Morsels & Musings: vote one - mangosteen

Morsels & Musings: vote one - mangosteen: "This weekend my Weekend Herb Blogging post is not a recipe. It’s about a wonderful, beautiful fruit that I recently discovered. It's so fant..."

Buy frost hardy tropical plants online at National Tropical Plants online nursery!

New Red Crownshaft Palms at National Tropicals Plant Nursery

At National Tropical Plants they've just released some Orange Crownshaft palms 'Red form'. Well, it should really be called 'red crownshaft palm', as they're stunning! Even in small plants there is great colour in the leaves and crownshaft, and it's a serious competitor for the, possibly over-rated, Lipstick Palm. Check it out by clicking on the title.
Buy frost hardy tropical plants online at National Tropical Plants online nursery!

Victorian Going Green Expo 2010

Victorian Expo 2010 - Melbourne Exhibition Centre (Southbank)

Friday April 30
12.00 noon - 8.00 pm
Business Day

Saturday May 1
10.00 am - 6.00 pm
General Admission

Sunday May 2
10.00 am  - 5.00 pm
General Admission

Admission: $ 15.00
Concession: $ 10.00
Children under 15 free if accompanied by an adult.

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From the Going Green website:

"GOING GREEN"- Easy Ways To Make a Difference that Don't Cost the Earth!

There is a huge surge of interest in environmental issues and growing mainstream community awareness that action and change is needed, but consumers and businesses are largely not sure what steps they can take to contribute. Going Green Expo offers energy solutions, waterless car washes, carbon offset and trading programs and much more. Visitors will see developments that can help reduce their environmental footprint and reduce the impacts of climate change. Visit the Going Green expo to help save the evironment and contribute to a sustainable future for everybody. 

We are moving - action required

Hi everyone,
We are now moving to our new site, and this site will automatically redirect to www.nationaltropicals.com.au.

A new newsletter will be sent out fortnightly with notifications of specials, new products, latest growing information and much more. You will be sent you through a confirmation, and to stay subscribed to our updates, you will need to confirm your email address. Once you confirm no further action is required. Alternatively, you can subscribe to our newsletter on the homepage.

You are invited also to become a member and join our brand new forum, upload your photo's to the photo gallery or read the growing articles in our blog. We will soon be giving away a brand new set of Fiskars choppers for the best pruning tip, and many competitions will follow.

I hope you will stay subscribed with us, and welcome your comments on the look and feel of the new site. 

Kind regards,
Dan & El Meager - National Tropical Plants (formerly Cactus Island Nursery) 

50% end of season SALE

End of season run out sale on now at National Tropical Plants Nursery.
Many plants discounted by 50%!
Limited time only!

Click here to see all plants on special.

10% OFF all PALMS

Sale!

10% OFF ALL PALMS!

Limited time only...

Visit the palm category

New! Azalea Dreamtime

Azalea Dreamtime is a medium size Azalea with very distinctive, large, silvery pink flowers.

Azalea Dreamtime grows well in both sun and part shade and is fairly drought tolerant once established.

More information of purchase by clicking here.

25% off SALE

25% off

ALL PLANTS*

(*excludes coconuts)

1 week only! (Valid until 3pm on the 4th of March)

Click to Visit National Tropical Plants

New plants & back in stock

New plants:

Click on the name for more info or to purchase.



Jaboticaba Fruit (Myrciaria cauliflora)
Yucca filamentosa (purchase by contacting us)
Dictyosperma album (var. rubra) (purchase by contacting us)
Acalypha's, brown & pink (purchase by contacting us)
Gardenia True Love (purchase by contacting us)
Sedum coccineum (purchase by contacting us)



Back in stock:


Lipstick Palm / Red Sealing Wax Palm (Cyrtostachys renda)
Dwarf Sugar Palm (Arenga engleri)

Clivia miniata (Orange Lily)

Golden Cane Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Azalea Dogwood, Azalea Brides Bouquet, Azalea Glowing Embers, Azalea Red Wing, Azalea Fairy Queen (purchase by contacting us)

Native Red Back Ginger (Alpinea caerulea Red Back) (purchase by contacting us)

Spindle Palm (Hyophorbe verschaffeltii)

Mandevilla Red Riding Hood (purchase by contacting us)

Metallic Palm (Chamaedorea metallica)
Blue Yucca (Yucca rostrata) (purchase by contacting us)

Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) (purchase by contacting us)
Cordyline Purple Prince (purchase by contacting us)
Cordyline Red Edge (purchase by contacting us)

Coming Soon:

Rangoon Creeper (Quinqualis indica)
Gardenia radicans

New plants in the nursery

New! Swamp Lily (Crinum pedunculatum). The Spider Lily is a beautiful leafy shrub. It grows to around 2m tall and 2m wide and has thick, succulent strappy foliage. It produces gorgeous, fragrant white flowers. Flowers resemble large ‘spiders’. Flowers are followed by round green seed capsules, borne on a long stalk. Seeds can sprout while still attached to the mother plant. Despite the name ‘Swamp Lily’, this Crinum is actually very versatile, and does not need to be grown in a swamp! It is also frost hardy, making it a wonderful versatile plant for gardens around Australia. Perfect for that cold hardy tropical garden! Click to buy now or for more information

 New! Pemba Palm (Dypsis pembana). Fast growing palm from Pemba, a small island of the coast of Africa. It grows up to 12m tall and has beautiful deep green ringed trunks. It is similar to the common Golden Cane Palm, but faster growing. It is most often seen in clumping form. Dypsis pembana is a very rare palm and should be more often grown! The Pemba Palm is quite cold hardy too, but not fully frost hardy. It is best grown in moist but well draining soil, in a full sun to part shade position.  Click to buy now or for more information

 New! Ivovowo Palm (Dypsis lanceolata). A beautiful palm from the rainforests on the Comoro Archipelago. It is a medium sized suckering palm up to about 4m tall with thick, bamboo-like trunks. Trunks are stunning, deeply green ringed. Foliage is short and wide, and very glossy. It is quite fast growing and hardy in the right position. The Ivovowo Palm should be grown in a protected position, in frost free gardens. Best in a spot which received filtered light, or is at least partly shaded. Dypsis lanceolata is a rare palm, which is only just starting to increase in popularity. It is very attractive and should be much more often seen in gardens around Australia!  Click to buy now or for more information

 Special! White & Red Desert Roses for only $7 each – help us clear some stock! The Desert Rose bears beautiful flowers, in many colours. These plants are succulents, and they store water in their roots & stem bases, which is why they appear swollen. The swollen roots and stems are called the ‘caudex’. Adenium flowers throughout spring & summer. For red flowers: Click to buy now or for more information . For white flowers: Click to buy now or for more information

Special! Chamedorea sale on eBay – most Chamaedorea’s 10% off! One Chamaedorea for sale is Chamaedorea seifrizii, the Florida Bamboo Palm. It is a graceful small palm 2-3m tall with bamboo-like long slender stems. Native to Mexico and Central America where is grows as an understory palm. Usually grown with multiple plants in a pot or spot, although the plant itself naturally spreads by offshoots similar to Bamboo. The Bamboo Palm is frequently used indoors; it is tolerant to low-light areas and is low maintenance. Remove old fronds to reveal the attractive light green bamboo-like stems.  Visit our eBay store

Coming very soon!

Triandra Palm (Areca triandra) - From aprox 10th of January

Lipstick Palm (Cyrtostachys renda) - Aprox February

Betel Nut Palm (Areca catechu) - From aprox 10th of January

Travelers Palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) - from aprox 10th of January

Don’t be surprised if we call ourselves National Tropical Plants rather than Cactus Island Nursery – we have now changed our name to better suit our plant range! We hope to see you as a member of our 10% discount club once the new site is up and running!

Mangosteen Fruit plants back in stock!

The very popular Queen of Tropical Fruits is back in stock in our nursery and ready for despatch before Christmas. Be quick as Monday is our last posting day until the New Year! (payments need to be received before 12pm Sunday to be processed)

Here they are on our website at

1-4 for $14.50 each http://www.cactusisland.com.au/products.php?pid=91&detail=true

5-99 $11.50 each http://www.cactusisland.com.au/products.php?pid=91&detail=true

Here they are on eBay at

1 for $25.99 (FREE express post) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250546057464

3 for $55 (FREE express post) http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Garcinia-mangostana-MANGOSTEEN-rare-tropical-plant-x3_W0QQitemZ250546060041QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Plants_Seeds_Bulbs?hash=item3a55b57b09

Kind regards, El

National Tropical Plants (Formerly Cactus Island nursery)

Order NOW for Christmas!

Unfortunately we will not be sending plants during the Christmas period! Due to unreliable services offered by Australia Post, and postal services taking much longer than usual, our last posting day for plants is the 14th of December. Plants make wonderful present, so place your order now to receive yours in time for Christmas!

Certain things can be sent during Christmas, such as the COCOTAP – a wonderful little gadget to drink fresh coconut water easily. This would be a great present for coconut water lovers – or create a Coconut gift pack and include a fresh coconut as well to entice anyone into drinking this very healthy juice.

All fertilisers, soil improvers & seaweed solutions can be sent – basically anything that is not perishable. Be prepared for longer delivery times however!

One good thing though – we will still be here so all your emails will be responded to as quick as possible, but please do be patient as we’re trying to take it a little easier whilst the weather is at its hottest.

Exciting Nursery Changes

Cactus Island Nursery is soon to be known under a new name. From the start of the new year, we will be known under the registered name of ‘National Tropical Plants’ or ‘National Tropicals’ as is easier to say and remember. Our new name will come with a great new website – not only a brand new look but also many feature which we hope you will enjoy.

As the Christmas period traditionally is a very quiet period with, so it seems, not much gardening going on, we will try and have all changes finished by the start of the new year. If there are any delays or errors, please be patient & contact us. We’re sure you’ll love the new look, and we’re still the same so you can expect the same great personal attention & customer service you’ve been receiving up to now – hopefully with many more exciting plants & accessories.

All the best for the new year & a wonderful Christmas to all!

Cheers – Dan & El

Plants on Special

The plants below are a few plants which are on special until the end of November.

View all the plants currently on special.

	Butia capitata (Wine Palm / Jelly Palm	1 – 3 $5.00 each 4 – 9 $4.25 each 10 – 99 $3.75 each
	Dypsis Pink Crown (Pink Crown Palm)	1 – 4 $3.50 each 5 – 9 $2.75 each 10 – 99 $2.10 each
	Licuala ramsayi (Australian fan Palm)	1 – 4 $3.35 each 5 – 9 $2.99 each 10 – 1000 $2.00 each

Cold hardy & Frost hardy tropical plants

For other great Garden & Plant care tips and advice, visit our Garden & Plant Care page.

Is there such a thing as cold or frost hardy tropical plants?

Yes! We’ve compiled a list below of our plants for that tropical look in the colder areas & regions prone to frost in Australia.

Frost Hardy Plants

Palms:

-         Arenga engleri (Dwarf Sugar Palm) -10

-         Butia capitata (Wine Palm / Jelly Palm) -10

-         Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) -10

-         Sabal minor (Dwarf Palmetto) -10

-         Washingtonia robusta (Mexican Fan Palm) -5

Cycads:

-         Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) -5

-         Zamia furfuracea (Cardboard Palm) -2

Foliage & flowering plants:

-         Doryanthes excelsa (Gymea Lily) -5

-         Dracaena draco (Dragon’s Blood Tree) -10

-         Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (Grass Tree) -4

Succulents:

-         Agave bracteosa (Squid Agave) -9

-         Agave filifera (Thread Agave) - 9

-         Agave parryi (Parry’s Agave) -9

-         Agave victoria-reginae (Queen’s Agave) -9

-         Yucca’s aprox -4

Cold Hardy Plants Back to top

Palms:

-         Beccariophoenix madagascariensis (Window Pane Palm) 0ºC

-         Caryota mitis (Clustering Fishtail Palm) 0ºC

-         Chambeyronia macrocarpa (Flamethrower Palm + Blonde Flamethrower Palm) 0ºC

-         Dypsis decaryi (Triangle Palm) 0ºC

-         Dypsis fakey (Fakey Palm) 0ºC

-         Dypsis leptocheilos (Red Neck Palm / Teddybear Palm) 0ºC

-         Dypsis lutescens (Golden Cane) 0ºC

-         Dypsis Pink Crown (Pink Crown Palm) 0ºC

-         Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Bottle Palm) 0ºC

-         Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (Spindle Palm) 0ºC

-         Phoenix roebelenii (Dwarf Date Palm) 0ºC

Flowering plants

-         Lampranthus (Ice Plant) (0ºC - best protected if for a long period of time)

-         Pandorea Lady Di (White Bower Vine) 0ºC

-         Randia fitzalanii (Native Gardenia / Yellow Mangosteen) 0ºC

We recommend you gradually adjust young plants to your climate. Do not suddenly expose them to wind, frost, salt, cold, sun etc.! If you believe one of the plants above is wrongly described, or you believe some of our other plants may be cold or frost hardy, please let us know!

Tropical Foliage Festival

Saturday 14th November 2009
Sunday 15th November 2009

Cleveland Assembly Hall
Smith Street, Cleveland

Sales, Plants, Plant Displays, Guest Speakers, Fully Catered, EFTPOS, Free Parking

Contact Info:

Secretary: Elizabeth Hubbard (07) 3396 9956 Event Co-ordinator: Bruce Roberts (075) 499 2724

New! Randia fitzalanii (Native Gardenia / Yellow Mangosteen)

Randia fitzalanii (Native Gardenia, Yellow Mangosteen)

The Yellow Mangosteen, or Native Gardenia, is a beautiful rainforest tree, native to the North Coast of Queensland in Australia. Randia fitzalanii grows to around 5m tall, possibly a little taller in some conditions, and makes an excellent small tree for many gardens! Foliage is very beautiful and glossy green, and flowers resemble the flowers of Gardenia’s, which is where the name ‘Native Gardenia’ originates. The flowers are highly fragrant.

Not only is the Yellow Mangosteen beautiful and ornamental, it is edible as well, and is appreciated as bush tucker. Randia fitzalanii produces large, edible , slightly sweet yellow fruits. Randia fitzalanii fruits are eaten raw by Aboriginal people

Growing the Native Gardenia

Although Randia fitzalanii is a tropical native, it has been reported growing well as far south as Sydney. It is best grown in warm, moist situations, but can handle very light, very short frost. The Yellow Mangosteen is also drought hardy once established, although it prefers being watered regularly. Select a position, preferably sheltered, in full sun to part shade. Mulch well.

This plant is ideal for containers, close to the house to enjoy the wonderful fragrance, or as a small shade tree in the garden. Randia fitzalanii roots are non-invasive.

View & Buy Native Gardenia’s

New! Murraya Min-a-Min (Dwarf Orange Jessamine, Dwarf Mock Orange)

From the people who created ‘Syzygium Tiny Trev’!

Murraya Min-a-Min is a gorgeous dwarf plant with very fragrant, white flowers. Foliage is tiny, tough and glossy green, and they only grow to around 1m tall.

Murraya Min-a-Min is best grown in full sun to light shade. It is very adaptable and suitable to most condition. They are evergreen and flowers are born through spring and summer.

Murraya Min-a-Min is one of the best plants you can get for hedging, borders and topiaries! To grow Min-a-Min as a hedge, plant them 1/2m apart, and prune lightly in spring & summer, and a little more heavily in autumn after flowering has finished.

View or Buy Murraya Min-a-Min

Back in stock! Desert Roses in Red, White & Picotee! (Adenium obesum)

Common names: Desert Rose, Impala Lily, Sabi Star

Usually a shrub no more than about 1.5 m tall, branching into multiple stems with age. The Desert Rose can reach heights of 4.5 m or more in some of its tropical African races. Its usual habitat is sundrenched rock outcrops. The roots are swollen and succulent, as are the stem bases. Flower colours vary from pink to deep crimson, with a white or paler zone in the middle of each petal, and at least a hint of yellow in the throat. Flowering season varies in response to climate, from late summer-autumn through to late winter.

Requires excellent drainage. In warm-temperate climates they can be grown against a hot, sunny wall, but in cool climates they require greenhouses or glass houses with high light levels. Very drought and heat tolerant, but watering through summer and autumn promotes leaf growth and prolongs flowering.

VIEW & BUY DESERT ROSES BY CLICKING HERE!

Back in stock! Triangle Palms (Dypsis decaryi)

Dypsis decaryi

Triangle Palm

Very unique palm with a triangular shape; leaves grow from 3 distinct points of the trunk creating the triangle look. Spectacular grey-green leaves grow almost upright from the trunk and arch at the top. Originates in Madagascar and grows up to 15 m tall (although rarely seen at this size in cultivation). Very fast growing and very low maintenance. Extremely hardy, drought tolerant & handles light frost. For best results, this palm needs its own space to fully develop the shape which makes it so unique and special. Prefers full sun, but can be grown in semi-shade. Grows best with regular watering. Great container palm, will grow a nice thick trunk with minimal height in a pot.

Propagate from seed, usually germinates within a month.

VIEW OR BUY TRIANGLE PALMS (DYPSIS DECARYI) BY CLICKING HERE