Passion Fruit ‘Possum Purple’
Vigorous tropical vine producing edible purple passion fruit. Features deeply lobed leaves and showy, intricate flowers. Grows rapidly and is trained on trellises, fences, or arbors; ‘Possum Purple’ is a self-fertile, heat-adapted selection. Special Features Produces edible passion fruit; attracts bees and butterflies; provides dense coverage on structures; fast screening. Problems & Solutions Root rot […]
Passion Flower Vine
A vigorous hybrid passionflower vine (Passiflora alata × P. caerulea) with lush, lobed leaves and intricate, fragrant pinkish-white and purple flowers. Special Features Exotic, fragrant flowers; attracts pollinators; tendrils quickly cover trellises and arbors. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat can scorch foliage (provide afternoon shade and consistent moisture); frost can damage growth (plant in a […]
Passion Vine, Fruiting
A vigorous subtropical vine with glossy, lobed leaves, intricate flowers, and aromatic passion fruit containing juicy, seed-filled pulp. Requires protection from Phoenix’s extreme heat and winter freezes. Special Features Edible ripe fruit; elaborate, fragrant flowers; attracts pollinators. Purple-fruited cultivars generally tolerate more cold than yellow-fruited types. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat can scorch foliage and […]
Pink Jasmine Vine
A vigorous, twining jasmine vine with dark green foliage and masses of intensely fragrant white flowers opening from pink buds. Best in a protected, cooler microclimate in Phoenix. Special Features Intensely fragrant flowers, showy pink buds, and rapid coverage of trellises; not a low-water desert vine. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and afternoon sun can […]
Roadkill Cactus
A tree-form Caribbean cactus with unusually thin, flattened, irregularly shaped pads that give it the common name roadkill cactus. Special Features Distinctive flattened pads, sculptural branching, and good heat and drought tolerance once established; often nearly spineless but still bears irritating glochids. Problems & Solutions Frost-sensitive and not reliably hardy through Zone 9b freezes; protect […]
Yucca Faxoniana (Faxon Yucca)
A bold, tree-form yucca native to the Chihuahuan Desert, with stout trunks and dense crowns of stiff, sword-shaped leaves edged with curling fibers. Special Features Sculptural desert accent; highly heat and drought tolerant once established, with ample cold hardiness for Zone 9b. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet soil: ensure excellent drainage […]
Zinfandel Grape Vine
Zinfandel grape (Vitis vinifera ‘Zinfandel’) is a vigorous fruiting vine with lobed leaves and clusters of dark purple-black grapes, primarily grown for wine but also suitable for fresh eating. Special Features Edible grapes; self-fertile, so only one vine is needed for fruiting; provides seasonal shade. Tolerates heat with adequate irrigation, but Phoenix conditions can challenge […]
Mexican Weeping Bamboo
Graceful, clumping bamboo native to Mexico, with slender, arching canes and narrow leaves that create a soft, weeping appearance. Special Features Non-running, clumping growth; fine-textured foliage; graceful movement in breezes; useful as a soft privacy screen. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat, dry wind, and insufficient water can cause leaf curl and brown tips; provide deep […]
Bower Vine (Variegated)
An ornamental climbing vine with glossy green leaves edged in creamy white and clusters of pale pink, trumpet-shaped flowers with deeper pink throats. Special Features Cream-edged foliage provides year-round interest; showy flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Leaf scorch: provide afternoon shade and consistent moisture. Frost damage: plant in a sheltered location […]
Passion Fruit
A vigorous subtropical vine with glossy, lobed leaves, intricate flowers, and aromatic purple or yellow fruit containing sweet-tart pulp; requires protection from Phoenix’s extreme heat and winter frost. Special Features Edible ripe fruit; ornate, fragrant flowers; attracts pollinating bees. Purple-fruited cultivars are generally better suited to cool winters than yellow-fruited types. Problems & Solutions Extreme […]