Pecan ‘Western Schley’
A large, deciduous pecan cultivar widely grown in the Southwest, producing flavorful, thin-shelled nuts. Well suited to Phoenix heat when given ample irrigation and room to develop. Special Features Edible, thin-shelled pecans; substantial summer shade; adapted to Southwestern heat. A Type I pollen-shedding cultivar; planting a compatible Type II cultivar such as Wichita improves pollination […]
Petite Pink Oleander Tree
A dwarf pink-flowering oleander trained into a small tree, with a rounded evergreen canopy and excellent tolerance of Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; long flowering season; heat, drought, and reflected-heat tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions All parts are highly poisonous if ingested; keep away from children and pets, wear gloves when pruning, and […]
Pink Lemon – Variegated
An ornamental Eureka lemon with cream-and-green variegated leaves, striped young fruit, and pink flesh. Ripe lemons have mostly yellow rinds and tart juice that is generally clear rather than pink. Special Features Pink-fleshed edible lemons, decorative striped immature fruit, variegated foliage, and fragrant flowers. Self-fruitful; one tree can produce fruit. Problems & Solutions Sunburn and […]
Pixie Mandarin
A late-season mandarin producing small, sweet, seedless fruit with easy-peeling orange skin. ‘Pixie’ refers to the fruit size, not a naturally dwarf tree. Special Features Sweet, seedless, easy-peeling fruit; self-fruitful and does not require a pollinator. Late harvest season; may take several years to become productive. Problems & Solutions Sunburn on exposed bark and fruit […]
Plum – Beauty
An early-ripening Japanese plum producing sweet, juicy fruit with reddish-purple skin and amber flesh. ‘Beauty’ is a low-chill cultivar, but Phoenix heat and variable winter chilling can affect fruit production. Special Features Self-fruitful; another compatible Japanese plum flowering at the same time may improve yield. Commonly listed as needing approximately 250 chill hours; inadequate winter […]
Plum – Santa Rosa
Japanese plum producing aromatic, reddish-purple fruit with sweet-tart amber flesh, excellent fresh or preserved. This profile assumes ‘Santa Rosa’; Prunus salicina ‘Beauty’ is a different cultivar. Special Features Edible fruit, fragrant spring flowers, and self-fruitfulness; another compatible Japanese plum can improve production. Generally needs approximately 300–500 winter chill hours, which may limit reliable cropping in […]
Pink Trumpet Tree
Tabebuia rosea is a tropical flowering tree, not naturally a bush, with showy pink trumpet-shaped flowers. It is frost-sensitive and is not reliably hardy in Phoenix Zone 9b; confirm the botanical name before purchasing. Special Features Spectacular seasonal flowers; attractive palmate foliage; flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Freezing temperatures can severely […]
Ponderosa Lemon
A thorny citrus hybrid, generally considered a citron–pomelo cross, producing exceptionally large, thick-skinned yellow fruit with acidic, lemon-like juice. Special Features Very large edible fruit, fragrant flowers, and self-fertile blossoms; one tree can produce fruit. Fruit may remain on the tree for an extended period after ripening. Problems & Solutions More frost-sensitive than many citrus; […]
Ponytail Palm
A sculptural succulent tree with a swollen, water-storing trunk and cascading tufts of narrow leaves. Commonly called ponytail palm, it is not a true palm; its accepted botanical name is Beaucarnea recurvata. Special Features Distinctive bulbous trunk, fountainlike foliage, and excellent drought tolerance once established; well suited to containers. Problems & Solutions Root and trunk […]
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. […]