Light: Full sun, ideally at least 6–8 hours daily. Young trees may benefit from light afternoon shade during extreme summer heat.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation; not drought tolerant when grown for fruit. Water across the expanding root zone, increasing frequency during fruit development and Phoenix summers. Allow the upper few inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings without letting the root zone dry out completely.
Soil: Well-drained loam preferred; tolerates other textures with good drainage. Phoenix alkaline soils may cause nutrient deficiencies. Apply organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it several inches away from the trunk.
Mature size: Approximately 15–20 feet tall and wide, depending on rootstock and conditions; can be maintained around 10–12 feet with regular pruning.
Bloom: Late winter to early spring, often February in Phoenix; timing varies with winter temperatures.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Fast with adequate irrigation and nutrition.