Arkin Carambola Starfruit
A tropical fruit tree producing golden-yellow, five-ribbed starfruit with crisp, juicy, mildly sweet flesh. ‘Arkin’ requires a carefully protected microclimate in Phoenix Zone 9b. Special Features Fruit slices form distinctive stars. ‘Arkin’ is generally self-fruitful, although insect pollination improves fruit set. Not drought tolerant or reliably winter hardy in Zone 9b. Problems & Solutions Frost […]
Banana Dwarf Cavendish
Dwarf Cavendish banana (Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’) is a tropical, clumping herbaceous perennial with broad leaves and sweet, edible bananas. In Phoenix, it needs shelter from intense afternoon sun, dry winds, and frost. Special Features Large tropical foliage; edible, seedless fruit without a pollinator; suitable for large containers. More compact than standard bananas, but not […]
Banana ‘Ice Cream’
Ice Cream banana, often called Blue Java, is a tropical, clumping perennial grown for broad leaves and sweet, creamy fruit. Phoenix production requires protection from extreme heat, dry winds, and winter freezes. Special Features Large tropical leaves; blue-green immature fruit that ripens yellow with creamy, sweet flesh. Relatively cold tolerant for an edible banana, but […]
Canna Cannova R Original Shds
A compact Cannova-series canna with broad, tropical-looking leaves and showy flowers above upright clumps. A rhizomatous perennial suited to irrigated Phoenix gardens and containers. Special Features Tropical foliage; colorful, repeat-blooming flowers; hummingbird attraction; compact habit suitable for containers. Not drought tolerant. Problems & Solutions Leaf scorch and crispy edges indicate excessive heat or inadequate moisture; […]
Canna Lily Yellow
A tropical-looking, rhizomatous perennial with broad, banana-like leaves and bright yellow flowers. Yellow garden cannas are often hybrids sold under Canna indica. Special Features Bold tropical foliage; showy flowers attract hummingbirds and pollinators. Heat tolerant with sufficient moisture, but not drought tolerant. Problems & Solutions Dry soil and intense afternoon sun can scorch leaves (maintain […]
Canna Indica Fire Dragon
A vigorous, rhizomatous perennial with large, tropical-looking leaves and fiery red flowers. Best suited to irrigated garden areas rather than dry desert landscapes. Special Features Bold tropical texture; attracts hummingbirds; fast seasonal growth; readily propagated by dividing rhizomes. Problems & Solutions Dry heat and insufficient water cause scorched or ragged leaves; provide afternoon shade, mulch, […]
Canna Trop Black
A bold, tropical-looking canna commonly sold as Tropicanna Black, with broad, dark burgundy-black leaves and vivid orange-scarlet flowers. Special Features Dramatic dark foliage; hummingbird-attracting flowers; vigorous rhizomatous growth; tropical effect in irrigated desert landscapes. Problems & Solutions Leaf scorch and crispy margins in intense sun or dry soil: provide afternoon shade, mulch, and consistent moisture. […]
Coconut Cream Mango
A tropical mango cultivar prized for sweet, creamy, nearly fiberless fruit with a distinctive coconut-like flavor. Challenging but possible in a protected Phoenix microclimate. Special Features Dessert-quality mangoes with coconut-like flavor and very little fiber; attractive tropical foliage. Self-fertile, so one tree can produce fruit. Problems & Solutions Frost-sensitive and not reliably hardy in Zone […]
Cotton Candy Mango
A tropical mango cultivar prized for exceptionally sweet, aromatic fruit with a candy-like flavor. Growing it in Phoenix requires protection from frost, intense afternoon sun, and drying winds. Special Features Very sweet dessert fruit; attractive tropical foliage. Self-fertile, so a second cultivar is not required. Marginally cold-hardy in Zone 9b and best treated as a […]
Mandevilla ‘Sunvilla Giant Red’
A tropical, climbing mandevilla with oversized red trumpet flowers and glossy green foliage. Best grown in a sheltered location or movable container in Phoenix, where extreme heat and winter freezes require protection. Special Features Large, showy flowers; long blooming season; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; well suited to trellised containers. Problems & Solutions Afternoon sun and […]