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 […]
Philippine Red Guava
A tropical fruiting guava prized for reddish-bronze foliage and aromatic, red-skinned fruit with pink to red flesh. In Phoenix, it needs protection from severe summer exposure and winter freezes. Special Features Edible, fragrant fruit; ornamental reddish foliage; attractive exfoliating bark. Generally self-fruitful, though insect pollination improves fruit set. Problems & Solutions Frost can damage foliage […]
Pygmy Date Palm
A small, graceful palm with a slender, textured trunk and arching, finely divided fronds that create a soft, tropical appearance. Special Features Compact tropical accent suitable for containers and sheltered patios; female plants can produce small, dark, date-like fruits when pollinated. Problems & Solutions Fronds can suffer frost damage in Zone 9b; plant in a […]
Pygmy Date Palm Jumbo 21″
A compact tropical palm with a slender trunk and gracefully arching, feathery fronds. Jumbo 21-inch generally refers to the nursery container size, not a distinct variety or mature size. Special Features Fine-textured tropical foliage; compact size suits sheltered courtyards and containers. Female plants may produce small, dark fruits when pollinated by a male plant. Problems […]
Red Wonderful Pomegranate
A heat-tolerant fruiting shrub or small tree with glossy leaves, orange-red flowers, and large, red pomegranates containing sweet-tart, deep-red arils. ‘Wonderful’ typically ripens in fall in Phoenix. Special Features Edible fruit; self-fruitful, so one plant can produce a crop; excellent heat tolerance; drought tolerant once established; attracts pollinators. Problems & Solutions Fruit splitting: maintain even […]
Red Guava
A tropical fruiting shrub or small tree grown for fragrant guavas with pink to red flesh, attractive foliage, and peeling bark. Special Features Edible, aromatic red-fleshed fruit; usually self-fruitful; attracts pollinators; attractive exfoliating bark; responds well to pruning. Problems & Solutions Frost-sensitive, especially when young; plant in a warm, sheltered location and cover during freezes. […]
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 […]
Royal Palm
Majestic tropical palm with a smooth, pale-gray trunk, prominent green crownshaft, and large, arching featherlike fronds. Marginal and generally unreliable outdoors in Phoenix Zone 9b because of frost, extreme dry heat, and low humidity. Special Features Striking architectural trunk and crownshaft; tropical appearance; self-cleaning canopy; flowers attract pollinators and fruits feed birds. Problems & Solutions […]
Semponium ‘Sienna’
An unusual intergeneric hybrid of Sempervivum and Aeonium, forming clustered succulent rosettes with warm copper, bronze, and reddish foliage. Best treated as a protected container specimen in Phoenix. Special Features Unusual Sempervivum–Aeonium parentage; colorful rosettes and a branching, clustered form. Drought tolerant once established, but not a dependable full-sun desert succulent. Problems & Solutions Phoenix […]
Sea Lavender
A Canary Islands perennial with broad, leathery leaves and airy clusters of purple-and-white flowers; best in a sheltered Phoenix location away from reflected heat. Special Features Drought and salt tolerant once established; attracts pollinators; excellent long-lasting cut and dried flowers. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and afternoon sun can scorch foliage (provide afternoon shade); wet […]