Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; protect from intense western exposure and reflected heat.
Water: Keep the shallow root zone consistently moist but never waterlogged. Check containers daily during summer and irrigate as needed. Prefer rainwater or other low-alkalinity water.
Soil: Acidic, well-drained, organic-rich soil with a pH of 4.5–5.5. In Phoenix, use a large container with an acidic potting mix containing pine bark and peat moss rather than native alkaline soil.
Mature size: Approximately 5–6 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide; often smaller in containers.
Bloom: Late winter to spring, depending on winter chill and local temperatures; fruit generally ripens in late spring to early summer when chilling requirements are met.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous; may retain some foliage during mild winters.
Growth rate: Moderate under suitable acidic, evenly moist conditions; slower under Phoenix heat or pH stress.