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Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear?

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa)

🐵 Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? 🙉
  • 🍊 Besides bizarre Monkey Ear Tree that we mentioned earlier, there is another interesting Monkey Tree -
  • 🍊 The Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa) is a captivating fruit tree from tropical Africa and Madagascar, known for its vibrant yellow fruits and wide range of uses.
  • 🍊This small to medium-sized tree, has glossy leaves and thorny branches that make it visually striking.
  • 🍊What does the Monkey Orange taste like?

  • The fruits, size of an orange, have a hard shell that protects their sweet-tart pulp with interesting pleasant taste somewhat similar to mangosteen. Some people say it tastes like a mix of citrus and pineapple with a hint of fermentation.
  • 🍊Rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, the fruit can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into jams, juices, and even wine.
  • 🍊Its durable wood is prized for carvings, and its leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine and as natural insecticides.
  • 🍊Slow-growing yet resilient, this hardy tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, offering beauty, nourishment, and practicality - an excellent choice for tropical or subtropical landscapes.


🐒 Why is it called Monkey Orange?
The "monkey orange" likely gets its name from its appeal to monkeys that eat the fruit and distribute the seeds in their habitat in Africa.

🛒 Plant Monkey Orange

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The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

Pimenta racemosa, Bay Rum Tree

The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
🤢🥃 The mystery of a Bay Rum Tree - the aromatic gem with a rich history
  • 🍷 The Pimenta racemosa, or Bay Rum Tree, is a charming small tree closely related to Allspice that we mentioned earlier.
  • 🍷 Known for its aromatic leaves, this tree produces a natural essential oil that has a warm, clove-like fragrance.
  • 🍷 Historically, this oil was distilled with rum and water to create a popular cologne known as "Bay Rum", lending the plant its common name.
  • 🍷 The scent of Bay Rum is captivating and present year-round, with no need to wait for flowers or fruit to enjoy its fragrance!
  • 🍷 The Bay Rum Tree is not just aromatic; its leaves can be used in cooking and tea, adding a unique, spicy note to culinary creations. It’s also valued in folk medicine, making it a multipurpose addition to any herb or indoor plant collection.
  • 🍷 An especially rare and intriguing variety, the rare variety "Citrifolia" - Lemon Bay Rum Tree, also known as Citrus Bay, has all plant parts infused with a refreshing, lemony scent that's both calming and energizing. Cuttings of this variety are challenging to root, making it a unique and sought-after plant for collectors and aromatherapy enthusiasts alike.


🛒 Plant fast growing Bay Rum Tree

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Guanabana - Soursop fruiting in apartment!

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North

📸 Guanabana - Soursop fruiting in apartment!

This Guanabana (Annona muricata) was grown from a seed and fruited in apartment up North!

To read this fascinating story, check out article in Tropical Treasures Magazine:
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)

🛒 Plant your own Guanabana

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Date:

What is the most delicious Annona fruit?

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

Annona muricata - Soursop, Guanabana, Graviola

What is the most delicious Annona fruit? Guanabana!
  • 🍐 Annona muricata - commonly known as Soursop, Guanabana, or Graviola, is widely regarded as the best-tasting annona fruit.
  • 🍐 This tropical tree, native to Tropical America, produces large, unusual-looking fruits with a unique blend of sweet and slightly sour flavors. The custard-like pulp is fragrant, smooth and creamy, making Soursop perfect for milkshakes, desserts, or simply enjoyed fresh.
  • 🍐 Soursop is evergreen in warm climates, though it's highly sensitive to cold and requires temperatures above 50°F to thrive. However, it can also be grown indoors in containers, making it possible to enjoy its delicious fruit even in cooler regions. The tree itself is medium-sized, fast-growing, and relatively easy to manage in a pot, offering a wonderful option for indoor fruit growing.
  • 🍐 Soursop is one of the largest of the Annonas, and its quirky, bumpy fruit shapes make it a fun conversation starter. We even have an interesting article on how to grow, hand-pollinate and fruit Soursop in an apartment - ideal for plant lovers looking to bring a taste of the tropics into their homes!
  • 🍐 Soursop leaves are superheroes in the world of natural remedies. Known for their potential to fight cancer, these leaves are packed with compounds that may help keep rogue cells in check. Whether brewed into tea or turned into extracts, they've become a popular go-to in holistic health circles.


📚 Tropical Treasures Magazine:
Growing and fruiting Soursop in apartment (PDF download)
Spoiler in the next post ⬇️⬇️⬇️

More about Anonnas in previous posts:
Top 10 fast-fruiting trees: #1. Annona
Why everyone wants the Sugar Apple?
The best tropical fruit tree for container growing, and the fastest to fruit: Annona
Spiny Hedgehog fruit: what does it taste like?

🛒 Plant your own Guanabana

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Date:

What tree will produce for you right away?

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica)

🍂 What tree will produce for you right away?
  • 🍂 Allspice, Jamaica pepper tree (Pimenta dioica) is a delightful plant that brings the warm, spicy fragrance of allspice right to your home.
  • 🍂 The leaves and bark of this remarkable tree carry the same aromatic scent as the familiar spice made from its dried berries, meaning you don't need to wait for blooms or fruit to enjoy its rich aroma!
  • 🍂 Allspice is an excellent container plant, ideal for indoor or greenhouse cultivation.
  • 🍂 Its captivating fragrance creates a cozy, inviting atmosphere, and its antimicrobial properties add even more appeal.
  • 🍂 Perfect for both spice enthusiasts and plant collectors, this compact tree adds a touch of the tropics while offering year-round enjoyment.


🛒 Enjoy your own Allspice spice

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Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?

Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?
🥭 Could Mango be the secret to youthful skin?

🙂 Packed with anti-aging and immune-boosting benefits, could this tropical fruit be the key to your skin's natural glow?

  • 😊 Mango for Rejuvenation: Mangoes promote rejuvenation and improve skin condition, according to the research.

  • 😊 Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Aging Effects: Mango contains components with anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating properties.

  • 😊 Vitamin C Boost: Mango is rich in Vitamin C and ascorbic acid, which strengthen the immune system.

  • 😊 Better Iron Absorption: Mango fruit supports improved iron absorption in the body.

  • 😊 Collagen Support: Mango helps maintain collagen levels in connective tissues for healthy skin.


🔥 Plant a mango tree today and start growing your own path to health and vitality!

👍 What other fruit or plants are good for skin? Share in comments⬇️

🛒 Shop Mango Trees

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Why you should grow your own Pomegranate Tree: the Fruit of Miracles in your Backyard

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

 Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

Pomegranate (Punica granatum)

🔥 Why you should grow your own Pomegranate Tree: the "Fruit of Miracles" in your Backyard.
  • ❣️ Fruit of Miracles: The Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is nutrient-packed, beautiful, and perfect fruit for backyard gardens.
  • ❣️ Health Benefits:

  • 🩸 Antioxidant Power: Fights cell-damaging free radicals.
  • 🩸 Heart Health: Lowers cholesterol, boosts blood flow, and increases hemoglobin.
  • 🩸 Blood Sugar Support: Helps regulate blood sugar and has anti-inflammatory effects.
  • 🩸 Beauty Boost: Benefits teeth, prevents hair loss, and promotes youthful skin.

  • ❣️ Seeds of Goodness: Eating the seeds supports gut health, balances hormones, and nourishes skin and blood vessels.
  • ❣️ Daily Intake: Enjoy one pomegranate or 300 ml of juice daily, ideally 30–40 minutes before meals for best digestion.
  • ❣️ Grow Your Own: Planting a pomegranate tree offers a constant supply of this health-boosting fruit right at home!


👍 Do pomegranates grow well in your area? Share in comments⬇️

📚 Learn more from previous posts:
How to open a pomegranate fruit - easy!
Healing drops of blood: why Pomegranate is a superfood

🛒 Shop Pomegranate trees

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What fruit smells like roses?

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, fruit on a tree

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, fruit on a tree

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, fruit on a plate

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, fruit on a plate

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, flowers

Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple, flowers

😏 What fruit smells like roses? Rose apple!
  • 🌹 If you liked the Java Plum (Jambolan) from our earlier post, its close relative is even more exciting, because the fruit smells like roses!
  • 🌹 Syzygium jambos - Rose Apple - is a fragrant delight fruit! Also known as Malabar Plum or Pomme Rosa, the Rose Apple produces crisp, juicy fruits with a distinct rose scent, highly prized for jellies and confections.
  • 🌹 This easy-to-grow plant is moderately cold-hardy and can tolerate poor soils.
  • 🌹 Rose Apple trees are versatile – they make attractive, wide-spreading shade trees and can also thrive as compact, bushy fruiting plants in containers. Whether in the ground or a pot, this charming tree brings beauty and fragrance to any space!


🛒 Order Rose Apple

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How to get a large, bushy, exotic fruit tree in no time

Syzygium cumini - Jambolan, Java Plum

🌳 How to get a large, bushy, exotic fruit tree in no time

*Meet the Divine Berry - Syzygium cumini - Jambolan, Java Plum

*Jambolan boasts fragrant white flowers in clusters at stem tips and produces purplish-black berries with sweet or mildly tangy flavors.

*These versatile fruits can be enjoyed raw or turned into tarts, sauces, and jams.

*Beyond its culinary use, Jambolan plays a role in folk medicine, with seeds, leaves, and bark used in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.

*According to Hindu tradition, Rama survived on this fruit during his 14-year exile, earning it the title "fruit of the gods." Hindu mythology even describes Lord Krishna’s skin as the color of Jambul. The leaves are commonly used to decorate marriage pendals in India.

*This fast-growing, bushy tree isn't just for fruit lovers – it also makes a beautiful ornamental, forming dense privacy screens. The tree grows super fast - becoming a large, bushy screen in just two seasons, making it perfect for privacy or creating a dense ornamental barrier.

🎥 The tree on the video is only 3 years old!

🛒 Plant your own Jambolan

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Date:

Spooktacular Halloween Sale!

Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant

Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant

😮 Spooktacular Halloween Sale!
  • 😀 Halloween is creeping in, and it's time to treat your garden to some tropical magic! No tricks - just bold, exotic beauties ready to boo-st your outdoor space. Our plants have flourished all summer, growing large and vibrant, and are now ready to keep your garden bursting with life year-round.
  • 😀 Don't let these deals disappear into the night - offer ends November 1! To save 10% on your order, use code:

  • 💸 Halloween24 💸


  • Min order $100, excluding S/H. Exp. 11-1-24


📸 Clinacanthus nutans - Snake plant 🐍

Celebrate Halloween with this exotic Thai plant that marries beauty and folklore!
Its striking blooms resemble the open mouths of snakes, adding a mysterious allure to your garden. Traditionally used in Thailand for snake bite relief, this captivating specimen not only enhances your space but also sparks conversation among guests. Don't miss the chance to impress with this enchanting plant during the spooky season!

🛒 Order Snake Plant

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