Blue Potato Bush
Fast-growing, loosely arching evergreen shrub producing violet-blue flowers nearly year-round in warm climates. Used as a specimen shrub, espalier, or trained standard. Tolerates Phoenix heat with regular water and afternoon shade. Special Features Long bloom season with showy violet-blue flowers; can be trained as a standard or espalier; attracts butterflies and bees Problems & Solutions […]
Purple Heart
Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’, formerly Setcreasea pallida) is a tender perennial with elongated purple leaves and fleshy, trailing stems. Special Features Bold purple foliage; heat tolerant; moderately drought tolerant once established; easily propagated from stem cuttings. Problems & Solutions Afternoon sun and reflected heat can scorch leaves; provide afternoon shade. Poor drainage causes rot; […]
Purple Sky Flower
A fast-growing tropical shrub with arching branches, cascading purple-blue flowers, and ornamental golden berries; best in a sheltered Phoenix garden. Special Features Attracts butterflies and other pollinators; showy golden berries follow flowers. Established plants tolerate heat with adequate irrigation. Problems & Solutions Frost can damage foliage and stems; plant in a protected location, cover during […]
Purple Plum
Purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a small ornamental tree grown for burgundy foliage and early spring flowers. It can grow in Phoenix but is less adapted to extreme desert heat than desert-native trees. Special Features Showy purple foliage, early-season flowers that attract pollinators, and small edible plums on some cultivars. Not a low-water desert tree. […]
Rain Lily
A clump-forming bulb with narrow, grasslike foliage and white, crocuslike flowers that often appear after rain or deep watering. Special Features Rain-triggered flowering; naturalizes through bulb offsets; suitable for small spaces and containers. All parts are toxic if ingested. Problems & Solutions Bulb rot in poorly drained soil: improve drainage and avoid standing water. Leaf […]
Red Hibiscus
A tropical shrub with glossy green foliage and large, showy red flowers; best grown in a sheltered, irrigated location in Phoenix. Special Features Showy tropical flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators; suitable for containers. Not drought tolerant or reliably frost hardy in Zone 9b. Problems & Solutions Frost injury: cover during freezes or move containers under […]
Rosa-CL White Iceberg
Climbing White Iceberg rose is a vigorous climbing sport of the classic Iceberg floribunda, producing clusters of white flowers on long, arching canes. Well suited to Phoenix gardens with afternoon shade and consistent irrigation. Special Features Abundant repeat flowering, lightly fragrant blooms, and flexible canes suitable for training. Generally good disease resistance with proper airflow. […]
ROSA CL BANKSIAE LUTEA
Yellow Lady Banks rose is a vigorous, nearly thornless climbing rose with masses of small, double, pale yellow flowers in spring. Well adapted to Phoenix when given adequate space and irrigation. Special Features Nearly thornless canes; profuse spring flowers; good heat tolerance and generally strong disease resistance. Problems & Solutions Aphids and spider mites may […]
Rosa-cl X Cecile Brunner
Climbing ‘Cecile Brunner’ is a vigorous rose with small, fragrant, blush-pink flowers. It is not Rosa banksiae (Lady Banks’ rose), which is a different climbing rose. Special Features Fragrant heirloom rose with abundant miniature-looking flowers, vigorous climbing growth, and relatively few prickles. Problems & Solutions Summer scorch (provide afternoon shade and consistent moisture); spider mites […]
Rose
Roses (Rosa species and hybrids) are flowering shrubs or climbers valued for colorful, often fragrant blooms. Heat-tolerant cultivars perform best in Phoenix gardens. Special Features Often fragrant; excellent cut flowers; many cultivars rebloom. Single and semi-double flowers provide pollen for bees, and some varieties produce ornamental hips. Problems & Solutions Heat scorch: provide afternoon shade […]