Napoleana - Napoleon's Hat

Endangered species from the outgone era of the Napoleon's War

by Alex Butova, the Witch of Herbs and Cats

...Napoleana was described in 1804, the same year its namesake (Napoleone di Buonaparte) crowned himself Emperor of the French. Today the tree is almost extinct. Esteemed for the exquisite, vividly colored, exotic hat-shaped flowers, Napoleana is a must of a rare tropical tree collection. Napoleana seeds constitute a false kola, which has a taste closely resembling that of true kola. The flowers are fragrant and smell like Butterscotch...
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Avocado Black Prince

Grow Your Own Food
Avocado variety - what's the taste?

We obtained Black Prince Avocado variety this year and at first didn't know much about it. Until we tried the first fruit! The fruit was large, oval, green and slightly pebbly. We were not sure if it would taste like some green avocados - watery and less buttery? The fruit turned black couple days after it was picked, ripened and softened. We were pleasantly surprised, Black Prince deserves its title! The fruit pulp is thick, and has a rich, nutty flavor. The little trees grew this year vigorously and didn't show any bug or deficiency problems. Superior variety for a backyard grower! Giving it 5 stars! *****
We have Black Prince Avocado in 3 gal pots, as well as in XX-Large size for local pick up - for those who want a large fruiting size tree, please contact our Garden Center to pre-order from our Growing Farm (B-Farm). It can be delivered and installed for you!

Why grow your own Avocado tree?

Why grow your own Avocado tree? This is why. Now we import 89% of the U.S. avocado from Mexico. How much of a difference we could make if we were all growing our own avocados? Support our own horticulture, help Avocado to become grown in the USA!

What tree will fruit indoors?

Q: I love your tropical fruit selection and I wish I lived in a warmer climate. Is there any fruit tree that can be happy indoors during winter and have fruit? I am not expecting a big crop but it would be fun to have a small piece of tropics at home. I don't have much gardening experience, can you suggest something easy for a start?

A: Several tropical fruit trees can be grown indoors, in pots, providing bright light that is necessary for flowering and setting fruit. Among them are many varieties of Bananas, Guavas, Annonas and tropical Cherries - these can be easily maintained in containers. Even dwarf varieties of Avocado and Mango are good candidates for indoor culture. You can bring containers indoors for winter and take outside into full sun during warm months so your plants can store lots of energy in Summer.
The easiest fruit tree for indoor culture that doesn't require bright light and can be grown indoors year around is a Coffee tree. Start with it, it is on sale today! Once you gain some experience, you can upgrade to a Chocolate tree!
Remember, all container grown plants need balanced nutrition program. It can be easily provided with Sunshine Boosters your around. For fruit trees, just add some Sunshine C-Cibus Crop Booster to your cart.

Grow your own food:
How hardy is a Loquat tree?

Q: I am looking for a fruit tree for my backyard that is low maintenance, fast fruiting, and can take some cold (I live in Orlando FL and we do get occasional frost in winter). I like the taste of Loquat fruit, it reminds me of apricots. How cold hardy is this tree?

A: Loquat tree is a very good choice for Florida gardens. It can take both cold and heat and produces lots of tasty fruit right away. Last winter when we had a record freeze in our area with a couple of nights around 25F, the only trees that didn't get any damage at all were Loquats and Macadamias, and those were still young, newly planted 4 ft trees.
To learn more about Loquat trees, check out this video and article: Golden Loquat - the symbol of Prosperity.

Grow your own food:
Avocado Q & A

from Ed Jones, the Avocado Guy

Q: Do I need to have more than one avocado tree in order to produce fruit?

A: While a single avocado tree will normally produce enough fruit for most people, it never hurts to have more than one tree and even more than one variety to increase the chances for good pollination. Be sure to look at our catalog for the many different varieties available from our store.

New video: Royal Poinciana
The most beautiful tropical shade tree

"The Royal Poinciana is one of the most spectacular flowering trees in the USA, and probably among the top 10 on this planet. In full bloom, it is like a regal elephant caparisoned in red and yellow brilliance." (Larry M. Schokman, The Kampong, National Tropical Botanic Garden)
One of the most conspicuous flowering trees seen in the tropics, Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) has bright fiery red/orange blossoms cover its mimosa type leaves which close up and go to sleep for the night. This large tree, which naturally assumes a spreading umbrella shape, is now found in gardens, parks, and planted along streets throughout the tropics. In late spring, as the new leaves appear, the tree is covered with masses of five-petalled red flowers resembling orchid flowers. Blooming is followed by long, flattened, leathery dark brown or black seed pods. Delonix requires full sun and adequate space to take its characteristic form....
Read Article about this tree.

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The most spectacular
tropical flowering trees

See full list of flowering trees

1176 Flamboyant tree, Royal poinciana, Delonix regia

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $47.95

3272 Bombax ceiba - Red Kapok tree

Grown in 6-10"/1-3 gal pot $42.95    Sale $37.95

1405 Saraca indica - Ashoka Tree

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $62.95

1306 Tabebuia caraiba - Yellow trumpet tree

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $47.95

1358 Tabebuia chrysotricha - Dwarf Golden Tabebuia

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $47.95

1359 Tabebuia impetiginosa - Dwarf Pink Tabebuia

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $47.95

5771 Plumeria Witsanu Gold, grafted

Grown in 6"/1 gal pot, grafted $42.95

3247 Acacia farnesiana - Sweet Mimosa

Grown in 6-10"/1-3 gal pot $37.95

2994 Pseudobombax ellipticum - Shaving Brush Tree

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $52.95

2978 Melia azedarach - Chinaberry tree

Grown in 6-10"/1-3 gal pot $37.95

2999 Napoleona imperialis - Napoleons Hat

Grown in 1 gal pot $37.95

1381 Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra) - Malabar Peanut, Guiana Chestnut

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $37.95    Sale $27.95

2091 Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $42.95

2853 Magnolia (Michelia) champaca - Joy Perfume Tree, Champaka, 3 gal pot

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot, large plant $72.95    Sale $67.95

3326 Erythrina caffra - South African Coral tree, Caffra

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot, very large plant $37.95    Sale $17.95

6730 Erythrina livingstoniana - Cry Baby Tree

Grown in 10"/3 gal pot $42.95    Sale $17.95