Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is best in Phoenix. Avoid reflected heat from west-facing walls and pavement.
Water: Water deeply and regularly during hot weather, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering in winter; avoid saturated soil and prolonged drought during flowering and fruiting.
Soil: Well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Phoenix’s alkaline soil can cause nutrient deficiencies; mulch the root zone while keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Mature size: Typically 8–15 feet tall and 6–12 feet wide; can be maintained smaller with pruning or container culture.
Bloom: Intermittent flushes from spring through fall in warm conditions, often following rain or irrigation. Fruit commonly ripens about 3–4 weeks after flowering.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free climates; may become semi-evergreen or lose leaves during Phoenix cold spells or drought.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, adequate irrigation and nutrition; slower under cold, drought or alkaline-soil stress.