Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 24 Jan 2026

Guava Cas cloud drink: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Guava Cas cloud drink

Guava Cas cloud drink

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)

🍴 Guava Cas Cloud Drink (Quick and Fun Exotic Recipe)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ripe Cas guava pulp (Psidium friedrichsthalianum)
  • 1.5 cups cold water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar (adjust to taste)
  • Ice cubes
  • Fresh mint (optional garnish)

Instructions

  1. Add Cas guava pulp, cold water, and sugar to a blender.
  2. Blend until smooth and evenly mixed.
  3. Strain the liquid to remove seeds and coarse pulp.
  4. Serve over ice for a cloudy, tangy refresher.
  5. Garnish with mint if desired.

Cas guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) is a Central American guava known for its bold, tangy flavor and high vitamin C content and Low sugar content. Unlike common guava, the pulp is sharp and refreshing, making it especially popular for drinks, juices, and traditional beverages.

🌱 In the garden:


Cas guava is a small, productive tree suited for warm climates. It prefers full sun, regular watering, and good drainage. The tree is adaptable, fairly fast-growing, and fruits reliably, making it a great choice for home gardens and containers.

🛒 Plant easy and productive Cas Guava

📚 Learn more:

Costa Rica Cas Fruit Plant Facts

Botanical name: Psidium friedrichsthalianum
Also known as: Costa Rica Cas Fruit, Cas Guava
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Guava tree Cas (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) in Plant Encyclopedia
Zero Sugar fruit: forget lemonade - new perfect summer drink discovered!
What is the best fruit for summer drinks and wine?
•  What fruit is more sour and has more vitamin C than a lemon
•  What fruit can you drink? Costa Rican Cas is the Guava for Drinking
•  Costa Rican Guava

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 20 Feb 2026

Top Ten Fruit Tree Winners of Florida 2026 Record Freeze

Avocado tree with fruit

Avocado tree with fruit

Eugenia

Eugenia

Feijoa - Pineapple Guava

Feijoa - Pineapple Guava

Jaboticaba tree

Jaboticaba tree

Loquat tree

Loquat tree

Macadamia Nut tree

Macadamia Nut tree

Prunus sp - Peach

Prunus sp - Peach

Persimmon tree

Persimmon tree

Pomegranate tree with fruit

Pomegranate tree with fruit

Psidium littorale - Cattley Guava tree with fruit

Psidium littorale - Cattley Guava tree with fruit

🏆 Top Ten Fruit Tree Winners of Florida 2026 Record Freeze



These fruit trees had no damage after 3 nights of hard freeze (25F) with NO PROTECTION:

Avocado Plant Facts

Botanical name: Persea americana, Persea gratissima
Also known as: Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Pineapple Plant Facts

Botanical name: Ananas comosus
Also known as: Pineapple, Pina
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Small plant 2-5 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryOrnamental foliageThorny or spinyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Pomegranate Plant Facts

Botanical name: Punica granatum
Also known as: Pomegranate, Granada, Grenade, Pomegranate, Granada, Anar, Granaatappel, Pomo Granato, Romeira, Melo Grano
USDA Zone: 8 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryRed, crimson, vinous flowersThorny or spinyEdible plantDeciduous plantEthnomedical plant.
Plants marked as ethnomedical and/or described as medicinal, are not offered as medicine but rather as ornamentals or plant collectibles.
Ethnomedical statements / products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We urge all customers to consult a physician before using any supplements, herbals or medicines advertised here or elsewhere.Subtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeSeaside, salt tolerant plant
Get personalized tips for your region

Cattley Guava Plant Facts

Botanical name: Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium littorale
Also known as: Cattley Guava, Sand Plum, Strawberry Guava
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Large shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyWhite, off-white flowersEdible plantFlood tolerant plantSeaside, salt tolerant plant
Get personalized tips for your region


✔️ Avocado - cold hardy varieties
✔️ Eugenias (Grumichama, Rio Grande, Surinam and more)
✔️ Feijoa - Pineapple Guava
✔️ Jaboticaba
✔️ Loquat
✔️ Macadamia Nut
✔️ Prunus sp - Peaches, Plums, Nectarines
✔️ Persimmons
✔️ Pomegranate
✔️ Psidium littorale - Cattley Guavas

🛒 Explore cold tolerant tropical plants and cold hardy Avocados

🎥 What tropical plants survived Florida's historic freeze without protection
🎥 These Avocados survived 3 nights of 25F hard freeze, Florida Record Freeze

📚 Learn more:


· To trim or not to trim? When and how to trim damaged plants after winter
· Cold-hardy avocado varieties - what freezing they really survive
· Cold-hardy avocado survival groups - what the numbers really mean

#Discover #How_to #Food_Forest

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 12 Jan 2026

Cherry of the Rio Grande quick compote: quick-n-fun exotic recipes

Cherry of the Rio Grande quick compote over pancakes

Cherry of the Rio Grande quick compote over pancakes

Eugenia aggregata - Cherry of the Rio Grande fruit

Eugenia aggregata - Cherry of the Rio Grande fruit

🍴 Cherry of the Rio Grande Quick Compote

This fast cherry compote is made from Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata). It is tart, rich, and perfect over pancakes, waffles, toast, or warm bread.

Cherry of the Rio Grande Plant Facts

Botanical name: Eugenia involucrata, Eugenia aggregata
Also known as: Cherry of the Rio Grande, Cere Jodo Rio Grande
USDA Zone: 9 - 11
Highligths Small tree 10-20 ftSemi-shadeFull sunWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
Get personalized tips for your region

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Cherry of the Rio Grande fruit, pitted
  • 2 to 4 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Place cherries and water in a small saucepan.
  2. Simmer over medium heat until the cherries soften and release juice.
  3. Mash lightly with a spoon for a chunky texture.
  4. Spoon warm compote over pancakes or bread and serve immediately.

🛒 Plant Cherry of the Rio Grande

📚 Learn more:


Eugenia aggregata - Cherry of the Rio Grande in Plant Encyclopedia
Don't plant cherries until you see this one!
Ten best fruit trees to grow in Florida and Southern landscapes. Tropical Cherries: Eugenias

#Food_Forest #Recipes

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 23 May 2026

Avocado Fantastic Quick Facts

Avocado Fantastic

Avocado Fantastic

Avocado Fantastic Quick Facts



Fantastic has earned a reputation as one of the most cold-hardy avocados available. Reportedly surviving temperatures near 10°F in Texas and showing excellent performance during Florida freezes, it offers peace of mind for growers in cooler regions. The small fruit features paper-thin skin, creamy flesh, and a rich nutty flavor, while the tree remains relatively compact and attractive.

· Botanical name: Persea americana 'Fantastic'
· Origin: Texas selection
· Cold hardiness: One of the most cold-hardy avocados known; reported to survive near 10°F and tolerate about 15°F with minimal damage
· USDA zones: 8-11
· Flower type: A
· Tree size: Approximately 25 ft x 25 ft in the ground
· Growth habit: Upright, relatively compact, manageable for home landscapes and container culture
· Foliage: Refined Mexican-type foliage with an anise-like fragrance when crushed
· Fruit size: 6-8 oz
· Fruit shape:
Pear-shaped
· Fruit color: Green skin that darkens with maturity
· Skin: Extremely thin, paper-thin
· Flesh: Smooth, creamy, buttery, and rich
· Flavor: Nutty, rich, and highly regarded for fresh eating
· Season: August-October
· Best use: Fresh eating, spooned directly from the shell
· Special feature: Exceptional cold tolerance combined with excellent fruit quality
· Why growers love it: Fantastic proves that avocados can be grown in places where many people assume it is impossible. Its remarkable cold hardiness makes it one of the most sought-after varieties for adventurous gardeners; for them, this discovery is simply Fantastic. 👉 More

💡 Avocado tip: Plant on a mound, not in a hole


Avocados hate wet feet. In Florida and other rainy climates, planting on a mound 10-15 inches high can make the difference between a thriving tree and a declining one.

📚 Learn more:


· Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole? Collector's inspiration
· Avocado Fantastic: the hidden world beyond green and black
· Cold-hardy avocado survival groups - what the numbers really mean
· How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?
· Avocado that laughs at frost: Mexicola Grande for cooler climates
· Cold hardy Avocado Joey - you eat it with the skin

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?
·
Hard copy · PDF File Download

#Food_Forest #Avocado #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 31 May 2026

Avocado Florida Hass: the hidden world beyond green and black

Avocado Florida Hass: the hidden world beyond green and black Avocado Florida Hass: the hidden world beyond green and black

Avocado Florida Hass: the hidden world beyond green and black



Florida Hass brings some of the flavor characteristics of traditional Hass to Florida gardens while offering better adaptation to humid conditions. The fruit is smaller than many Florida avocados but rich, creamy, and ideal for fresh eating. It is often recommended for gardeners seeking a Hass-like experience in the Southeast.

· Botanical name: Persea americana 'Florida Hass'
· Origin: Mexican (Florida selection)
· Cold hardiness: Tolerates temperatures around 30°F
· USDA zones: 9b-11
· Flower type: A
· Tree size: Approximately 30 ft x 20 ft
· Growth habit: Compact, upright, and well suited to home gardens
· Foliage: Dense, glossy green foliage that provides an attractive evergreen canopy
· Fruit size: 4-12 oz
· Fruit shape: Pear-shaped to oval
· Fruit color: Green when immature, turning dark purple-black at maturity
· Skin: Thick, pebbly, Hass-like skin
· Flesh: Creamy, smooth, and high in oil
· Flavor: Rich, buttery, and similar to Hass, with excellent eating quality
· Season: July-September
· Best use: Fresh eating, guacamole, sandwiches, salads, and gourmet dishes
· Special feature: Hass-like flavor and appearance combined with better adaptation to Florida's humid climate
· Why growers love it: Florida Hass offers the rich flavor and dark skin that avocado lovers associate with traditional Hass, but on a tree better adapted to the heat and humidity of the Southeast. Its compact size and excellent fruit quality make it a favorite for home gardens. 👉 More

💡 Avocado tip: Let the leaves stay
Fallen avocado leaves make excellent mulch. As they break down, they return nutrients to the soil and help create the natural forest-floor conditions avocados love.


🛒 Explore cold hardy Avocado varieties

📚 Learn more:


· Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole? Collector's inspiration
· Avocado Brogdon: the hidden world beyond green and black
· Avocado Joey: the hidden world beyond green and black
· Avocado Fantastic: the hidden world beyond green and black
· Avocado Fantastic Quick Facts
· Cold-hardy avocado survival groups - what the numbers really mean
· How to protect Avocado from cold and how hardy is it?
· Avocado that laughs at frost: Mexicola Grande for cooler climates
· Cold hardy Avocado Joey - you eat it with the skin

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?
·
Hard copy · PDF File Download

#Food_Forest #Avocado #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals