Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; protect from intense western exposure and reflected heat.
Water: Keep the root zone consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply and frequently during extreme heat, especially in containers; reduce watering during cool weather. Not drought tolerant.
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; slightly acidic soil is preferred. Phoenix’s alkaline soil and irrigation water can cause nutrient deficiencies.
Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and 10–20 feet wide in favorable conditions; can be maintained around 8–12 feet with pruning. Container-grown trees generally remain smaller.
Bloom: Small flowers appear in repeated flushes from spring through fall under warm, favorable conditions; flowering and fruiting may be interrupted by extreme heat or cold.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in tropical conditions; may lose leaves during cold, drought, or other stress.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with warmth, adequate moisture, and nutrition; slower under Phoenix heat, cold, or alkaline-soil stress.