Plumeria
A tropical small tree with thick, succulent branches, large green leaves, and fragrant flowers traditionally used in Hawaiian leis. In Phoenix Zone 9b, it requires frost protection and relief from intense afternoon sun. Special Features Fragrant tropical flowers, sculptural branching, and good container adaptability. Established plants tolerate brief dry periods, but are not frost hardy. […]
Poinsettia 4in
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a tropical shrub prized for colorful holiday bracts surrounding tiny flowers. The 4-inch designation refers to its nursery pot size, not mature size. Special Features Long-lasting, colorful bracts provide winter interest. Best treated as an indoor or protected container plant in Phoenix. Problems & Solutions Phoenix sun and extreme heat can […]
Poinsettia XL 10 in
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a tropical shrub prized for colorful winter bracts surrounding tiny flowers. ‘XL 10 in’ generally denotes a large plant sold in a 10-inch nursery pot, not a specific cultivar. Special Features Long-lasting holiday color from showy bracts. Best treated in Phoenix as a seasonal houseplant or movable container specimen rather than […]
Rubber Tree (Rubber Plant)
The nursery Rubber Tree is Ficus elastica, a tropical evergreen grown chiefly as a houseplant for its large, glossy, leathery leaves. It is frost-tender and not suited to outdoor exposure in the low desert; keep it indoors or on a shaded patio in bright, indirect light. (Note: the commercial latex tree Hevea brasiliensis is a […]
Ruby Red Euphorbia
An upright, branching succulent, Euphorbia trigona ‘Rubra’ has three-sided stems, short paired spines, and burgundy-red leaves. Often called African milk tree, it is not a true cactus. Special Features Sculptural burgundy coloration; drought tolerant once established; easily grown in containers. Milky sap is toxic and irritating. Problems & Solutions Not reliably hardy outdoors in Zone […]
Shrimp Plant
Tropical shrub valued for distinctive drooping flower spikes with overlapping bracts resembling a shrimp, blooming nearly year-round in warm climates. Performs best in sheltered, partly shaded spots in the low desert, where full afternoon sun bleaches the bracts. Special Features Long bloom season; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; colorful overlapping bracts; frost-sensitive but usually rebounds from […]
Stromanthe ‘Triostar’
A tropical foliage perennial with elongated leaves patterned in green, cream, and pink, with burgundy undersides. Best grown indoors in Phoenix rather than as a permanent outdoor landscape plant. Special Features Striking tricolor foliage; leaves shift position with the day-night cycle. Generally considered nontoxic to cats and dogs. Problems & Solutions Phoenix heat, dry air, […]
Tri Color Spider Wort
A tender, trailing perennial commonly sold as Tradescantia fluminensis ‘Tricolor’, prized for its pink, cream, and green variegated leaves. Best grown in sheltered containers in Phoenix. Special Features Colorful variegation, attractive cascading stems, easy propagation from cuttings, and suitability for hanging baskets or indoor growing. Problems & Solutions Sunburn and crispy leaves: provide afternoon shade […]
Vinca Major Periwinkle
Bigleaf periwinkle is a spreading perennial groundcover with glossy leaves and violet-blue flowers. Unlike annual vinca, it needs shade and supplemental irrigation in Phoenix. Special Features Shade-tolerant groundcover with attractive foliage; trailing stems root at nodes and provide dense coverage. Problems & Solutions Aggressive spreader and invasive in some regions; contain and keep away from […]
Austral Gem Asplenium
A compact hybrid fern with thick, glossy, finely divided fronds. More tolerant of dry indoor air than many ferns, but not suited to exposed Phoenix desert conditions. Special Features Leathery, lustrous fronds; compact form; relatively tolerant of low humidity compared with many other ferns. Problems & Solutions Phoenix sun, hot winds, and extreme heat can […]