Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 26 May 2026

♊ Gemini Season Starts. We Are Five Days Late. Very Gemini.

Smokey  and  Sunshine  with  Gemini  tropical  plants  in  a  whimsical 
 greenhouse
Sunshine: I once met a girl and asked what she does. She said she assembles gyroscopes. I told her I don't believe in gyroscopes.
Smokey: You meant horoscopes.
Sunshine: That is what I said.
Smokey: You said gyroscopes.
Sunshine: Same thing.
Smokey: One predicts your future. The other stabilizes aircraft.
Sunshine: I don't believe in aircraft either.
Smokey: She left, didn't she.
Sunshine: She said she had to go assemble something.

♊ Gemini season started on May 21. Today is May 26 But honestly? That is not a problem. That is actually very Gemini. Gemini probably got distracted, opened three browser tabs, started a new hobby, forgot what it was doing, and came back five days later with a notebook full of ideas and zero apologies. So here we are.

Why these plants and not others

No, there is no scientific proof that olive trees belong to Gemini. We checked. The olives refused to comment. But if you are going to assign plants to zodiac signs — and we are — then Gemini deserves plants with intelligence, motion, surprise, fragrance, and a little chaos. Gemini is the sign of curiosity, conversation, and dual natures. It gets bored easily and talks to everyone at the party. These plants were picked because they fit that energy. And also because they are genuinely good plants worth growing, which Smokey insisted we mention.

Olive (Olea europaea)

Close-up  of  an  olive  tree  branch  laden  with  clusters  of  green  olives 
 among  narrow  silvery-green  leaves.  The  fruit  is  ripening  on  the  tree  and 
 hanging  from  slender 
 stems.

Clusters of green olives developing on an olive tree branch. Olive trees are evergreen, drought-tolerant, and have been cultivated for thousands of years for both their fruit and the oil produced from it.

Olive is the thinking plant of this group. Ancient, silver-leaved, and quietly dramatic, it belongs to Gemini because Gemini loves history, long conversations, and plants that look like they know something you don't.

If you are growing olive in a container — which works very well — give it full sun, fast-draining soil, and a firm commitment to not overwatering it. Olive does not want wet feet. It wants to think in dry conditions, like a philosopher in a warm courtyard.

Smokey: Olive represents thousands of years of cultivation and human civilization.
Sunshine: And snacks with much better branding than they get credit for.

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Dwarf Mulberry (Morus sp.)

Branch  of  a  Dwarf  Everbearing  Mulberry  tree  displaying  fruit  in  various
    stages  of  ripening,  from  pale  green  and  pink  to  deep  purple-black,  against 
 a  bright  blue 
 sky.

Dwarf Everbearing Mulberry produces fruit over an extended season, often carrying berries in multiple stages of ripeness at the same time. The sweet, blackberry-like fruit is a favorite of both gardeners and wildlife.

Mulberry is Gemini in motion. It grows fast, produces generously, and absolutely refuses to be boring. A standard mulberry will take over your yard before you finish reading this sentence. A dwarf mulberry, however, is patio-friendly, container-happy, and still delivers fruit, birds, and mild garden chaos on schedule.

Prune after fruiting to keep the shape. Full sun. Large pot if you're growing in a container. This is the plant for people who want results and do not enjoy waiting.

Smokey: Efficient growth rate. Edible output. Compact habit. Reasonable choice.
Sunshine: Finally, a tree with a snack schedule.

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Parijat (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis)

Close-up  of  Parijat  flowers  (Nyctanthes  arbor-tristis)  with  white 
 pinwheel-shaped  petals  and  bright  orange  centers  surrounded  by  fresh  green 
 leaves  and  unopened  flower 
 buds.

Parijat, also known as Night-Flowering Jasmine, produces fragrant white flowers with vivid orange centers that open at night and often carpet the ground beneath the tree by morning.

Parijat belongs to Gemini's quieter, more poetic side. It blooms with small fragrant white flowers — orange centers, delicate petals — often at night. By morning, the flowers have fallen. They drop like little messages from the universe, which Sunshine finds meaningful and Smokey finds botanically interesting.

This one is for the gardener who wants something to actually stop and look at. Good in containers, good on a warm patio, needs decent light and warmth to do its best work.

Smokey: Night-blooming pattern. Fragrant ornamental. Grows well in warm climates.
Sunshine: It's a tree that leaves notes.

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Dwarf Golden Tabebuia (Tabebuia chrysotricha)

Dwarf  Golden  Tabebuia  tree  covered  in  bright  golden-yellow  flowers, 
 standing  in  a  lawn  beneath  a  blue  sky,  with  a  carpet  of  fallen  blossoms 
 surrounding  the 
 trunk.

Dwarf Golden Tabebuia puts on one of the most spectacular spring displays, covering its branches with brilliant golden flowers before the leaves emerge. The fallen blooms create a striking yellow carpet beneath the tree.

This is the Gemini show-off. Quiet for most of the year, then suddenly covered in golden yellow flowers like it just remembered it has an announcement to make.

Dwarf Golden Tabebuia is compact enough for a large container or a sunny entrance, but it needs strong light to bloom well. Give it sun. Give it room. Then step back and let it perform.

Smokey: Seasonal flowering response triggered by environmental conditions.
Sunshine: Botanical applause.

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Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum)

Clusters  of  bright  red  Miracle  Fruit  berries  growing  among  glossy  green
    leaves  on  a  compact  shrub.  The  elongated  fruits  stand  out  against  the  lush 
 foliage.

Miracle Fruit is famous for its unique berries, which contain miraculin - a natural compound that temporarily makes sour foods taste sweet. The attractive evergreen shrub produces bright red fruit and is well suited to containers and small gardens.

Miracle Fruit belongs on this list because it is, without argument, the most Gemini plant in existence. It does not taste like much on its own. But eat one berry and everything sour suddenly tastes sweet. Lemons taste like lemonade. Lime juice tastes like candy. A plain piece of sourdough becomes something you would pay extra for. The fruit literally changes how you experience everything that comes after it.

If that is not Gemini energy — dual nature, transformation, making you see the same thing two completely different ways — nothing is.

Miracle Fruit is a slow grower that likes warmth, humidity, acidic soil, and protection from cold. It does well in containers, which is good news because it genuinely hates frost. Keep it in a pot, bring it in when temperatures drop, and give it filtered light or morning sun rather than harsh afternoon exposure.

Smokey: The active compound is miraculin. It binds to taste receptors and distorts sour perception at low pH. Temporary effect, roughly thirty minutes to an hour.
Sunshine: It's a fruit that lies. Beautifully.

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Spanish Tamarind (Wild Medlar, Vangueria infausta)

Spanish  Tamarind  (Vangueria  infausta)  tree  with  glossy  green  leaves  and
    clusters  of  round  fruit  in  various  stages  of  ripening,  from  green  to 
 golden-brown,  growing  on  branching  stems  in  a  lush  tropical  garden  setting.

Spanish Tamarind (Vangueria infausta) may be grown for its unusual fruit, but it also brings beauty to the garden with its lush foliage and heavy crops of ripening fruit. Green and golden-brown fruits often appear together on the tree, creating a colorful display.

Spanish Tamarind belongs to Gemini because it is unusual enough to start a conversation before anyone even knows what it is. The name alone does it. People will ask. You will explain. The fruit changes color as it ripens, the plant has collector appeal, and the whole thing feels like something you found in a book about plants that don't get enough attention.

This one needs warmth, sun, good drainage, and patience. It can live in a container with pruning. It rewards the gardener who is genuinely interested in something a little different.

Smokey: Tropical fruiting curiosity. Suitable for collectors.
Sunshine: Sounds like something I would order at a restaurant without reading the description.

Container  filled  with  ripe  Spanish  Tamarind  (Vangueria  infausta)  fruit 
 on  a  wooden  table  beside  a  white  cup  of  amber-colored  fruit  tea  and  a  sprig 
 of  velvety  green  leaves.

One of the traditional uses of Spanish Tamarind (Vangueria infausta) is fruit tea. The ripe fruit can be dried and steeped to make a mild, refreshing drink rich in natural flavor, while the soft, velvety leaves have long been used in traditional herbal infusions.

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Horoscope aside — why these plants are actually worth growing

Even if Gemini energy has nothing to do with your garden, these plants offer real value: fruit, fragrance, flowers, container growing, and something interesting to look at or talk about.

  • Olive — full sun, excellent drainage, don't overwater, thrives in containers. Tropical varieties: USDA Zone: 8-10. Cold hardy to 15-20°F.
  • Dwarf Mulberry — full sun, large pot, prune after fruiting, fast results. USDA Zone: 8-11. Cold hardy to 20-25°F. Most mulberry varieties can be grown in USDA Zone 5-6 to 10 and cold hardy to 5°F.
  • Parijat — warmth, good light, patio or container, fragrant and ornamental. USDA Zone 9-11. Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.
  • Dwarf Golden Tabebuia — strong sun, large container or sunny ground spot, compact but dramatic when it blooms. USDA Zone 9-11. Protect young plants from frost. Best flowering in full sun.
  • Spanish Tamarind — warmth, sun, drainage, patience, collector interest. USDA Zone 9-11. USDA Zone 10-11, possibly warm Zone 9b in protected microclimates. Protect from frost, especially young plants.
  • Miracle Fruit — warmth, humidity, acidic soil, filtered light, protect from frost. Best in containers. USDA Zone 10-11. Cold hardy only to about 40°F — bring it in well before first frost, not after.

Can you grow them in pots?

Yes. With the standard warning: a pot is not magic. Use a large container, fast-draining soil, full sun where the plant wants it, regular feeding with Green Magic conrolled-release fertilizer every 6 months and Sunshine Boosters - safe to use with every watering. Apply a bit of pruning when things get out of hand.

Smokey: A pot is just a smaller universe.
Sunshine: A pot is a drainage system with ambitions.

📅June gardening reality check

June is a good time to establish tropical and subtropical plants. The soil is warm, the days are long, and actively growing plants will take root faster than they would in cooler months.

👉 A few things to keep in mind:

  • Containers dry out fast even when rain increases. Check them. Don't assume rain did the job.
  • Don't let pots sit in standing water. Root rot is quiet until it isn't.
  • Feed actively growing plants. They are working hard and they need the input. We recommend Green Magic controlled release fertilizer during active growth (twice a year) and Sunshine Boosters for spray and daily watering year around.

    📚 More about fertilizers from our garden Blog

  • Watch new growth for pests. Tender leaves are the first target.
  • Prune lightly to shape if needed, but don't do heavy cutting in peak heat. Save that for after flowering or early in the season.
  • Mulch around in-ground plants to hold moisture, but keep mulch away from the trunk.

🌠 The stars don't care? Grow anyway!

Maybe the stars do not care whether your garden is a Gemini garden. Maybe olive trees are not receiving transmissions from Mercury. But a garden full of fruit, fragrance, flowers, and strange little stories is still a very good idea.

Smokey: That is the first reasonable conclusion in this entire article.
Sunshine: Second. The donut research was also important.

Happy Gemini gardening season from all of us!

🛒 Shop tropical fruit and flowers

🎤 NEW: Interview With Smokey & Sunshine

Date: 16 Sep 2019

What pot is good for Medinilla?

Q: I just acquired a Medinilla plant. I have a cylindrical tall clay pot that I would like to repot this beauty into. Would like to know if a deep pot is good for this type of tropical plants even if the medium is lightweight with bark and perlite allowing adequate drainage. Would appreciate your advice.

A: Medinillas are very close to epiphytes, meaning they like high air humidity and very good soil drainage characteristics. Clay pots usually provide good air circulation, as long as they are not glazed. If you add a lot of soil conditioner into your mix, like orchid mix and perlite, the tall pot will provide a good drainage. Tall pot is also great for displaying the beautiful pendulous blooms!

Plastic pots work well too, as long as you provide a well-drained soil for the plant. If a nursery plastic pot is not pretty enough, you may place it in a fancy planter; however, make sure never let the pot sit in water, Medinillas do not like wet feet.

Date: 21 Mar 2026

How to start your dream collection: Adenium rainbow

Adenium Amaryllis

Adenium Amaryllis

Adenium Win

Adenium Win

Adenium Butterfly Yellow

Adenium Butterfly Yellow

Adenium Black Butterfly

Adenium Black Butterfly

Adenium Good Morning

Adenium Good Morning

Adenium Good Night

Adenium Good Night

How to start your dream collection: Adenium rainbow 🌈

👉 Thinking about adeniums? Read this before you buy one!
How to start an adenium collection without wasting money


If you’ve ever seen a tray of different blooming adeniums, you probably had the same thought: "I want them all." And honestly - we get it.

Adenium Plant Facts

Botanical name: Adenium sp.
Also known as: Adenium, Desert Rose, Impala Lily
USDA Zone: 9 - 10
Highligths Plant with caudexLarge shrub 5-10 ft tallSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWater Requirement: Low. Allow soil to dry out between wateringsWatering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryYellow, orange flowersRed, crimson, vinous flowersUnusual colorBlue, lavender, purple flowersWhite, off-white flowersPink flowersToxic or Poisonous
Get personalized tips for your region


But with hundreds of varieties out there (and only so much space on your patio), the real trick isn’t collecting everything… it’s choosing the right ones and growing them well so they actually bloom like the photos.

Let’s make it simple.

💡 Before you start your adenium collection



A few basics that make all the difference:

🔸 Light. Bright light is key. The more light, the better the blooms.
🔸 Water. Water deeply, then let soil dry out. Adeniums hate sitting wet.
🔸 Fertilizer. Adeniums prefer liquid food. Light, regular feeding with Sunshine Megaflor Bloom Booster during active growth = stronger growth, bigger caudex, and better flowering.
🔸 Trimming. Prune after flowering to shape and encourage branching. More branches = more flowers.
🔸 Soil. Fast-draining mix is a must. No heavy, soggy soil. Use Adenium Soilless Mix.
👉 How to grow a happy Adenium

🌸 Today's featured adeniums



A few standout varieties to start (or expand) your collection:

 ✦ Amaryllis: Large, bold blooms with a classic floral shape - one of those that always catches attention.
 ✦ Win: Clean, bright blooms with a balanced form - simple and very satisfying.
 ✦ Butterfly Yellow: Soft yellow tones with a delicate, airy look - light and cheerful.
 ✦ Black Butterfly: Dark, velvety tones with a winged pattern feel - rich and dramatic.
 ✦ Good Morning: Bright, fresh tones that feel clean and uplifting - a nice contrast in any group.
 ✦ Good Night: Dark, moody tones - a completely different vibe from typical bright adeniums.

If you’re just starting, pick a few different styles - light, dark, bold, soft. That contrast is what makes a collection feel alive.

And fair warning… It rarely stops at six! 😀

🛒 Explore Exotic Thai Adeniums

📚 Learn more:


· Adenium varieties in Plant Encyclopedia
· About #Adenium Rainbow - fantastic varieties

· How to grow a happy Adenium
#Container_Garden #Adeniums #How_to #Discover

🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 5 Apr 2025

10 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you and how you can grow your own

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) fruit on a tree

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) fruit on a tree

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) tree in a pot

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) tree in a pot

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) opened fruit with cacao beans

Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) opened fruit with cacao beans

💩 10 reasons why chocolate is actually good for you and how you can grow your own



☕️ That's right - the source of your favorite sweet treat, the Chocolate Tree (Theobroma cacao) we introduced in earlier post, produces cocoa that's packed with powerful health benefits. Growing your own chocolate tree isn't just fun and rewarding - it's a way to bring a superfood right into your backyard!

☕️ Here are 10 reasons why cocoa is a health hero:



🍫 Loaded with Antioxidants - Fights free radicals and supports overall cell health.

🍫 Heart Healthy - Helps lower blood pressure and improve circulation.

🍫 Mood Booster - Promotes feel-good chemicals like serotonin and endorphins.

🍫 Brain Power - Flavanols support memory, focus, and cognitive function.

🍫 Fights Inflammation - Natural compounds help reduce chronic inflammation.

🍫 Supports Blood Sugar Balance - May improve insulin sensitivity.

🍫 Glowing Skin - Boosts hydration and protects against UV damage.

🍫 Aids in Weight Management - May reduce cravings and support metabolism.

🍫 Rich in Minerals - Packed with magnesium, iron, copper, and more.

🍫 Good for Gut Health - Acts as a prebiotic to feed good bacteria.

☕️ With all these benefits, why not grow your own source of chocolate? Plant a Theobroma cacao tree and enjoy the magic of harvesting your very own cocoa pods. It's not just a tree - it's a conversation starter, a wellness booster, and your personal chocolate factory in the making.

🛒 Get your Chocolate Tree today and grow your own goodness

#Food_Forest #Fun_Facts #Discover

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Date: 13 Nov 2022

Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant...
Hoa Mai - for good luck!

Ochna  integerrima  (thomasiana)  -  Vietnamese  Mickey  Mouse  plant,  Hoa  Mai,  Mai  Vang,  black 
 fruit

Ochna integerrima (thomasiana)

What is the yellow flower that brings good luck on Vietnamese New Year (Tet) Celebration? Why is it called Mickey Mouse Plant?

The most celebrated flower in Vietnam, Ochna integerrima, called in Vietnam Hoa Mai or Mai Vang, blooms profusely on the occasion of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Commonly known as Yellow Mai Flower (Hoa Mai literally means "yellow blossoms"), this plant is considered the quintessential symbol of Spring. In Southern Vietnam, Hoa Mai are some of the first plants to flower.
This plant is a must for exotic plant collection. It is a rather slow growing, medium size shrub that can be trained into miniature tree. In winter the plant is covered with pretty bright yellow flowers, believed to bring good luck and prosperity. They are followed by cute shiny black berries on bright red sepals that resemble the face of Mickey Mouse.

The plant is easy to grow and relatively cold hardy to light freeze. Start fertilizing your Hoa Moa plant right now through the Winter to encourage early blooms. Luckily, we have a perfect bloom booster liquid fertilizer that is safe to use year around, including Winter months: Sunshine Boosters MegaFlor!

Lunar year 2023 will be a year of the Cat on the Vietnamese zodiac, from January 22nd, 2023 to February 9th, 2024. Cat is the fourth sign in Vietnamese Zodiac, taking place of the Rabbit in Chinese Zodiac.

Ochna  integerrima  (thomasiana)  -  Vietnamese  Mickey  Mouse  plant,  Hoa  Mai,  Mai  Vang,  yellow  flowers

Vietnamese  boy  with  Hoa  Mai  Mickey  Mouse 
 plant

Date: 21 Jun 2026

🍓The Strawberry Moon Rises: A Gardener's Excuse to Go Outside

Sunshine,  an  orange  tabby  cat,  compares  a  strawberry-glazed  donut  to 
 the  Strawberry  Moon  while  Smokey,  a  tuxedo  cat  wearing  glasses,  inspects 
 Strawberry  Tree  and  Strawberry  Guava  plants  at  Top 
 Tropicals.
Sunshine: Look at my strawberry-glazed donut. Same as the Strawberry Moon. I have been waiting for this all month. They say moon gardening is useful. Let's go planting!
Smokey: Science hasn't found much evidence for it.
Sunshine: Then what's the point?
Smokey: If the moon gets people into the garden, that's good enough for me.

On the evening of Monday, June 29, 2026, the full Strawberry Moon will rise low in the southeastern sky. Whether you follow a lunar calendar or not, it's a good excuse to spend a little time outside on a summer evening.

🌛 What Is the Strawberry Moon, Exactly?

Many of the familiar full moon names come from Native American traditions and reflect seasonal events in nature. June's full moon was named for the season when wild strawberries ripen across much of North America, not for any color in the sky. Despite the name, the moon won't glow pink or red. If it looks warm or golden, that's simply because any full moon takes on an amber tint when it hangs low near the horizon, the same atmospheric effect that paints sunsets orange. The "strawberry" is about the harvest, not the hue.

This year, the Strawberry Moon rises on the evening of June 29 and will appear low in the southeastern sky, making it a particularly beautiful moon to watch as dusk settles in.

🌓 Moon Gardening, an Old and Honest Tradition

For generations, gardeners across Europe and beyond timed their planting, pruning, and harvesting to the phases of the moon. Plant root crops during a waning moon, some traditions say, and leafy crops during a waxing one. Prune during certain phases to slow regrowth, harvest herbs at others for better potency. These calendars were passed down through generations of careful observers who paid close attention to their land and their results, and many still follow them today.

Modern science has found little evidence that lunar gravity or moonlight significantly affects plant growth. Yet the tradition persists, and plenty of growers still find real value in the rhythm it brings to the gardening year.

💡What We Know For Sure

Here's the practical truth, and it's the same one Smokey arrived at after thinking it over. Whether or not the moon influences your plants, the act of walking through your garden definitely does. A moon-phase calendar that gets you outside to check on your plants, pull a few weeds, prune back something leggy, top off the mulch, or water a thirsty pot is helping your garden, regardless of what's happening overhead.

The benefit isn't necessarily lunar. It's attention.

A garden rarely thrives because of a single grand effort. It thrives because of dozens of small ones: a little pruning, a little watering, a few weeds pulled before they become many.

Gardens reward the gardeners who show up, and if a full moon is your reminder to show up, that's a perfectly good reason to keep watching the sky.

📅 Beyond the Harvest

Not everything in a garden needs to produce a yield to be worthwhile. Marking the seasons the way our ancestors did, a strawberry moon in June, a harvest moon in fall, a snow moon in February, gives us small, recurring reasons to notice what's changing around us. It's a rhythm, not a requirement.

Think of the Strawberry Moon as a good excuse to take a walk through the garden.

The Strawberry Moon doesn't have to improve anything to be worth celebrating. It only needs to get you outside on a warm June evening, which, honestly, isn't a high bar to clear.

A Strawberry Moon Collection, Just for Fun

Sunshine immediately concluded that any moon named after strawberries deserved a few strawberry-themed plants. We couldn't argue with that logic, so we pulled together a few Top Tropicals favorites that fit the theme.

🍓 Strawberry Tree

Close-up  of  ripe  red  Strawberry  Tree  fruit  (Muntingia  calabura) 
 arranged  on  fresh  green  leaves  with  several  white  five-petaled  flowers  and 
 flower  buds,  displayed  on  a  rustic  wooden 
 surface.

The Strawberry Tree (Muntingia calabura) often carries flowers and fruit at the same time. Sweet red berries, delicate white blossoms, and lush foliage make this fast-growing tropical tree both ornamental and productive throughout much of the year.

Close-up  of  the  rare  yellow-fruited  Strawberry  Tree  (Muntingia 
 calabura)  showing  ripe  golden-yellow  berries  alongside  white  five-petaled 
 flowers  and  green  developing  fruit  among  textured  green 
 leaves.

A rare yellow-fruited form of Muntingia calabura (Strawberry Tree), displaying sweet golden berries, delicate white flowers, and immature green fruit all at the same time. This unusual selection offers the same fast growth and continuous fruiting as the red type, but with attractive yellow fruit that is seldom seen in cultivation.

Strawberry Tree (Muntingia calabura), also known as Jamaican Cherry, grows quickly and produces dainty white flowers resembling strawberry flowers, followed by an abundance of small cotton-candy-sweet berries that birds, wildlife, gardeners and their kids all appreciate.

📚 Learn more from Top Tropicals Garden Blog

🍓 Strawberry Guava

Strawberry Guava (Psidium littorale) brings glossy foliage and sweet, perfumed fruit that tastes something like its namesake crossed with a guava.

Close-up  of  a  strawberry  guava  branch  loaded  with  fruit  in  different 
 stages  of  ripening,  from  green  and  yellow  to  bright  pink-red.  Glossy 
 evergreen  leaves  surround  the  colorful  clusters  against  a  clear  blue 
 sky.

Strawberry Guava (Psidium littorale, or cattleianum) often carries fruit in multiple stages of ripening at once, creating a colorful display of green, golden, and ruby-red berries. The sweet, aromatic fruit is prized for fresh eating and attracts birds and wildlife to the garden.

🍓 Strawberry Dragon Fruit

Dragon Fruit Vietnamese Jaina Strawberry White (Hylocereus undatus ) produces bright pink fruit with refreshing white flesh and a flavor often described as a blend of strawberry, melon, and kiwi. Its enormous night-blooming flowers are every bit as impressive as the fruit, turning this vigorous climbing cactus into a spectacular summer showpiece.

Plate  of  Vietnamese  Jaina  Strawberry  White  dragon  fruit  showing  several
    whole  pink-skinned  fruits  alongside  sliced  fruit  revealing  bright  white 
 flesh  speckled  with  tiny  black 
 seeds.

Vietnamese Jaina Strawberry White Dragon Fruit is prized for its refreshing white flesh and mild sweet flavor with hints of strawberry, melon, and kiwi. The vivid pink skin and striking black-speckled interior make it as beautiful on the table as it is delicious to eat.

🍓 Strawberry Ginger

Coral Ginger Borneo Strawberry Pink (Riedelia coralina) is one of the rarest gingers in cultivation, producing unusual strawberry-pink flower spikes that seem almost too exotic to be real. The edible blooms have a pleasant spicy fragrance and flavor, making this New Guinea treasure as interesting to taste as it is to admire.

Whether you came for the moon or the plants, we hope you discovered something interesting. They just happen to share a name with the moon overhead this June, and that felt like reason enough to give them a little spotlight.

Close-up  of  Riedelia  coralina  (Coral  Ginger)  showing  an  unusual 
 strawberry-pink  flower  spike  emerging  among  large  glossy  tropical  leaves, 
 with  the  curved  tubular  flowers  standing  out  against  a  lush  green  jungle 
 background.

Riedelia coralina, known as Coral Ginger or Borneo Strawberry Pink, produces one of the most unusual flower displays in the ginger family. Its striking strawberry-pink blooms rise above lush foliage, creating a tropical focal point rarely seen outside specialized collections.

🍓🌱 How to Grow Them

If you live in a frost-free climate (USDA Zones 10+), simply plant these strawberry gems in the ground and enjoy. Strawberry Guava can tolerate occasional frosts down to about 28F once established.

Not so lucky? Many gardeners successfully grow Strawberry Guava, Strawberry Dragon Fruit, and Strawberry Tree in containers, moving them indoors or to a protected location during winter. You don't need a tropical climate to enjoy tropical fruit.

🏡 See You Outside

Whether you believe in moon gardening or not, June 29 is a good night to step outside, find an open view of the southeastern sky, and watch the Strawberry Moon rise. Bring a cup of tea, walk the garden beds while there's still light, pull a few weeds, and let the evening settle in around you.

And that may be the real lesson of the Strawberry Moon.

Sunshine: The Strawberry Moon is out. Time for gardening.
Smokey: What does the moon calendar recommend?
Sunshine: I have no idea. I left it on the kitchen table. Both hands are full.
Smokey: Of course they are. Coffee and donuts. Let's start with the weeds.

👉Start your Strawberry Moon Collection

Date: 10 Apr 2025

Do good

Do good

🔍 Do good



"While you are young, strong, and full of energy, never tire of doing good! Happiness does not exist, nor should it. If life has meaning and purpose, that meaning and purpose are not in our happiness but in something more rational and greater. Do good!" - Anton Chekhov

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date: 2 Feb 2020

Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: James Coconuts progress report

Many people asking about James Coconuts who used to be in charge of our Office and Customer Service team. What is he doing now? Did he get a promotion? We addressed this question to Coconuts and here is what he's got to say:

"Hi folks, I am doing just fine. Yes, I got a promotion and currently working in Sunshine Boosters Lab together with Mr Booster (I just call him Mr B). We are developing a revolutionary Sunshine Plant Nutrition Program. It is important that your plants have good food! I can tell from my own experience. When these nice people at TopTropicals picked me up from the street couple years ago, I was nothing but bone and skin... not even much fur. And look at me now! I am still working on my work out, and my resolution for 2020 is to become even more fluffy, just like that chick in the calendar! I think everyone should eat good... and do good... Like someone said:

"Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good!"(Minor Myers Jr).

Check out and more Cat of the Day stories.

Date: 29 Dec 2019

Meet People of TopTropicals. Duck of the Day: Dobi says Good-Bye!

Our Duck Dobi finally decided to join her whistling duck community and said good bye to us...

Everyone who visited Top Tropicals Garden Center met Dobi - the all-time greeter! She has been raised by Kristi from a little fluffy duckling and ruled TopTropicals Cat Community and Plant Nursery for almost 2 years! Now that she finally feels strong and confident, she said she feels good about getting her Duck Freedom. She promised to come back in Spring, like all ducks do - they come to their Home Pond where they have been raised.

Bon Voyage Dobi, enjoy your duck friends, and we will be waiting for you!

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Date: 30 May 2019

Triple Sec Mango

TopTropicals.com

By Onika Amell, tropical plant specialist

Q: I live in Mesa, Arizona. I am considering purchasing two of you Triple Sec Mango trees. Can you please give me some information on this variety and how to grow it successfully here in hot and arid Arizona, if at all?

A: Triple Sec Mango is a new name for the superior variety Seacrest. The aroma of this fruit resembles Triple Sec - an orange liqueur. It's a juicy, mid-season variety that has good disease resistance.
Mango has pretty good heat and drought tolerance. It loves sun, but there are a lot of factors to consider when growing Mango in your area.
Check your soil. Soil quality is always first and foremost: when you live in an area of Arizona with hardpan (extremely compacted desert soil) or caliche (layers of soil cemented by calcium carbonate) you will have to learn how to deal with such soil types. Amend the soil as needed.
The best time to plant is spring or fall to give your Mango a chance to get established before the really intense Summer heat starts. Alternatively, protect the tree with a shade cloth. Tender, new growth will not stand a chance unprotected, especially newly planted and/or young trees.
Mangoes are tropical and sensitive to frost and freeze damage. Young trees especially will also need winter protection when temperatures go near or below freezing. Always plant trees in a location where they will be protected from cold wind. Consider staking your newly planted Mango trees for the first year. It's never a bad idea to even stake during periods of high winds.
Make sure your planting site has very good drainage. Always use a good quality mulch around your tree as it helps to trap moisture, keeping the ground and the roots beneath it cool. Keep mulch a couple of inches from the trunk of the tree. Avoid a location that gets full day sun. Morning sun, afternoon shade is ideal. Give regular watering until the tree is established. Once established, water only when the soil feels dry.
Fertilizer with a Mango-Food. A foliar spray of micronutrient solution is always recommended during the active growing period. Use plant stimulants and microelements to improve cold hardiness and vigor.

See more info on growing mango in hot climate and container grown mangoes in Arizona.