Petite Red Oleander Shrub
A compact oleander cultivar with showy red flower clusters and narrow, leathery green leaves, well suited to Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; long flowering season; excellent heat tolerance and good drought tolerance once established. All parts are highly poisonous if ingested. Problems & Solutions Aphids and scale may occur; monitor and treat with labeled […]
Petite White Oleander Shrub
A compact white-flowering oleander with narrow, leathery leaves and abundant summer blooms, well suited to Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; excellent heat tolerance; drought tolerant once established; tolerates reflected heat and urban conditions. All parts are highly poisonous if ingested. Problems & Solutions Aphids and scale may occur; use strong water sprays for aphids […]
Red Yucca
A tough desert perennial with arching, narrow leaves edged in curling white fibers and tall stalks of tubular flowers; not a true yucca. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; low maintenance; fibrous leaf margins without the sharp marginal teeth of many agaves. Problems & Solutions Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve […]
Stoplight Yucca
A compact red yucca selection with arching, narrow leaves and vivid red flowers. Despite its common name, it is a Hesperaloe rather than a true yucca. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; attracts hummingbirds; low maintenance; leaves have decorative curling fibers along their margins. Problems & Solutions Excess moisture can cause crown or root rot; […]
Twin Flower Agave
A compact agave with hundreds of narrow, arching green leaves forming a dense, rounded rosette. Fine white threads curl along the leaf margins. Special Features Fine-textured, nearly spherical form; decorative white leaf threads; drought tolerant. Leaf margins lack prominent teeth, but tips have sharp terminal spines. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and excess water cause […]
Yellow Blaze Eremophila
An Australian evergreen shrub with narrow green leaves and cheerful yellow tubular flowers; well suited to Phoenix’s hot, dry climate. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant once established; yellow flowers attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot; allow drying between irrigations. Hard freezes may damage tender […]
Acanthus ‘Oak Leaf’
A bold, clump-forming perennial with large, deeply lobed, oak-like leaves and upright flower spikes. Best suited to a sheltered, irrigated shade garden in Phoenix rather than an exposed desert landscape. Special Features Architectural foliage; showy vertical flower spikes; useful texture for shaded gardens. Established roots tolerate seasonal drought, usually by becoming dormant. Problems & Solutions […]
Arborvitae Nana Monrovia
A compact dwarf Oriental arborvitae with dense, upright sprays of scale-like green foliage. Suitable for sheltered Phoenix landscapes with irrigation and protection from intense afternoon heat. Special Features Compact form, fine-textured foliage, year-round structure, and good tolerance of alkaline soil. Not a low-water desert native. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat, reflected sun, and dry soil […]
Arborvitae Westmont
A compact Oriental arborvitae with dense, upright sprays of scale-like foliage and yellow-green new growth. Can grow in Phoenix with protection from reflected heat and consistent irrigation. Special Features Compact form, finely textured foliage, golden-green growth tips, and year-round structure. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and dry soil can cause browning; provide afternoon shade, mulch, […]
Everblooming Gardenia
A compact gardenia with glossy, deep-green foliage and intensely fragrant, double white flowers. Challenging in Phoenix unless protected from intense heat and grown in acidic soil. Special Features Powerfully fragrant flowers, glossy foliage, repeat blooming, and suitability for sheltered patio containers. Problems & Solutions Alkalinity can cause iron chlorosis; maintain an acidic root zone and […]