When the humidity breaks and mornings turn crisp, Sarasota gardens wake up again. That’s geranium time—and nobody grows them like Troy’s Tropics. Our benches are packed with vigorous, florist-quality plants selected and grown for Florida’s fall–spring window, so you...
“Graffiti” Pentas: Sarasota’s Most Reliable Butterfly Magnet (That Blooms All Year)
Some plants add color. Pentas add life. If your goal is to see butterflies at breakfast and hummingbirds at lunch, start with Penta ‘Graffiti’, Penta ‘Beebright’, and Penta ‘Lucky Star’—three nonstop bloomers that handle Sarasota’s bright winter sun now and keep going...
Winter Color That Lasts: Vinca Cora XDR ‘Orchid’ & ‘Deep Strawberry’ for Sarasota Gardens
January in Sarasota is peak “garden again” season—bright days, cooler nights, and containers begging for color. If you want blooms that stay cheerful from now through spring, reach for vinca (Catharanthus roseus), especially the Cora XDR series we grow on our benches...
“Dragon Wing” Begonia: The Shade-Lover That Brings Big Color to Sarasota Gardens
Shade spots don’t have to settle for “just green.” Begonia ‘Dragon Wing’ turns low-light corners into lush, blooming focal points—right through our Sarasota winter and into spring. Add fragrant Begonia odorata/alba and ultra-reliable Wax Begonia to the mix and you’ve...
Siesta Key Sanctuary: Restoring a 1950s Waterfront Landscape With Living Shorelines
Tucked into a tiny corner of Siesta Key, there’s a neighborhood that feels almost like its own private island. Just a handful of homes sit on this little peninsula, each one wrapped in water and Old-Florida character. Our client’s home is one of those rare finds—a...
From One Truck to a Sarasota Garden Staple: The Story of Troy’s Tropics
If you’ve ever wandered the lush paths at Troy’s Tropics on Proctor Road, you might wonder: how did this little slice of paradise happen? Spoiler: it didn’t begin with a retail hub, a design studio, and full nursery operations. The unfolding of Troy’s Tropics Sarasota...
Layering: How to Make Your Sarasota Landscape Look Like Art (and Grow In Properly)
What “Layering” Means in Landscape Layering arranges plants from tallest in back to shortest in front, mixing color, texture, and form so the eye flows naturally across the bed. Think of it like composing a photo: background (tall), midground (medium), foreground...
Light the Night: Custom Landscape Lighting for Sarasota, North Port & Venice
If you love your yard by day, you’ll adore it after dark. Troy Tropics designs and installs custom landscape lighting that highlights your favorite trees, brightens walkways, and creates a warm, inviting space for evening gatherings—all with top-tier, Florida-tough...
Jamaican Cherry (Muntingia calabura): A Sweet Little Fruit Tree for Sarasota Yards
If you’re hunting for an easy, fast-growing fruit tree with year-round charm, Jamaican Cherry (Muntingia calabura) is a gem. This small evergreen delivers vibrant white flowers and loads of sweet, cherry-like red fruits that kids (and songbirds) adore. It’s a natural...
Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) — Sarasota Design & Care Guide
Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii) — Sarasota Design & Care Guide Compact, elegant, and holiday-ready. Also called Manila Palm, Christmas Palm shows a smooth gray trunk, graceful arching fronds, and cheerful red fruit clusters in winter—perfect for entries, pool...