Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 3 May 2026

3 Olive Trees Worth Planting in Your Yard Right Now

3 Olive Trees Worth Planting in Your Yard Right Now

3 Olive Trees Worth Planting in Your Yard Right Now



Olive trees aren’t just for the Mediterranean anymore. In warm parts of the U.S. - including much of Florida - certain varieties handle heat, humidity, and even occasional cold better than people expect. If you’ve been thinking about adding something useful, low-maintenance, and long-lived to your garden, olives deserve a spot on your list. Here are three varieties that actually make sense to grow.

  • 1. Arbequina: Compact, Productive, and Beginner-Friendly


Arbequina is one of the easiest olives to grow, especially if space is limited. It is naturally compact, which makes it great for containers or small yards. It starts producing early compared to other olives, handles heat well, and adapts to different soils. The fruit is mild, buttery, and excellent for oil. If you want an olive tree that behaves well and produces without much fuss, this is the one. 👉 More...

  • 2. Coratina: Bold Flavor and Strong Growth


Coratina is a completely different type of olive - vigorous, tough, and known for intense flavor. It is fast-growing and very hardy once established, and it produces heavily under the right conditions. The fruit is high in oil content with a flavor that is strong and peppery, making it prized for premium olive oil. This is a great choice if you want a more traditional, high-performance olive tree with character. 👉 More...

  • 3. Leccino: Reliable and Cold-Tolerant


Leccino is known for consistency and is one of the most widely planted olives for a reason. It is more cold-tolerant than many other varieties and is a reliable producer year after year. It has a medium growth habit that is easy to manage, and the fruit works well for both oil and curing. If your area gets occasional cold snaps, Leccino is a safer bet. 👉 More...

  • Why olives make sense in your garden


Olives check a lot of boxes most fruit trees don’t. They are drought-tolerant once established and don’t need rich soil; average or even poor soil is fine. They are long-lived trees that can produce for decades and have low pest pressure compared to many tropical fruits. They’re not high-maintenance, and they don’t demand constant attention.

What to know before you plant



A few practical points make all the difference. Full sun is non-negotiable, and drainage matters because if water sits, the roots suffer. Light pruning keeps trees productive and manageable. Some varieties produce better with cross-pollination. In Florida conditions, airflow and avoiding overly wet soil are key.

If you want a tree that looks good, produces something useful, and doesn’t need babysitting, olives are hard to beat. Choose Arbequina for small spaces and ease, Coratina for strong growth and bold oil, or Leccino for reliability and cold tolerance. Plant one - or plant all three - and you’ll start to see why olive trees have been grown for thousands of years.

📚 Learn more:

Olive Plant Facts

Olea europea
Olive
USDA Zone: 9-11
Plant used for bonsaiSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunDry conditionsModerate waterEdible plantPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsEthnomedical 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 time


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Date: 10 Apr 2025

Pre-hurricane season tips: how to protect your trees from winds

Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree

Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree

Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree crooked with wind

Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree crooked with wind

🌪 Pre-hurricane season tips: how to protect your trees from winds



Some trees like mango have deep roots and handle wind well. Others - like our favorites Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree or Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree (in the photos) - need extra care. You've likely seen crooked Tabebuias in South Florida or lost a bushy Tulip Tree to strong winds. Their wide crowns act like sails in a storm.

💨 To help your trees withstand wind damage:

  • ✅ Stake young trees with strong support - use a tripod-style setup (three bamboo sticks or boards secured around the tree for balance from all sides)
  • ✅ Check and adjust supports every 6 months
  • ✅ Trim long or rubbing branches - they break first
  • ✅ Add extra support if a storm is coming (larger trees benefit from sturdy tripod-style bracing with boards)
  • ✅ Lighten bushy growth, less sail = more survival

💡 Some remove all leaves from plumeria before a hurricane - it works!
💡 We pruned our Tulip Tree and Ceiba - and they withstood Hurricane Milton while others fell
  • ✅ If a tree falls, stand it up ASAP and support it. Trim broken branches - they’ll remind you what needed pruning before, not after!
  • ✅ Trees protected young, grow strong for life.


🛒 Grab your beautiful Tulip Tree and Tabebuia Tree today - support them early for strength and beauty later!

📚 Learn more:


Everyone loves these tulips growing on a tree

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Date: 28 Apr 2021

Cold hardy tropical fruit trees for Zone 9

Q: Can you suggest tropical fruit that can be grown (cold hardy) in Zone 9?

A: There are quite a few tropical/subtropical trees that will grow well in zone 9. Our favorites are: Figs - very cold hardy and drought tolerant.
Loquats - grafted trees that start fruiting right away, reliable producers.
Tropical Mulberry - very fast growing trees that can take freeze, heavy producers.
Macadamia - these trees are of a compact nature, very easy to grow and start producing nuts right away.
Many different varieties of Eugenias - tropical cherries - all-time favorites. Another tropical cherry - Malpighia, or Barbados cherry - starts fruiting in small size under one food tall! Great for containers.
Tropical (Low Chill) Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums. See full list of low-chill, relatively cold hardy fruit trees.
And of course - Bananas!

Don't forget to fertilize your fruit trees to improve their cold hardiness!

Date: 5 Oct 2024

Discover top 10 fruiting plants youll ever need for your health benefits

Discover top 10 fruiting plants youll ever need for your health benefits
🔍 Discover top 10 fruiting plants you'll ever need for your health benefits.

⁉️ I planted Mango and Avocado trees, and I still have room for more trees but want to use the space wisely. What other trees should I plant to get the most benefits out of the fruit?

✅ Everyone loves planting Mango or Avocado trees for their well-known benefits. But did you know that adding a variety of other fruit trees to your garden can expand those benefits even more? If you plant just one of each of these 10 trees, you'll have a complete spectrum of nutrients and health-boosting ingredients you ever need. With a diverse range of healthy fruits, you'll boost your diet, improve your health, and elevate your lifestyle.

By planting these 10 diverse fruit trees, you’ll not only enjoy a delicious and abundant harvest but also ensure your garden provides all the nutrients needed for a healthier, more vibrant life:

1. Guava
2. Coffee
3. Noni
4. Papaya
5. Banana
6. Dragon fruit
7. Tamarind
8. Surinam Cherry
9. Nescafe
10. Loquat

⚠️ Learn more about these 10 top fruit you'll ever need for your health benefits in our following posts... Stay with us and make sure to subscribe! ⬇️

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Date: 18 Mar 2025

What is in bloom right now?

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree

What is in bloom right now?



😡 Orchid trees are among the most spectacular trees in Florida, flowering from late winter through spring. They are fast-growing, not fussy about soil or water, and bloom for several weeks in a stunning display of white, purple, pink, or red flowers.

📸 Bauhinia alba (candida) - White Orchid Tree - the most cold-hardy of all Bauhinias, tolerating temperatures as low as 26F. You can see them in full bloom across Florida right now!

📚 Orchid trees from previous posts:

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