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 […]
Red Baron Peach
Showy flowering and fruiting peach, commonly sold as ‘Red Baron,’ with double red blossoms and sweet, yellow-fleshed freestone fruit. Suitable for Phoenix gardens where winter chill is sufficient. Special Features Ornamental double blossoms and edible summer fruit; self-fruitful. Typically requires about 250–300 chill hours, so fruit production may vary during warm Phoenix winters. Problems & […]
Red Papaya
A fast-growing tropical fruit plant with a soft, usually unbranched trunk, large deeply lobed leaves, and sweet red to orange-red flesh. Red papaya describes flesh color rather than a single cultivar; growing it in Phoenix requires frost protection and careful summer watering. Special Features Edible red-fleshed fruit, bold tropical foliage, and rapid growth. A short-lived […]
Cogshall Mango
Compact tropical fruit tree producing sweet, nearly fiberless mangoes with yellow skin and a red blush; requires protection from Phoenix frost and intense summer exposure. Special Features Compact mango cultivar with flavorful, low-fiber fruit; suitable for large containers and small gardens. A single tree can produce fruit. Problems & Solutions Frost-sensitive, especially when young; use […]
Papaya Hovey
A frost-tender tropical fruit plant with a slender trunk, large lobed leaves, and edible papayas. ‘Hovey’ cultivar details are not well documented; in Phoenix Zone 9b, grow in a warm, protected microclimate. Special Features Bold tropical foliage, rapid growth, and edible fruit. Fruit production depends on plant sex, pollination, and a sufficiently long frost-free growing […]
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 […]
Limequat
A small citrus tree bearing tart, lime-like fruit with edible peel. True limequat is a lime–kumquat hybrid, usually named Citrus × floridana; Fortunella obovata generally refers to Fukushu kumquat. The care below is for limequat. Special Features Fragrant flowers; edible yellow to yellow-green fruit with aromatic peel and acidic juice; self-fertile; generally more cold tolerant […]