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Index > Garden Blog

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What is Barbados Gooseberry?

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry, flowers

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry, flowers

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry, fruit

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry, fruit

๐Ÿง… What is Barbados Gooseberry?

Perescia aculeata - Barbados Gooseberry, is a very interesting, unusual addition for any self-sustaining landscape due to its fast-growing nature and unique combination of cactus and leafy vine, with beautiful flowers and showy edible fruit.

Low-maintenance plant, it is perfect for covering walls or fences, adds greenery and a productive food source, making it both practical and visually appealing.
  • โบA unique cactus with real leaves, unlike most cacti. Needs very little water.
  • โบFast-growing vine that can cover fences or walls quickly.
  • โบWhen in bloom, the vine is covered with beautiful white flowers, followed by bright orange, edible, tangy fruits.
  • โบGreat for adding greenery and a food source to your garden.


๐Ÿ›’ Plant Barbados Gooseberry

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What is the easiest and toughest plant for covering both fence and ground?

Trachelospermum jasminoides - Confederate Jasmine

๐Ÿ’ฅ What is the easiest and toughest plant for covering both fence and ground?
  • ๐Ÿ’ฎ Trachelospermum jasminoides - Confederate Jasmine: this charming plant is a triple threat - beautiful, fragrant, and versatile!
  • ๐Ÿ’ฎ With its sweetly scented flowers and bright leaves (variegated in some varieties), it's perfect for covering fences, trellises, or even as a ground cover.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฎ It blooms profusely from winter through spring, adding vibrant color and scent to your garden.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฎ It's incredibly easygoing: drought-tolerant, fast-growing, and happy in both sun and shade. Whether you want a lush hanging basket or a fragrant garden showstopper, this jasmine is a no-brainer!


๐Ÿ›’ Order Confederate Jasmine

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What is the best undemanding yet interesting plant for dry, hot area

Pedilanthus tithymaloides รขโ‚ฌ" Devils Backbone, Jacobs Ladder

โšก๏ธ What is the best undemanding yet interesting plant for dry, hot area
  • ๐ŸŒฟ Pedilanthus tithymaloides โ€“ better known as Devils Backbone or Jacobs Ladder โ€“ is a fun, quirky plant with zig-zagging stems that definitely catch the eye! Despite its name, it's anything but evil, it's just a name that adds intrigue.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ Its curious structure looks like nature decided to make an origami plant! Its cute pink blooms add to the charm.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ Whether youโ€™re into drought-tolerant landscaping/xeriscaping or need an easy-going houseplant, this one fits the bill. Plus, it's a survivor, tolerating dry conditions with style.
  • ๐ŸŒฟ Perfect for those who like a bit of plant personality.


๐Ÿ“ธ More photos in the next post๐Ÿ‘‡

๐Ÿ›’ Get your own Devils Backbone

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What is the Jasmine Oil made of?

French Perfume Jasmine, Poets jasmine (Jasminum officinale)

โœจ What is the Jasmine Oil made of?
  • ๐ŸŒž French Perfume Jasmine, or Poets jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is the most popular jasmine in the world as it is the source of the original Jasmine essential oil.
  • ๐ŸŒž There are two varieties - with single flower (Jasminum x grandiflorum - it has larger size flower and is more rare) and double flower ( Jasminum officinale Flore Pleno). They are very hard to tell apart when not in bloom as the leaves look the same, but the flowers differ (see video).
  • ๐ŸŒž Essential oil of this jasmine is one of the most important components in perfumery.
  • ๐ŸŒž Grown in the perfume fields of Southern France.
  • ๐ŸŒž Semi-evergreen to deciduous vine with lots of fragrant white flowers in spring, summer, and fall.
  • ๐ŸŒž Drought tolerant and hardy, it has good tolerance to a wide range of temperatures and is easily maintained in pots.
  • ๐ŸŒž Jasmine associates nicely with climbing roses, honeysuckle or clematis, but it looks superb grown on its own.


๐ŸŽฅ The difference between the double and single flower varieties.

๐Ÿ›’ Shop French Perfume Jasmine

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How to add flowering vines to the landscape

Urechites lutea (Pentalinon luteum) - Yellow Mandevilla

๐Ÿ” How to add flowering vines to the landscape
  • ๐Ÿ€ Vines, by their nature, are almost always climbers. There are also some that make good hanging flower vines for your baskets hanging under trees or on the front porch.
  • ๐Ÿ€ Some vines are also in the fruit category. The Passiflora is a beautiful perennial climbing vine that has very showy flowers and then a fruit that can be eaten off the vine or made into a wonderful juice. It would make a nice fast growing vine for a fence or trellis. The Barbados Gooseberry also falls into this category.
  • ๐Ÿ€ One of the most popular fast growing flowering vines is the trumpet vine - Allamanda. It is an evergreen vine and will take some cold without damage, although it is still considered a tropical flowering vine. It can be grown as a large shrub or small tree and makes a beautiful focal point in the landscape.
  • ๐Ÿ€ If you have some large trees in your yard, a great climbing vine for shade that also produces a usable product is the Pepper family. Yes, they flower and yes some of them produce pepper that you can use in your kitchen. If you like to know what is in your food, grow your own!
  • ๐Ÿ€ Another perennial, fast growing and evergreen climbing vine is the Monstera. Monsteras will climb the side of a large tree and can produce an edible fruit after a few years. It is very tropical looking, but will take some cool nights as it is protected under the canopy of the tree.


๐ŸŽฅ Urechites lutea (Pentalinon luteum) - Yellow Mandevilla

๐Ÿ›’ Shop flowering vines

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Earrings for your Princess!

Dichrostachys cinerea - Princess Earrings, Sickle bush

๐Ÿ’Ž Earrings for your Princess!

โญ๏ธ Dichrostachys cinerea - Princess Earrings, Sickle bush from West Africa is one of the most unusual and unforgettable flowers of cheerful color combination... They bring hope, joy and sunshine into your day!

๐Ÿ›’ Plant Princess Earrings

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How to get Live Fireworks in Winter

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst, Fireworks

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst, Fireworks

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst, Fireworks

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst, Fireworks

๐Ÿงจ How to get Live Fireworks in Winter
  • ๐ŸŽ† Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst, Fireworks - is a large bush or small tree with showy dark green leaves with a striking purple underside, adding visual interest even when not in bloom.
  • ๐ŸŽ† Spectacular winter blooms are slightly fragrant. Clusters of long, tubular flowers in shades of pink and white that resemble a burst of fireworks - spectacular show!
  • ๐ŸŽ† Fast growing, grows well in full sun to partial shade and thrives in warm climates, reaching heights of 8-15 feet.


๐Ÿ›’ Order Winter Starburst

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What plant you need if your kid is afraid of chickens

Neea psychotrioides - Pigeon Plum, Hoja de Salat, Saltwood

๐Ÿ“ What plant you need if your kid is afraid of chickens
  • ๐Ÿฃ Neea psychotrioides - Pigeon Plum, Hoja de Salat, Saltwood - from Central America is rare in cultivation. This small tree or bush should get more attention from tropical plant collectors.
  • ๐Ÿฃ Neea is very nice, easy growing and make those "jelly beans" like berries. The flowers are almost unnoticeable. The berries are very showy and come right after. It fruits for several months non stop.
  • ๐Ÿฃ Mature fruit is edible. In its native countries, this plant is widely used medicinally.
  • ๐Ÿฃ From the book "Messages from the Gods. A Guide to the useful plants of Belize": "It is used to treat babies who can not sleep, often accompanied with crying, especially when they have been frightened by chickens..." So the plant is very useful especially for those who are afraid of chickens!


๐Ÿ›’ Order Neea Pigeon Plum

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How Turks Cap can be full of snow in Summer

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata -

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - "Summer Snow"

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata -

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - "Summer Snow"

Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - "Summer Snow"

โ„๏ธ How Turk's Cap can be full of snow in Summer
  • โ›„๏ธ Malvaviscus x penduliflorus Variegata - "Summer Snow"- is very rare variegated variety Turk's Cap, or Firecracker Hibiscus.
  • โ›„๏ธ Almost ever-blooming, this shrub looks much like a hibiscus (to which it is closely related) which flowers are ready to open. In fact, the flowers never open much, hence the common name of Sleepy Hibiscus.
  • โ›„๏ธ It blooms often, and the flowers attract hummingbirds. The 2 inch long tubular flowers appear to be constructed of crimson crepe paper as they nod against the large variegated leaves.
  • โ›„๏ธ Some leaves can be completely white! The little tree looks like a decorated Christmas tree!
  • โ›„๏ธ Can be kept compact shape and is good for container culture and bonsai.


๐Ÿ›’ Order Summer Snow

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Is purple your favorite color? This is your plant!

Tibouchina

๐Ÿ’œ Is purple your favorite color? This is your plant!
  • ๐ŸŸช Tibouchinas are tropical gems famous for their vibrant purple flowers, which feature unique, eyelash-like stamens that give them an enchanting look.
  • ๐ŸŸช Their soft, velvety leaves add another layer of charm, making these plants a delight for both the eyes and the touch.


๐Ÿ›’ Shop Tibouchina plants

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