Garden Blog - Top Tropicals
You wont believe what glows in the shade: the rare blue ginger
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger
- 💎 If you ever spot a flash of electric blue in the tropical shade, you might think your eyes are playing tricks on you, but that vivid color belongs to a rare Dichorisandra thyrsiflora - Blue Ginger.
- 💎 Despite its name, this isn’t a true ginger at all. It’s actually related to Tradescantia, the same family as familiar houseplants like the Wandering Jew and Spiderwort. Native to Brazil, Blue Ginger thrives in warm, humid shade, making it a perfect choice for patios, screened porches, garden corners, or indoor collections.
- 💎 Its glossy leaves and tall stems topped with clusters of sapphire-blue blooms create a tropical jewel effect. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life and motion to shady areas where few other plants bloom so brightly.
- 💎 Give it rich, well-drained soil, steady moisture, and partial shade - and enjoy one of the rarest colors in the tropical plant world.
🛒 Get your own exotic Blue Ginger
📚 Learn more:
Is Sapphire Gem really a ginger?
#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden
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Why this Elephant Ear is breaking the internet: the hottest houseplant of the year
Alocasia macrorrhiza Variegata - Variegated Elephant Ears
- 🍀 This is Alocasia macrorrhiza Variegata - Variegated Elephant Ears - the tropical showstopper that collectors can’t stop talking about.
- 🍀 One look at those giant leaves splashed with creamy white and deep green, and you'll see why it's always sold out. Every leaf is different - some half white, some marbled like abstract art. Some leaves can be completely white!
- 🍀 Unlike most elephant ears, this one stays a bit more compact, which makes it perfect for a big decorative pot on a patio or shady corner. It still has that bold, jungle look but behaves better in containers.
- 🍀 Give it bright, filtered light, warmth, and humidity. Keep the soil moist but never soggy. The white parts of the leaves can burn easily, so skip harsh direct sun.
- 🍀 Here's a tip: if you see a solid green shoot, cut it off - it can take over and make the plant lose its variegation. That’s because this plant’s variegation is a chimera, meaning it can shift from leaf to leaf.
- 🍀 Feed it lightly during the growing season. The white parts can’t make food for the plant, so it relies on the green sections to do all the work. A little boost with Sunshine Robusta or Green Magic controlled release fertilizer help it stay balanced without overloading the roots.
- 🍀 This plant’s got everything: beauty, rarity, and a bit of mystery. No wonder it’s the one everyone wants to show off!
🛒 Get yours before it’s gone or add to wishlist
📚 Learn more:
- ▫️How can you use Elephant Ears?
- ▫️Charming Elephant Ears: Alocasia vs. Colocasia - which one is better?
- ▫️A Beautiful and Edible Delight: Colocasia antiquorum Illustris
- ▫️What to plant by the pond?
- ▫️Pharaoh Mask with stunning 3D effect
- ▫️Mojito Elephant Ears
- ▫️Colocasia vs Alocasia - what is the difference?
#Shade_Garden #Container_Garden
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Surprising Miniature Gardenia
Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia
Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia
Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia
- Gardenia radicans - Dwarf Miniature Creeping Gardenia - can surprise even longtime gardenia fans. It has all the charm of the classic shrub - glossy green leaves, pure white flowers, and that unforgettable fragrance - but in a smaller, easier form.
- Natural bonsai. This little plant grows low and wide, staying under 1-2 feet tall and spreading up to 3-4 feet. It forms a dense mound or creeping groundcover that looks great along walkways or spilling from a pot. The leaves are tiny and shiny, giving it a neat, polished look all year.
- The flowers are about an inch across, double or semi-double, and smell just like the full-size gardenia. They bloom in spring and often return through summer, filling the air with perfume.
- Easier than other gardenias. Gardenia radicans isn’t as fussy as most gardenias. It can handle clay, sandy, or loamy soil as long as it drains well. Once established, it’s fairly drought-tolerant and can even handle some cold, down to around 15F in protected spots.
- Where to plant. It's perfect for small gardens, patios, or as a bonsai. You get the luxury fragrance of a gardenia without needing a big space. Use it as a groundcover, edging plant, or container specimen. It's one of those plants that stays tidy, looks refined, and keeps blooming. For anyone who loves gardenias but wants something compact and low-maintenance, Gardenia radicans is a great find.
🛒 Add unique Mini-Gardenia to your collection
#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden
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The hot Guyanese secret to perfect skin
Biquinho Pepper (Capsicum annuum x chinense) and Wiri Wiri Pepper (Capsicum frutescens)
- 🌶 Who said Peppers can't be cute? These two little fireballs prove otherwise! They might look small, but they’re full of personality, flavor, and heat.
- 🌶 Biquinho Pepper (Capsicum annuum x chinense)
- 🌶 Wiri Wiri Pepper (Capsicum frutescens)
- 🌶 Fun facts:
This heart-shaped hottie is an ancient hybrid between bird pepper and habanero is as beautiful as it is flavorful. Each tiny 1-inch red pepper packs a fruity, tangy punch with just enough heat to make your taste buds dance. Perfect for container gardens, Biquinho peppers decorate the plant like tiny red ornaments – and they’re just as tasty in pickles, salsas, or fresh salads.
From the kitchens of Guyana comes a true legend - the Wiri Wiri pepper. These little berry-shaped peppers turn from green to orange to bright red, bursting with intense heat and flavor. Guyanese chefs swear by it - it's the secret behind their famously spicy, flavorful dishes. Locals even say it’s the reason they live long, have glowing skin, and look amazing… it's not just spice, it's magic!
· Both peppers belong to the same botanical family as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants.
- · What makes them special isn't just the heat - it's the flavor!
- · True pepper lovers know that great peppers are about depth, aroma, and the fruity fire they bring to every meal.
🌶 Growing tips:
Feed your peppers with Sunshine C-Cibus plant booster for abundant crops and extra flavorful fruits. These compact plants thrive in containers and bring tropical flair to patios, balconies, or edible gardens.
💥 These two peppers are a must for spice lovers - intense fruity habanero flavor packs quite a bang!
Extremely showy, these ornamental peppers have culinary benefits and are great for container garden.
🛒 Add the flavor of Hot Peppers to your garden and kitchen
📚 Learn more:
📱 How to grow the hot Wiri Wiri and Biquino Peppers
#Food_Forest #Container_Garden
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Whats that fragrance in the dark?
Brunfelsia - Lady of the Night
- 💐 Brunfelsia? People often ask: what can you plant in a shady spot that blooms year-round and smells amazing? The answer is Brunfelsia, known as Lady of the Night.
- 💐 This Brazilian beauty is a compact, shade-loving shrub that thrives in low light and rewards you with creamy white flowers. As the sun sets, the blooms release a sweet, unforgettable perfume that lingers through the night. It’s like nature’s way of setting the mood for evening strolls.
- 💐 Brunfelsia is more than just fragrance. Its flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds, turning shaded corners into lively little stages. Low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly, and elegant, it’s the answer to your prayers: shade, flowers, and fragrance all in one plant.
- 💐 The most fragrant Brunfelsias are the creamy-white varieties, often called Lady of the Night.
Popular species include: B. americana, B. isola, B. nitida, B. lactea, B. manaca, B. densifolia, B. gigantea.
Do you already grow Brunfelsia? What kind do you have in your garden?
🛒 Experience Brunfelsia fragrance
📚 Learn more about Brunfelsias:
- ✦ Five best fragrant plants for summer plantings
- ✦ What is the most fragrant Brunfelsia?
- ✦ What happens when you cross Cream and Lavender?
- ✦ Lavender Marble Perfume
- ✦ What is the difference between Brunfelsia americana and nitida?
- ✦ Brunfelsia americana - Lady of the night
- ✦ Brunfelsias
#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Container_Garden #Shade_Garden
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