Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade is best in Phoenix. Established plants tolerate more sun with adequate irrigation; avoid intense reflected heat.
Water: Moderate to high water use in Phoenix. Water deeply and regularly during hot weather, keeping the root zone evenly moist but not saturated. Containers may need daily watering in extreme heat; reduce watering in winter.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost. Mulch the root zone to conserve moisture and moderate soil temperatures, keeping mulch away from the canes.
Mature size: Typically 30–50 feet tall with a clump 10–15 feet wide or more in favorable ground conditions. Container-grown plants commonly remain 5–15 feet tall, depending on pot size and pruning.
Bloom: Flowers very rarely and unpredictably, sometimes after many decades; not grown for blooms.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in mild conditions; frost, drought, or extreme heat can cause leaf loss.
Growth rate: Fast with warmth, adequate water, and nutrients; slower in containers or stressful desert conditions.