Date: 26 Aug 2024
Top ten fast-fruiting trees
Q: I would like to plant several fruit trees... I am 85 years old and hope to see them fruiting soon. What fruit trees can you recommend that will fruit quickly?
A: Most grafted fruit trees, such as Mango, Avocado, and Peaches, will fruit quickly - often within the same year or the next. There are also many wonderful tropical fruits that will produce for you within a year or two, even without the need for grafting. Below are the top 10 of most popular, most rewarding and easy to grow fast fruiting tropical trees:
1. Annona - Sugar Apple, Custard Apple.
Annonas are the fastest fruiting trees: 2-3-4 years from seed to fruit, depending on species. They are the best tropical fruit trees suited for container growing, due to their small height and can be maintained within 6-8 ft tall.
2. Guava (Psidium sp.): Cattley and Tropical guava
Guava is a reliable producer, starts fruiting in a pot at small size. Some varieties, especially Cattley guavas - Psidium littorale - are relatively cold hardy and can take some frost without damage. Guavas are fast growing small trees or large bushes.
3. Eugenia - Tropical Cherries
Eugenias are favorites of Southern gardens. They are relatively cold hardy and start producing right away. Black Surinam Cherry Lolita and Grumichama are our favorites!
4. Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
Another exceptional tropical cherry is Barbados Cherry. It is super popular as a heavy producer. The plant can start fruiting when it's only a few inches tall! If you are looking for a compact, but fast growing tree with colorful fruit that starts fruiting right away - plant Barbados Cherry. It will also happily fruit in containers.
5. Eriobotrya (Eriobotrya japonica)
Loquat tree is fast-growing, drought-tolerant, cold-tolerant, compact tropical fruit tree. It is a heavy producer. Fruits are juicy, aromatic, and resemble apricots. Ripen from early Spring to early Summer. Ideal for small gardens, beginner fruit tree growers.
6. Papaya (Carica papaya)
Papaya is probably the fastest fruiting tree that can start production the same year from planting a seed. Many dwarf varieties available in selection, reaching only 6-8 ft tall, but producing large crops of full size fruit - they are easy to harvest. Plant 2-3 Papaya trees of different cultivars that fruit at different times of the year and enjoy heavy crops of healthy fruit year around! Another benefit - this tree doesn't take much space in the garden, you can plant as many as you want.
7. Mulberry (Morus hybrids)
Mulberry is very cold hardy and can grow in wide range of climate zones, from USDA 5 to 10. Everyone knows this sweet, tasty, juicy fruit. The tree will produce right away, you will see fruit the next season after planting, and the tree grows fast.
8. Carambola - Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola)
Growing Carambola tree is a fun and rewarding way to enjoy this unique star-shaped delicious fruit right at home. It fruits on the 3d year from seed. The tree is easy to grow and reliable producer, providing wind protection.
9. Blackberry Jam Fruit (Randia formosa)
Blackberry Jam Fruit, Jasmin de Rosa is a curious small evergreen tree or bush that combines features of a fragrant flower and delicious dessert fruit which tastes like fresh Blackberry jam. Fragrant white flowers are similar to Gardenia.
10. Peanut Butter Tree (Bunchosia argentea)
Peanut Butter Tree, earns its name from its fleshy fruits that boast a delightful peanut butter flavor. Compact in size, small tree reaching only 10-15 ft or kept as a bush, it's a perfect choice for limited spaces. Can thrive indoors, starting to fruit within just 2-3 years from seed.
Date: 20 May 2024
What plant has fragrant leaves and flowers? Soft and fuzzy Tropical Lilac!
Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac
Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac
Cornutia grandifolia, African lilac, Jamaican lilac, Tropical Lilac
- 🟣 Cornutia grandifolia, also known as African lilac, Jamaican lilac, or Tropical Lilac, is a fast-growing, large shrub with astonishing fragrant velvet leaves.
- 🟣 Tall stalks shoot out multiple lavender blue flowers, creating an outstanding display.
- 🟣 Attracting butterflies and hummingbirds, it adds life to any garden with its lively inflorescence
- 🟣 Leaves can grow very large, up to 10"wide. They are fuzzy, very soft to touch, and aromatic, emitting pleasant tobacco-like scent when rubbed.
- 🟣 Relatively cold hardy, Tropical Lilac thrives in full sun or semi-shade positions, bringing joy with its pleasant aroma and beautiful blooms.
🛒 Get aromatic Tropical Lilac
#Butterfly_Plants #Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits
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Date: 14 Oct 2025
Yes, you can grow a tropical fruit tree in a pot!
🥭 Yes, you can grow a tropical fruit tree in a pot!
🍒 If you dream of picking fresh tropical fruit - Mango, Avocado, exotiс Annona and more - but only have a patio, balcony, or small yard, you’re not out of luck. Many tropical fruit trees grow perfectly well in large containers. The key is choosing the right variety, pot, and care routine.🍒 Pick a compact tree type
🍒 Choose the right pot
🍒 Soil and watering
🍒 Light and feeding
🍒 Cold protection and pruning
If you live where winters get chilly, move the pot indoors or into a greenhouse before frost. Prune lightly in spring to keep shape and airflow. Container trees can fruit heavily if given light, warmth, and consistent care.
At the end of the day, container culture lets you grow the tropics anywhere - from a city balcony to a backyard deck.
➡ Next: The best tropical fruit trees for containers...
📸 Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)
🛒 Explore tropical fruit trees
#Food_Forest #How_to #Discover
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Date: 29 Nov 2020
Cold protection of tropical container plants
Q: I am long time customer of yours, I live in San Diego California and while the summer and Fall temperatures are warm to mild, the winter temperatures dip to a point where some tropicals die off. We are experimenting with different variations of way to heat and insulate the pots we have the tropicals planted in as a way to keep them alive during the colder winter months. I was wondering if you knew of the ideal soil temperature for these tropical in order to look their best year round. All of the heaters we have installed have thermostats and temperature adjustments so we can now keep the soil anywhere between a range of between 65-75 degrees. Any advise you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
A: This is a very interesting concept you are working with.
Indeed, keeping pots/roots warm, may help a lot! We've been experimenting with
cold protection for a long time - for the above-ground plant parts. For sure
keeping roots protected (even with a thick layer of mulch) will benefit tropical
plants during winter. In case with container plants, this may help
dramatically.
The guideline is, tropical plants slow down or stop their metabolism at
65F. As long as you can keep soil above that temperature - this should work
great. Of course, the higher the better.
Optimum temperature for growing tropical plants in general - 70-85F.
Above 90F, metabolism stops too, unless it's a heat tolerant, desert
plant.
More information on winter cold protection of tropical plants and zone pushing:
Greenhouse in Virginia
Plumeria cold protection
Ghost Cold Protection
Seven rules of cold protection for tropicals
About Cold Protection
Cold protection - winter action for your plant collection
Tropical Treasures articles on zone pushing.
Date: 31 Oct 2025
Black and White Bat Lilies (Tacca chantrieri and Tacca nivea) side by side in bloom
How to Care for Bat Lilies
by Top Tropicals Plant Expert Tatiana Anderson
🌞 Light
- Bright, filtered light. Morning sun or dappled shade is perfect.
- Avoid direct midday sun outdoors — it can scorch the leaves.
- Indoors, place near a bright window with sheer curtains or use a grow light.
🌡️ Temperature
- Warm and stable, ideally 70-85 F during the day.
- Protect from cold drafts or sudden chills.
- Ideally, do not let temperature drop below 45 F, although Taccas can tolerate short period of upper 30's.
💧 Watering
- Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.
- Water when the top inch feels barely dry.
- Use lukewarm water.
- Avoid letting the pot sit in water.
💨 Humidity
- High humidity (60-80%) is key.
- Mist leaves often, use a humidity tray, or keep near a humidifier.
- In greenhouses or bathrooms with a skylight, it thrives naturally.
🌱 Soil
- Use rich, loose, well-draining mix
- Combine bark, peat, and perlite for ideal airflow around the roots.
- Best mix for growing tropical Tacca in pots - soilless potting mix Abundance . It provides perfect drainage and has a texture similar to a jungle rainforest media.
🍽️ Feeding
- During growth season (Spring through Fall), feed with Green Magic controlled release fertilizer every 6 months. For even better results, you may apply liquid fertilizer Sunshine Boosters Rubusta.
- Stop feeding dry fertilizer in cooler months when growth slows. Liquid Sunshine Boosters are safe to use with every watering, year around.
🏡 Indoor Growing
- Great for bright bathrooms, sunrooms, or any warm, humid corner.
- Rotate pot occasionally for even growth.
- Keep away from heating vents and AC drafts.
🌴 Outdoor Growing (in warm climates)
- Partial shade or filtered light under trees.
- Excellent in large containers that can be brought inside for winter.
- Shelter from heavy rain and wind.
Sunshine: "So… it’s a diva?"
Smokey: "Exactly. But take care of it - and it rewards you with wings!"
Smokey and Sunshine: "Happy Halloween!"
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