Russian Sage ‘Blue Jean’
Russian sage cultivar with upright, airy stems and fine-textured silvery foliage. Produces spikes of small lavender-blue flowers in summer and fall. Tolerates heat, drought, and alkaline soils once established. Special Features Drought tolerant once established; deer resistant; attracts bees and butterflies; silvery stems provide winter interest; aromatic foliage. Problems & Solutions Root rot in poorly […]
Pencil Cactus
A branching succulent shrub or small tree with slender, pencil-like green stems and tiny, short-lived leaves; not a true cactus. Special Features Sculptural branching, strong heat tolerance, and excellent drought resistance once established. Milky sap is toxic and highly irritating. Problems & Solutions Frost-tender and not reliably hardy throughout Zone 9b; freezing temperatures can damage […]
Pindo Palm
A cold-hardy feather palm with arching, blue-gray fronds and edible, aromatic fruit used for jelly. Commonly sold as Butia capitata, landscape pindo palms are usually Butia odorata. Special Features Edible jelly-making fruit; graceful, recurved fronds; good cold tolerance for Zone 9b; moderate drought tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions Extreme desert heat, reflected sun, and […]
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 […]
Fraser Photinia
A broadleaf evergreen shrub with glossy leaves and brilliant red new growth that matures to dark green. Often called red-tip photinia; Phoenix’s extreme heat and alkaline soils can make it challenging to grow. Special Features Vivid red new foliage, glossy mature leaves, and dense screening growth; tolerates selective pruning. Problems & Solutions Leaf scorch and […]
Blue Torch Cactus
Columnar cactus native to Brazil, known for its striking blue-green stem and dense white to golden wool at the apex and along the ribs. Produces nocturnal pink to red flowers and grows as a tall, branching column in warm desert landscapes. Special Features Striking blue-green stem color; dense white woolly trichomes at growing points; nocturnal […]
Peruvian Apple Cactus
A tall, branching South American cactus with ribbed, blue-green stems, large night-blooming flowers, and edible fruit; commonly sold as Cereus peruvianus or Cereus repandus. Special Features Dramatic vertical form; excellent heat and drought tolerance; edible pink-red fruit with sweet white flesh and small black seeds; attracts nocturnal pollinators. Problems & Solutions Root and stem rot […]
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 […]
Canary Island Date Palm
Large, stately palm native to the Canary Islands. Develops a thick, pineapple-textured trunk with age and dense arching fronds. Widely used as a specimen or street tree in warm desert climates. Special Features Bold tropical form with a distinctive pineapple-shaped trunk base; drought tolerant once established; effective as a large specimen or avenue tree. Problems […]
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 […]