A: When we think of an "herb garden," parsley and chives often come to mind -plants that aren't particularly showy and typically require a dedicated vegetable garden, space, and regular maintenance. However, creating a food forest in your yard doesn't have to be a complex project. Useful edibles and medicinal herbs can also be exotic and beautiful, enhancing the charm of your landscape. Here are some examples of unusual tropical edibles that are not only stunning ornamentals but also bring delicious goodness to your kitchen.

1. For drinks: Jamaica Tea flower - Karkade Hibiscus

Hibiscus sabdariffa - Flor de Jamaica, Karkade Sorrel, Roselle, or Jamaica Tea flower (Karkade Tea) - yes, many hibiscus species are edible!
- Flowers of Roselle hibiscus are used to make a tea "Agua de Flor de Jamaica". To be exact, those are flower bracts around flowers and seed pods.
- Medical studies show that it lowers blood pressure and has diuretic effects.
- The pleasant flavor is similar to a cranberry juice and it's so good, you may not even want to add any sugar. We make this cold tea every day - perfect for hot summer.
- Karkade Hibiscus grows into a large bush within just one season from seed! Lots of flowers to harvest will last you the whole winter. It can be treated as annual in cooler areas due to its fast growth and same-year harvest. Thrives in full sun.
- Short video: &feature=youtu.be">how to make hibiscus tea

2. For medicine: Aztec Sweetleaf - Lippia

Lippia dulcis - Aztec Sweet Herb, Sweetleaf is a wonderful fragrant groundcover.
- Fragrant Mexican herb with incredibly sweet and aromatic leaves.
- The fresh leaves can be eaten from the plant like candy or tossed into fruit salads for an unusual addition, or used for making a healing tea.
- It has been used since the time of the Aztecs for coughs and colds.
- The sweetness tastes great, and can be used by diabetic patients. We add this herb to Karkade or Mint tea as a sweetener, instead of sugar or honey.
- Grows like a ground cover, in shade or semi-shade, great perennial container plant.

3. For salads and stews: Longevity Spinach, or Cholesterol spinach

Gynura procubens - Longevity Spinach, or Cholesterol spinach is a perennial spinach, and once you plant it, you have it for many years, and can grow many more easily from cuttings!
- Longevity Spinach is one of the Superfoods, and there are many claims that it lowers cholesterol.
- We use Longevity Spinach in our cooking all the time and so far we are all alive, so it works! :)
- Longevity spinach can be eaten raw in salads or cooked wherever you would use a regular spinach.
- Grows as a large spreading herbal bush, in full sun. - See some recipes with more pictures

4. For meat wraps: Vietnamese Pepper or Wild Betel Leaf

Piper sarmentosum - Vietnamese Pepper, Lalot, Wild Betel Leaf, Chaa-plu adds wonderful peppery flavor to meats and is great for wrapping meats and cooking in the oven, on a stove or grill. We use it all the time, wrapping ground beef of turkey and putting wraps on a grill or on a frying pan, very easy!
- Vietnamese Pepper leaves are eaten raw in salads or cooked with other greens or dishes.
- The leaves are used as food wraps in Vietnam. It is used medicinally in India and SE Asia.
- It is also chewed with Betel Nut as a tonic and medicine, very similar to Betel Leaf (Piper Betel) which is very popular tonic in Indian culture.
- Vietnamese Pepper grows as a vining herbaceous shrub or ground cover, in both sun or shade, and spreads with runners so you can have plenty if you want to have more. Can be grown in container and indoors, too. - Check out recipes of meat wraps for grilling

A: With five acres of space, you have a fantastic opportunity to create a fruitful garden that can provide for your family for many years to come. Below are our top recommendations for must-have, easy-to-grow fruit trees that thrive in Florida's climate, grow quickly, and start producing right away.

1. Mango Tree

Mango trees (Mangifera indica) are a must-have for any Florida garden, embodying the essence of the Sunshine State with their delicious and nutritious fruit packed with vitamins and fiber. These fast-growing, low-maintenance trees thrive with minimal water and are heat-tolerant. Grafted varieties produce high-quality, fiberless fruit in just 2-3 years, while dwarf "condo" mangoes are perfect for smaller spaces or containers. While young trees need frost protection, mature trees handle cold better. Grafted mangoes offer rich taste that you won't find in commercially grown, fibrous varieties, ensuring a sweet and vibrant harvest from your own garden.

2. Avocado Tree

The Avocado tree (Persea americana) is an essential addition to any tropical or subtropical garden. Known for its health benefits and superfood status, it's a favorite fruit that's not only productive but also a beautiful ornamental tree. Some avocado varieties are more cold-tolerant than mango trees, with the ability to survive temperatures below 25F. While many enjoy growing avocado from seed, only grafted trees guarantee quality fruit and immediate production, as seedlings can take 7-8 years to bear fruit. To successfully grow avocado, ensure good drainage by planting on a raised mound (4-6 inches) and keep the soil consistently moist. There are also compact varieties like Wurtz and Fuerte that thrive in containers or small spaces, making them ideal for patios and small gardens.

3. Tropical Cherries

Tropical cherries, such as Cherry of the Rio Grande (Eugenia aggregata), Grumichama (Eugenia brazilensis), Pitomba (Eugenia luschnathiana), and Black Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora var. Lolita), are popular and easy-to-grow fruit trees that offer fast growth and excellent fruit production. These compact, versatile trees thrive in both the ground and containers, starting to produce fruit almost immediately. Eugenias are low-maintenance, requiring minimal water, thriving in various soil types, and being pest-free. They are heat-tolerant and can endure cool winters, surviving light frosts. Birds love the fruit, but don't worry - there will always be plenty for everyone.

4. Barbados Cherry Tree

Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra), also known as Acerola, is a tropical cherry renowned for having the highest vitamin C content of any fruit. This nutrient-packed fruit is perfect for jellies, jams, and freezing without losing its vitamin C. The Barbados Cherry is a fast-growing, dense shrub that fruits multiple times a year, providing abundant harvests for gardeners seeking quick results. It thrives in alkaline soil, tolerates drought, and is relatively cold-hardy, withstanding light freezes. Birds love the fruit, making it a great addition to wildlife-friendly gardens. The dwarf variety, Nana, with its small leaves and fruit, is perfect for containers, borders, or even bonsai, adding ornamental value to any space.

5. Noni Tree

The Noni Tree (Morinda citrifolia) is a top superfood plant that makes a fantastic addition to any Southern garden. Known for its numerous medicinal benefits, Noni fruit offers anti-inflammatory properties, relief from arthritis, and support for conditions like diabetes, metabolism, and weight loss. It's even believed to help fight cancer. Noni trees grow quickly and begin producing fruit within 2 years from seed. This tough, resilient plant thrives in poor soil, endures summer heat, and withstands drought conditions. Despite its tropical appearance, Noni is surprisingly cold-hardy, recovering well after leaf damage in cooler weather. In addition to its health benefits, the Noni tree has ornamental value, with large, waxy leaves and unique fruit, where the flower appears to grow directly on the fruit!

6. Macadamia Nut Tree

The Macadamia Nut Tree (Macadamia integrifolia) is a fantastic addition to any garden, allowing you to grow these delicious, high price tag, nutrient-rich nuts right at home. These trees are cold-hardy, grow quickly, and thrive in all Florida soil types. Once established, they are productive and can tolerate both flooding and drought. Older trees can survive colder winters, while young trees need protection from temperatures below 25-26F. Macadamia trees like plenty of water and a special fertilizer program, including liquid fertilizers and microelements, to ensure healthy root development and optimal production. Aside from being rich in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, macadamia nuts offer numerous health benefits, such as improved digestion, heart health, weight management, and blood sugar control. They are also packed with tocotrienols - antioxidants which may protect against cancer and brain diseases.

7. Papaya Tree

Papaya trees (Carica papaya) are resilient, easy to grow, and produce fruit year-round. Rich in papain, a digestive enzyme, papayas are a superfood that promotes gut health. These fast-growing trees often begin producing fruit within the same year they're planted, providing quick rewards for gardeners. Many varieties, especially dwarf papayas, are space-efficient, reaching only 6-8 feet tall while still yielding large crops, making them perfect for small gardens. Surprisingly hardy for a tropical plant, papayas can withstand light freezes and strong winds (tested in hurricanes!). While they are self-fertile, planting 2-3 different cultivars improves pollination and increases yields. "Solo" cultivars, with their smaller, round or oval fruits, are sweet and less susceptible to fruit flies.

8. Guava Tree

Guava trees are beloved for their flavorful fruit, commonly used in juices, drinks, and desserts. Popular varieties include Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava), Cattley Guava (Psidium littorale), Cas Guava (Psidium friedrichsthalianum), and Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana). Despite their tropical nature, guavas are surprisingly cold-hardy, suitable for cooler climates and occasional frost. These trees thrive in moist conditions and can tolerate some flooding, while their compact growth makes them easy to maintain at any height or shape. Guavas are fast-fruiting, often producing fruit within a year of planting, and even some varieties in 1 gal containers. The dwarf Nana variety is perfect for container culture, producing full-sized fruit in a compact form. Guava trees are mostly pest-resistant, though mealybugs may require occasional treatment with neem oil in humid, rainy areas. Planting multiple guava trees ensures a continuous supply of fresh, juicy fruit and delicious guava juice for everyone to enjoy.

9. Jackfruit Tree

The Jackfruit tree (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is a striking, fast-growing tree known for producing the largest fruit grown on a tree, making it a showstopper in any garden. Nutrient-packed and often used as a meat substitute in South Asian cuisine, Jackfruit is also delicious in curries, chutneys, and as dehydrated chips. These trees grow quickly, have large waxy leaves, and can be maintained at a compact height of 7-8 feet, making them ideal for smaller spaces and easier cold protection. Despite being a tropical species, Jackfruit trees are relatively cold-tolerant and can survive light frost (although on the account of production volume), with established trees being more hardy than seedlings. Jackfruit trees begin producing fruit within 3-4 years from seed, and varieties come true to seed, eliminating the need for grafting, though it can be done for specific varieties.

10. Loquat Tree

The Loquat tree (Eriobotrya japonica) is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly cold-hardy tropical fruit tree that thrives in Florida gardens. Loquats are heavy producers, with juicy, aromatic fruit that ripens from early spring to early summer, offering a delicious apricot-like flavor. This compact tree is perfect for small gardens, beginners, and those with limited space. Loquats are undemanding, thriving in any soil and withstanding summer heat, winter cold, heavy rains, and occasional flooding. Nutrient-rich, they are high in sugar, acids, vitamins B and C, minerals, and pectin. Loquats are versatile, enjoyed fresh or used in fruit salads, jams, jellies, chutneys, pies, sauces, and even wine-making, and they are often used as a natural sweetener.