enterolobium cyclocarpum
Bauhinia Orchid Trees - several species
Pseudobombax ellipticum - Shaving Brush Tree
Shaving Brush Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Pseudobombax ellipticum, Bombax ellipticum Also known as: Shaving Brush Tree
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Bulnesia arborea- Vera Wood
Vera Plant Facts
Botanical name: Bulnesia arborea Also known as: Vera, Verawood, Vera Wood, Maracaibo Lignum Vitae
USDA Zone: 10 - 12
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Caesalpinia mexicana, Mexican Bird of Paradise
Mexican Bird of Paradise Plant Facts
Botanical name: Caesalpinia mexicana Also known as: Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Sansevieria - Snake Plant
Foxtail fern - Asparagus densiflorus
Lonicera - several varieties
Jacaranda tree
Eucalyptus
Plumbago Imperial Blue
Philodendron bipinnatum
Gardenias
Gingers (dormant rhizomes)
✳️ Minimal leaf damage only:
(These plants showed light cosmetic damage but no structural injury)
🍑 Tropical Fruit Trees and Edibles:
Glycosmis pentaphylla - Gin Berry
Ash sheora Plant Facts
Botanical name: Glycosmis pentaphylla, Limonia pentaphylla Also known as: Ash sheora, Orangeberry, Rum Berry, Gin Berry
USDA Zone: 9 - 10
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Black sapote tree
Tamarind tree
Syzygiums: Rose Apple and Java Plum
🌸 Flowering Trees and Shrubs:
Pandora vine Jasminum - several species
Stenocarpus sinuatus - Firewheel Tree
Firewheel Tree Plant Facts
Botanical name: Stenocarpus sinuatus Also known as: Firewheel Tree
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Xanthostemon
Quisqualis indica
Rangoon Creeper Plant Facts
Botanical name: Combretum indicum, Quisqualis indica Also known as: Rangoon Creeper, Burma Creeper, Chinese Honeysuckle
USDA Zone: 10 - 11
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Schotia tree
Eranthemum pulchellum - Blue Sage
Blue sage Plant Facts
Botanical name: Eranthemum pulchellum, Eranthemum nervosum Also known as: Blue sage, Blue eranthemum, Lead Flower
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
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Hiptage benghalensis - Helicopter Flower
Hiptage Plant Facts
Botanical name: Hiptage benghalensis, Hyptage bengalensis Also known as: Hiptage, Helicopter Flower
USDA Zone: 9 - 10
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🏡 What this means for Florida gardeners
This freeze was a stress test few gardens are prepared for. Yet many species handled 25F, wind, and multi-night freeze conditions without protection.
Choosing proven survivors, planting in smart microclimates, and maintaining strong plant health during the growing season makes a measurable difference.
More updates will follow as full recovery continues - but these early results already help define a stronger plant palette for future winters.