Plant articles and pages
See also:
Top Tropicals Garden Blog: Gardening Tips and Discounts!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
POPULAR DOWNLOADS
- Planting instructions (PDF)
- Seed germination instruction (PDF)
- A Guide to Cold Hardy Tropical Fruit Trees and Avoicado Varieties (PDF)
- Adenium care (PDF)
- Avocado care (PDF)
- Bamboo growing instructions (PDF)
- Blueberry care (PDF)
- Cananga sp. (Ylang-ylang) care (PDF)
- Cerbera odollam (Pong pong tree) care (PDF)
- Camellia sinensis (Tea plant) care (PDF)
- Cyrtostachys lakka (Sealing wax palm) care (PDF)
- Deciduous and dormant plants (PDF)
- Disocorea (Elefant foot) care (PDF)
- Fertilizer - slow release granulated (PDF)
- Fertilizers 101 (PDF)
- Kristi's library: mail order plants care
- Order form (PDF 62 Kb)
- Top Tropicals guide to cold hardy avocado varieties (PDF)
- Top Tropicals guide to late-season plants in SW Florida (PDF)
- Top Tropical guide to tropical fruit tree cold hardiness in SW Florida (PDF)
- SUNSHINE boosters - ultimate growth stimulators (PDF)
- SUNSHINE - Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- SUNSHINE-E instructions (PDF)
- SUNSHINE-Honey instructions (PDF)
- SUNSHINE SuperFood instructions (PDF)
- Synsepalum dulcificum (Miracle fruit) care (PDF)
- Ultra-tropical plants care (PDF)
GENERAL INFO
- FAQ - questions and answers about our plants
- Floral Morphology: structure and shapes of flowers
- More about latin names meanings
- Tree Terms Glossary
- Catalog Pictograms
PLANT CARE & CULTIVATION
- Buying plants mail-order: things to look for before taking the plunge
- Cacti care
- Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) growing instructions
- Do-It-Yourself Support Structure for Dragon Fruit
- Essential Nutrients
- General planting instructions
- Germinating: How to quickly germinate tropical seeds in winter
- Greenhouse in Virginia
- GrowCoir - coconut fiber
- Growing exotic tropical plants: a challenge or a stress relief?
- Growing Jasmines indoors - useful tips
- Grow lights overview
- Growing mango in hot Arizona
- How to container grow Mango trees in Arizona
- How to plant a tree?
- Indoor lighting for tropical plants
- Moving plants: transplanting with less stress
- Micronutrients Mix - plant supplement to correct iron deficiency
- Mist House: propagation and recovery system
- Over-wintering Plumerias with limited space
- Plant diseases
- Potting mix
- Potting your plant: soil and fertilizer requirements
- Propagation: Secrets of turtle tank controlled propagation unit
- Rhizome planting instructions
- Shipping plants
- SUNSHINE™ in a bottle - ultimate growth stimulant, plant booster
- SUNSHINE SuperFood - Revolutionary Micronutrient Supplement and Plant Health Booster
- SUNSHINE-Honey - natural sugar enhancer for fruit and edible plants
- Super Absorbent Water Crystals: Horta-Sorb Water Management Gel
- TopTropicals guide to in-ground planting
- Top Tropicals guide to late-season plants (Fall through Early Spring) in SW Florida (PDF)
- Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Crops for the Home Landscape: Alternatives to Citrus
- Tropical analogies of non-tropicals
- Troubleshooting: Problem solving with potted plants
- Winter planting: Tropical Planting Breaks the Rules
- Worms: Sacred Earthworm - benefit or damage?
- Zone-pushing:
Growing tropicals in non-tropical climate
RARE TROPICAL FRUIT AND EDIBLES
- Ananas comosus. The most luscious Hospitality Fruit: Pineapple
- Annona muricata: Zodiac for Guanabana tree? Horospope for Annona muricata.
- Aronia melanocarpa – a Magic gift from the Native Americans
- Artocarpus heterophyllus - Jackfruit
- Artocarpus hypargyreus - Kwai Muk (the Ugly Delicious Fruit)
- Artocarpus x integer, Jack-edak (Jackfruit x Chempedak), Cheena
- Artocarpus odoratissimus - heavenly delicious fruit
- Avocado varieties
- Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole?
- Avocado: Four great reasons to grow your own Avocado tree in Florida
- Bilimbi - a curious Cucumber Tree
- Blighia sapida (Akee) - Jamaican National Fruit
- Bunchosia - Peanut Butter Fruit Tree
- Byrsonima crassifolia - Pretty Fancy Nancy from Brazil (Golden Spoon)
- Cajanus cajan - Pigeon Pea
- Camellia sinensis - a Cup of Tea Plant
- Capsicum baccatum - Brazilian Starfish pepper
- Capsicum chinense - Gold Carolina Reaper Pepper
- Eriobotrya japonica - Golden Loquat, the symbol of Prosperity
- Eugenia rhombea - Red Stopper Cherry
- Feijoa: Flavor of Feijoa Superfood
- Ficus carica - Turkish Brown Fig
- Fruits of Asia: local names index for easy find
- Growing fruit trees in containers
- Guava
- Guava: Discovering the Amazing Guava Fruit Tree
- Gynura: Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes
- Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potatoes, healthy food for every kitchen
- Illicium verum - Star Anise
- Lycium barbarum, GojiBerry - the herb with five names
- Litchi chinensis - Lychee
- Macadamia: Hard Sweet Nut and Hardy Tree
- Malpighia, Barbados cherry – equal to 65 oranges
- Mango varieties
- Morinda citrifolia - Noni: Life Sustaining Plant
- Moringa oliefera - Horse Radish Tree
- Musa Zebrina Rojo - Blood Leaf Banana
- Papaya: How to grow a Papaya Tree. Practical Guide
- Persimmons: Growing persimmon trees
- Persea americana: Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole?
- Piper nigrum, Black Pepper Vine
- Piper sarmentosum, Lalot - Vietnamese Pepper
- Pipers, thePepper Plants
- Pitaya: Do-It-Yourself Support Structure for Dragon Fruit
- Pouteria campechiana- Canistel, the curious heart-shaped Egg Super-Fruit
- Psidium friedrichsthalianum - Costa Rican Guava
- Psidium guajava: Discovering the Amazing Guava Fruit Tree
- Punica granatum - the Drops of Blood from Garden of Eden
- Quararibea cordata - Chupa-chupa
- Randia formosa - Fragrance and fresh Blackberry Jam
- Rubus Sanctus - the Sacred Burning Bush of the Bible, and other Blackberries
- Sauropus androgynous - Tropical Asparagus, Katuk
- Synsepalum dulcificum: Everyday Miracle - Grow the Dream!..
- Syzygium jambos, Rose Apple - a Sacred Tree of Enlightenment from the Land of Jambudvipa
- Tamarind
- Tamarind: The Wonderful World of Tamarind: From Planting to Plating
- Top Tropicals guide to tropical fruit trees and their cold hardiness in SW Florida (PDF)
- Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Crops for the Home Landscape: Alternatives to Citrus
- Tropical Fruit of Thailand
- Vanilla
- Very cold hardy avocado varieties (PDF)
FLOWERING TREES
- Adansonia digitata - Baobab
- Alstonia scolaris - a Scholar's Award Indian Devil Tree, and its intoxicating fragrance
- Annonaceae fragrant plants
- Araucaria: A Case of Mistaken Identity
- Azadirachta indica - Neem tree
- Azadirachta indica - NEEM, The Free Tree of India
- Bauhinia Acuminata - Beautifully challenged
- Bauhinia blakeana: Spectacular Hong Kong Orchid Tree - Eye Candy and "Clever Leaf"
- Bauhinias - Orchid Trees
- Bauihnias: Orchid trees with Butterfly flowers and leaves
- Brownea - the stunning beauty
- Brugmansia - 3 - Angel's Trumpet
- Butea monosperma - Flame of the Forest
- Callistemon: from Bottlebrush to Little John, or the story of a Dwarf Plant
- Cananga: the Ylang-Ylang: Queen of the Perfume World
- Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) growing instructions
- Cerbera manghas - Enchanted Incense. How to grow Cerbera and make it flower
- Ceiba pentandra, Kapok Tree - Maya's Sacred Tree at the Center of the Earth
- Chorisia (ceiba) speciosa - Exotic Pink Silk Floss Tree
- Cordia sebestena - Geiger Tree
- Delonix - Flamboyant, Royal Poinciana
- Elaeocarpus angustifolius - Fairy Petticoats and Shiva's tears
- Erythrina vespertillio - Bat-Wing coral tree
- Ficus citrifolia - Florida Native Banyan
- Jacaranda mimosifolia
- Jacaranda: The Purple Tango of Hypnotizing, Awe-inspiring Jacaranda
- Kigelia pinnata - Sausage Tree
- Macaranga extraordinary grandiose leaves
- Macaranga grandifolia - Elephant Ear Tree. The very quintessence of tropical foliage luxury
- Magnolia Aristocrats
- Magnolia champaka - a true Joy of your life
- Magnolia: Tropical Magnolias
- Magnolia virginiana: a Native Virgin - Sweetbay Vanilla Magnolia
- Maniltoa, the Handkerchief Tree
- Markhamia - a rare find beauty from Africa
- Melia azedarach - Bead Tree
- Millingtonia
- Moringa oliefera - Horse Radish Tree
- Musa ensete Maurelli - Red Abyssinian Banana
- Napoleana - Napoleon's Hat: endangered species from the outgone era of the Napoleon's War
- Over-wintering Plumerias with limited space
- Pink Cassias
- Plants with scents as heady as incense: Enchanted Magnolias - Joy in your life
- Plumeria - Fabulous Frangipani
- Plumeria: exotic varieties from Thailand
- Portlandia - rich hot chocolate with vanilla
- Quararibea funebris - Rosita de Cacao and Drink of the Gods
- Saraca indica
- Saraca indica - Ashoka: the Sorrowless Tree, the tree of Happiness
- Spathodea campanulata - African Tulip Tree
- Stemmadenia - Perfumed Milky Way
- Stemmadenia litoralis, Milky Way Tree
- Sterculia foetida - Wild Indian Almond
- Tropical
Magnolias
FLOWERING SHRUBS
- Aglaia odorata – a present from the Greek Goddess
- Allamanda - a Queen of every blooming garden, in Her diversity
- Alyogyne - Blue Hibiscus with prismatic effect of peacock feathers
- Bauhinia Acuminata - Beautifully challenged
- Bougainvillea - Paper flower
- Brunfelsia: Yesterday-Today-Tomorrow, Brunfelsia from Brazil
- Confusing varieties of Jasminum Sambac
- Crotons
- Datura: The Enchanting Datura
- Dombeya seminole - Tropical Rose Hydrangea
- Gardenia - Queen of Fragrance
- Gardenia (Kailarsenia) vietnamensis
- Growing Jasmines indoors - useful tips
- Erythrina herbacea, Coral bean - Hummingbird Delight
- Hibiscus, Gardenias and Jasmines
- Hibiscus growing tips: The Tips of Hibiscus Flowers
- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
- Hiptage benghalensis: Helicopter Flower or Madhavi, the Spring Herald
- Ixora - the Star of Southern Landscapes
- Jasminum molle - sacred Jui Jasmine with the strongest aroma
- Jasminum Sambac FAQ
- Jasminum Sambac: History and uses in different countries
- Jasminum Sambac Page
- Jasminum species
- Jatropha podagrica, Gout plant - the coolest plant anyone can grow
- Jatropha podagrica
- Justicia Shrimp Rainbow
- Leonotis leonurus: Lion cub's tails looking out of a tall grass
- Musa ensete Maurelli - Red Abyssinian Banana
- Osmanthus fragrans or Sweet Olive - Romance Perfume
- Pavonia for hummingbirds - a cinch to grow!
- Plumbago: Sky Blue Plumbago in Southern Landscapes
- Pseuderanthemum: Magenta Freckles of Shooting Stars
- Rhododendrons
- Strobilanthes, Chinese Rain Bell - a source of Blue, Green, and Purple
- Turnera - Aphrodisiac Superherb
- Strobilanthes
FLOWERING VINES
- Allamanda - a Queen of every blooming garden, in Her diversity
- Beaumontia grandiflora - Easter Lily Vine
- Beaumontia creates a fragrant privacy fence of virtually unlimited size
- Bougainvillea - Paper flower
- Camptosema grandiflora - the Delightful Dwarf Red Jade Vine
- Clitoria: The Blue Tea from the Magic Clitoria
- Ficus pumila: Creeping fig with unbelievable leaves and fruit
- Gelsemium sempervirens - Carolina jessamine
- Ipomoea batatas - Sweet Potatoes, healthy food for every kitchen
- Mandevilla (Dipladenia)
- Mansoa alliacea - Garlic Vine
- Passiflora: Passion Fruit - Juicy Maracuya
- Petraeovitex, Nong Nooch Vine - cascades of gold
- Petrea volubilis - Queen's Wreath
- Piper nigrum, Black Pepper Vine
- Senecio confusus, Mexican Flame Vine: for beginners and butterflies
- Stephanotis - Madagascar Jasmine
- Stictocardia beraviensis - Stunning Hawaiian Sunset
- Telosoma cordata - Pakalana Vine, fragrant edible beauty
- Tecomaria capensis: Attention - Red Flower Lovers! Passionate African Tecomaria
- Tetrastigma voinierianum, Chestnut vine - perfect plant for home and office
Cacti & Succulents
- Adenium: a Rose by any Other Name
- Adeniums: exotic multi-color and multi-grafted varieties from Thailand
- Bonsai - Art of the Miniature Trees
- Cacti Alps: Growing cacti and succulents outdoors in humid climate
- Cacti care: secrets of growing
- Dioscorea elephantipes - Elephant foot, Turtle shell, Hottentot-Bread
- Euphorbias: exotic varieties from Thailand
- Euphorbia spirosticha. Plants which are family members
- Pitaya (Dragon Fruit) - amazing exotic fruit growing on cactus
- Perescia - Rose cactus, Wax rose
- Picture Gallery: 100 Cacti - Grafted Cacti
- Portulacaria afra - Spekboom, or Baby Jade
- Selenicerius hondurensis - Honduran Moon-Torch Cactus
- Schlumbergera x New Deal - a remarkable Christmas cactus hybrid
- CULTIVAR: e-Magazine about exotic forms of Cactaceae
SMALL PERENNIALS
- African Gingers
- Agave amica? Polianthes tuberosa
- Alyogyne - Blue Hibiscus with prismatic effect of peacock feathers
- Callisia fragrans, Golden Tendril - Holistic Medicinal Plant
- Capsicum baccatum - Brazilian Starfish pepper
- Crinum americanum Punta Rassa Giant
- Eucharis grandiflora: Beloved Amazon Lily
- Euphorbia millii Money Money and Compact Bonsai
- Euphorbia spirosticha. Plants which are family members
- Gynura: Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes
- Heliconias - photo gallery from Thailand
- Justicia Shrimp Rainbow
- Lithachne humilis - The Mother of All Bamboo, or Bambusoid Grass
- Medinilla Love story
- Medinilla: The Rolls Royce of House Plants
- Musings of a butterfly gardener about the milkweed bug
- Nepenthes: Deadly Traps of Monkey Cups
- Nepenthes - Pitcher plant
- Orchids for Dummies
- Orchid Photo Gallery from Thailand
- Philodendron Burle Marx - A touch of Brazil
- Philodendrons: from the Magic Rainforest to your home
- Portulacaria afra - Spekboom, or Baby Jade
- Sclerochiton harveyanus: Surprising Violet fragrance of the Blue Lips
- Schlumbergera x New Deal - a remarkable Christmas cactus hybrid
- Tacca - the Mysterious Black Bat Flower Plant
- Turnera - Aphrodisiac Superherb
- Typhonium roxburghii - Love (and FEAR) the Black Flowered Dead Rat Lily
- Vanilla
- Why begonias?
- Zephyranthes pulchella - Sunny Face of incredible Magic Lily
RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS
- Alyogyne - Blue Hibiscus with prismatic effect of peacock feathers
- Bonsai - Art of the Miniature Trees
- Dioscorea elephantipes - Elephant foot, Turtle shell, Hottentot-Bread
- Euphorbia millii Money Money and Compact Bonsai
- Euphorbia spirosticha
- Jatropha podagrica, Gout plant - the coolest plant anyone can grow
- Lithachne humilis - The Mother of All Bamboo, or Bambusoid Grass
- Musa ensete Maurelli - Red Abyssinian Banana
- Nepenthes: Deadly Traps of Monkey Cups
- Predatory Pitcher Plants
- Selenicerius hondurensis - Honduran Moon-Torch Cactus
- Tacca - Bat Head Lily, Devil Flower
- Tacca - the Mysterious Black Bat Flower Plant
- Typhonium roxburghii - Love (and FEAR) the Black Flowered Dead Rat Lily
- Vanilla
- Zephyranthes pulchella - Sunny Face of incredible Magic Lily
AQUATIC AND BOG PLANTS
- Anubias plants for beginners and hobbyists
- Creating water gardens
- Effects of Ammonium, Phosphate and Salinity on Growth and Nutrient Content of Seedlings of Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)
- Lucky Mangrove
- Mangrove plants in aquarium
- Water lilies: Photo Gallery from Thailand
SPECIAL PLANTS
- 2021: White Cow with a Golden udder
- 2022: Year of the Blue Water Tiger
- 2023: Year of the Rabbit and Cat
- 2023: Vietnamese Mickey Mouse Plant Hoa Mai - a must for 2023 luck!
- 2024: a Year of Green Wooden Dragon
- Araucaria: A Case of Mistaken Identity
- Astrology of Plants: Horoscope / Zodiac Plants
- Astrology of Plants: Herbalism for Your Astrological Sign. Connections between Plants and the Planets
- Azadirachta indica - NEEM, The Free Tree of India
- Bonsai - Art of the Miniature Trees
- Butterflies - and hummingbirds attractors
- Butterfly plants: Musings of a butterfly gardener about the milkweed bug
- Euphorbia millii Money Money and Compact Bonsai
- Featured plants - specials from our collection
- Fragrant plants
- Lithachne humilis - The Mother of All Bamboo, or Bambusoid Grass
- Most Effective Herbs To Help You Sleep
- Nepenthes - Pitcher plant
- Pictures of Butterflies
- Plants of Love: Aphrodisiacs of the plant world
- Plants with scents as heady as incense: Enchanted Magnolias - Joy in your life
- Tacca - the Mysterious Black Bat Flower Plant
- Thai Plants: photo gallery
- Tropical Magnolias
- Turnera - Aphrodisiac Superherb
- Special effects of some plants
SEEDS
- Germinating: How to quickly germinate tropical seeds in winter
- Germination instructions
- Germination time
- Growing palms from seeds
- Lucky Mangrove
- Shipping tropical fruit seeds
- Sowing tips for some species
GROWING INDOORS IN NON-TROPICAL CLIMATE
- Blooming jungle in the city
- Bonsai
- Germinating: How to quickly germinate tropical seeds in winter
- Greenhouse in Moscow
- Greenhouse in Virginia
- Growing Jasminum Sambac indoors
- Hibiscus, Gardenias and Jasmines
- Hummingbird in the balkony
- Jungle on a Windowsill
- My Tropical Paradise
- Propagation: Secrets of turtle tank controlled propagation unit
- Russian Bougainvilleas bloom!
- Tropical oasis in Siberia
- Tropical Treasures Magazine: Zone pushing
- Tropical Treasures Magazine table of contents
GROWERS OF BEAUTY
- Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats
- Dr. Judy Rose - Incompatibility in Jasminum
- Frank La Rosa: Memory Garden. Do It Yourself Paradise
- Growing Dreams and Happiness: A Decade at Top Tropicals
- Kristi's Story of Raja: Love at First Sight and Survivor Spirit
- Kristi's Story of Abu, the Quiet Fighter
- Kristi's story of Shaka: The Tail of Two Kitties
- Mark Hooten's Prince Midnight
- Mark Hooten's Paintings
- Onika Amell's Ithembi - Brave African Cat
- Paintings by Mark Hooten
- Penelope, the Squirrel Cat
- The Garden where Happiness lives
CATS
- PeopleCats of TopTropicals
- Cat Zodiac
- Cat Zodiac: Sagittarius Cats 8/23-9/22
- Cat Zodiac: Scorpio Cats 8/23-9/22
- Cat Zodiac: Libra Cats 8/23-9/22
- Cat Zodiac: Virgo Cats 8/23-9/22
- Cat Zodiac: Leo Cats 7/23-8/22
- Cat Zodiac: Cancer Cats 6/22-7/22
- Cat Zodiac: Gemini Cats 5/21-6/21
- Cat Zodiac: Taurus Cats 4/21-5/20
- Cat Zodiac: Aries Cats 3/21-4/20
- Cat Zodiac: Pisces Cats 2/19-3/20
- Cat Zodiac: Aquarius Cats 1/20-2/18
- Cat Zodiac: Capricorn Cats 12/22-1/19
- European Shorthair: a cat that came from the wild.
- Norwegian Forest Cat - Stogkatt
- Manx - the Tailles Cat.
- Winter Adventure of Lisa the Cat