"/>
Index > Garden Blog

Date:

Hop into Easter Week Sale - Plant Joy and Save!

Hop into Easter Week Sale - Plant Joy and Save!
🐰 Hop into Easter Week Sale - Plant Joy and Save!

  • 🐣 Happy Easter Week, Tropical Gardeners!

  • Spring is here - and so is your chance to grow your own magic. Eggs may be pricey... but guess what? You can grow your own food instead! Plant a fruit tree this Easter and watch it hatch into something better than chocolate - like juicy Mangoes, Dragon Fruits and Carambolas, sweet Papayas and Bananas, healthy Avocados and Jackfruits or your very own exotic Sugar Apples hanging from the branches!

  • 🐣 Easter is about hope, renewal, and starting fresh - just like your garden! Whether you're planting your first tree or adding a rare gem to your edible jungle, now is the perfect time.

  • 🛍 Get 15% OFF everything in our store using this code:

  • 🛍 EASTERWEEK 🛍


Min order $150, excluding S/H. Exp. Exp 4-20-25.

🐰 Hop to it! Don't put all your eggs in one basket... unless it's a basket full of fruit trees of flowering shrubs. Let's plant some hope together - one tree at a time.

🛒 Plant Your Easter Joy!

#Discounts

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to Plant a Perfume Hedge
And What Does a Champaka Tree Look Like?
Practical Growing Guide

Champaka tree in landscape

Photo above: Magnolia champaka (Joy Perfume tree) in landscape. This tree was planted 3 years ago from a 7-gal pot. The tree is now 5 years old from seed and has been covered with flowers for two seasons in a row. Check out short video.

Q: How big does the Champaka tree grow, tall and wide? And what is the growth habit? I'm thinking of planting a perfume hedge along my property with several of these beautiful trees (8-10 trees). How far apart should I plant them and what container size should I start with? And how soon will they start blooming?

A: Magnolia champaka, or Joy Perfume tree is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these stunning trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.

The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum... you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.

The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color.

The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot with a proper fertilizer program or in the ground. In Florida, mature trees can reach 20-25 ft tall, although in true tropical environments they may grow much taller. Check out short video of a mature tree. It doesn't get very wide, and if you are planning to plant several trees as a perfume hedge, you can space them as close as 10 ft apart. This tree - light green, fragrant, evergreen, fast-growing, bushy, and dense - makes the perfect perfume hedge!

Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed. Singing birds love this tree and often build nests in its bushy crown during spring. The tree is relatively cold-hardy and can withstand light freeze for short periods once established. Just make sure to provide regular watering.

We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:

3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
* Free delivery for qualified orders - contact us for estimate

Plant Your Perfume Hedge Today!

Imagine walking along a path lined with Champaka trees - Joy -fragrant blossoms drifting through the air, lush green leaves swaying gently, and birds singing above. With just a few trees, you can create your own heavenly hedge of joy and fragrance. Let your garden bloom with elegance, beauty, and the world's most luxurious scent!

Champaka flower

Date:

Hop into Easter Week Sale - Plant Joy and Save!

Happy Easter Week, Tropical Gardeners!

Spring is here - and so is your chance to grow your own magic. Eggs may be pricey... but guess what? You can grow your own food instead! Plant a fruit tree this Easter and watch it hatch into something better than chocolate - like juicy Mangoes, Dragon Fruits and Carambolas, sweet Papayas and Bananas, healthy Avocados and Jackfruits or your very own exotic Sugar Apples hanging from the branches!

Easter is about hope, renewal, and starting fresh - just like your garden! Whether you're planting your first tree or adding a rare gem to your edible jungle, now is the perfect time. Get 15% OFF everything in our store using this code:

EASTERWEEK

Min order $150, excluding S/H. Exp. Exp 4-20-25.

Hop to it! Don't put all your eggs in one basket... unless it's a basket full of fruit trees of flowering shrubs. Let's plant some hope together - one tree at a time.

Date:

The Tree Everyones Talking About: Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

🍀 The Tree Everyone's Talking About: Variegated Mahoe
  • 🌳 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum is the must-have tree of the year - and for good reason! This stunning, fast-growing beauty delivers shade in just one season, with a more compact, umbrella-like shape than its wild cousin, the standard Mahoe (that grows into a very large tree).
  • 🌳 Variegated Mahoe's eye-catching foliage is a show in itself: splashes of red, white, green, and pink create a living kaleidoscope. The blooms are just as magical - starting yellow and deepening to orange and red as they age.
  • 🌳 Perfect for Southern gardens and hot-climate landscapes, the Variegated Mahoe is low-maintenance, colorful, cool and cooling, and endlessly rewarding. Everyone wants it, and once you see it, you'll understand why!


🛒 Add color, shade, and tropical flair to your garden with Variegated Mahoe

#Trees #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide

How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide
🌳 How to Plant a Tree - A Fun Guide
  1. Dig a Big Hole

  2. Start by digging a hole 2-3 times the size of the pot. Make sure it's deep enough to give your tree's roots room to grow. Remove any sandy dirt or rocks—replace them with rich, nutrient-packed soil to help your tree establish.

    2️⃣ Place the Tree Just Right
    Gently remove your tree from the pot and place it in the hole. The base of the tree (where the roots meet the trunk) should sit slightly above ground level (2-3"). Avoid covering the trunk with soil to allow for proper air circulation and to promote a healthy tree.

    3️⃣ Mound the Soil
    Add nutrient-rich soil around the roots, then toss in a handful of granulated fertilizer. With the leftover soil, build a little mound around the tree to form a "bagel" shape. This will help water stay around the roots and give your tree a strong start.

    4️⃣ Add Mulch and Water
    Spread mulch around the tree, but leave a small gap around the trunk. Water generously to settle the soil and give your tree a refreshing drink. Water by hand daily for the first couple of weeks or until you see new growth. After that, you can rely on sprinklers.

    ⭐️ With these simple steps, your tree will be off to a great start!

    🛒 Go plant shopping to excersize your green thumb and make our planet better

    📚Learn more:
    How to plant a tree: care of mail-order plants and detailed planting instructions (PDF)

    #How_to #Trees #Discover

    🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide

Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca)

☀️ What does a mature Champaka Tree look like? Practical Growing Guide.
  • 🏵 Champaka, or Joy Perfume tree (Magnolia champaca) is the most desirable perfume tree for Southern landscapes - and a Signature Plant of Top Tropicals! You can see several of these beautiful trees around our B-Farm in Sebring, including the one right by the office front door.
  • 🏵 The flowers are used to make the world's most expensive perfume, Joy - and they smell like fruity bubble gum… you won't be able to stop sticking your nose in this flower! The Joy Perfume Tree blooms on and off year-round.
  • 🏵 The Champaka tree has a striking columnar shape and becomes very bushy and full when established - whether in a pot (with a proper fertilizer program) or in the ground.
  • 🏵 The lemon-lime, light green leaves are lush, soft, and tropical-looking, with a unique and beautiful color!
  • 🏵 Champaka trees begin flowering within 2-3 years from seed.
  • 🏵 Singing birds love this tree and in Spring make their nests in its bushy crown.
  • 🏵 The tree is relatively cold hardy and can withstand light freeze for a short time once established. Make sure to provide regular watering for Champaka tree.
  • 🏵 We have beautiful Champaka trees in all sizes:

3 gal pot: 3-4 ft tall - ready to bloom within a year, can be shipped
7 gal pot: 5-6 ft tall - ready to bloom, can be shipped
15 gal pot: 7-8 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
25 gal pot: 10 ft tall - have already bloomed, pick up or delivery*
* Free delivery for qualified orders

🎥 These Champaka trees in the video are 5 years old (3 years in the ground) and already bloomed for the last 3 years!

🛒 Claim Your Joy Today – Own Your Perfume Champaka!

📚
Learn more from previous posts:

#Perfume_Plants #Container_Garden #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers on a branch

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) flowers on a branch

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus)

Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus)

🌳 Fragrance, color, and hummingbirds - all in one tree
  • 💜 Looking for a fast-growing, elegant tree with year-round beauty and seasonal magic? Lilac Tree (Lonchocarpus violaceus) is a fragrant fountain of color!
  • 💜 The Lilac Treeis a stunning evergreen native to Africa. Reaching 25 feet tall, it forms a graceful, fountain-like shape with lush, architectural foliage.
  • 💜 In late summer and fall, this tree bursts into fragrant lavender to purple-blue blooms that fill the air with a scent reminiscent of lilac.
  • 💜 Butterflies and hummingbirds flock to the flowers, bringing your garden to life. Long, slender seed pods follow, adding unique texture.
  • 💜 Cold hardy to the 30s F for short periods, it's perfect for USDA Zones 9–11. Whether you're after fast growth, tropical charm, or simply a breathtaking flowering tree, the Lilac Tree checks all the boxes - graceful, fragrant, and irresistible.


🛒 Add Lilac Magic to Your Garden

#Perfume_Plants #Trees

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

Ginkgo Biloba

Ginkgo Biloba

Turmeric (Curcuma)

Turmeric (Curcuma)

Moringa

Moringa

Piper betle (Betel Leaf)

Piper betle (Betel Leaf)

Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf)

Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf)

Coconut tree with fruit

Coconut tree with fruit

Longevity Spinach

Longevity Spinach

Katuk

Katuk

🧠 Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 2

🧠 Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters)
Edible Plants and Herbs:

Continued from previous post ⤴️
  • 🟡 Ginkgo Biloba - Improves blood flow to the brain, supports memory and concentration.
  • 🟡 Turmeric (Curcuma) - Contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound shown to protect neurons and boost memory.
  • 🟡 Moringa - Loaded with antioxidants, may protect brain cells and support cognitive function.
  • 🟡 Piper betle (Betel Leaf) - Traditionally used as a mild stimulant. Contains compounds that may improve alertness and support mental clarity.
  • 🟡 Piper sarmentosum (Vietnamese Pepper Leaf) - Used in traditional medicine for anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects.
  • 🟡 Coconut Oil - Contains MCTs, which may fuel brain cells directly, especially beneficial in age-related cognitive decline.
  • 🟡 Cinnamon - is inked to improved memory and brain function. The tree's powerful scent comes from cinnamaldehyde, a natural compound with medicinal properties.
  • 🟡 Green Leafy Vegetables (like Longevity Spinach and Katuk) - High in folate, vitamin K, and lutein, all linked to better memory and reduced cognitive aging.


🛒 Give your brain what it craves, shop tropical brain boosters: Fruit Trees & Herbal Plants

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 1

Blueberries

Blueberries

Avocado

Avocado

Red Banana

Red Banana

Papaya

Papaya

Pineapple

Pineapple

Amlak (Indian Gooseberry)

Amlak (Indian Gooseberry)

🧠 Plant Smarter: Grow Your Own Brain Boosters - Part 1

Want to stay sharp, focused, and energized - naturally?
Don't just eat smart - plant smart. These tropical fruits and herbs aren't just delicious - they're packed with memory-boosting, focus-enhancing, and brain-protecting compounds. When you grow them in your own garden, you're building a personal pharmacy of mental clarity and cognitive power. No pills. No plastic bottles. Just real plants with real benefits, right outside your door.


🧠 Memory & Cognitive Support (Brain Boosters)
Tropical Fruits:
  • 🟡 Blueberries – Rich in flavonoids and antioxidants; support memory and cognitive performance (Note: not tropical, but widely grouped due to powerful brain benefits).
  • 🟡 Avocado – High in monounsaturated fats, supports healthy blood flow to the brain.
  • 🟡 Banana – Contains vitamin B6 and potassium, essential for neurotransmitter function.
  • 🟡 Papaya – High in antioxidants and vitamin C, may protect brain cells from oxidative stress.
  • 🟡 Pineapple – Contains bromelain and vitamin C, which may reduce inflammation and support brain health.
  • 🟡 Amla (Indian Gooseberry) – One of the richest natural sources of vitamin C. Used in Ayurvedic medicine to enhance memory, focus, and longevity. Acts as a neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogen.


Edible Plants and Herbs: continued in next post ⤵️

🛒 Give your brain what it craves, shop tropical brain boosters: Fruit Trees & Herbal Plants

#Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals

Date:

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

#How_to #Trees #Discover

🔴 Join 👉 TopTropicals