Light: Full sun, ideally 6–8 hours daily. Young trees benefit from afternoon shade during extreme Phoenix summer heat.
Water: Deep, regular irrigation; not drought tolerant. For established trees, wet the root zone 2–3 feet deep beneath and beyond the canopy, then let the upper few inches dry before watering again. Water more frequently in summer and less in winter; keep water away from the trunk.
Soil: Well-drained sandy loam or loam. Tolerates Phoenix alkaline soils, but nutrient deficiencies may occur. Avoid poorly drained sites and keep the root flare above surrounding soil.
Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and 12–20 feet wide; size varies with rootstock and pruning. Dwarfing rootstocks produce smaller trees.
Bloom: Fragrant flowers in late winter to spring, usually February–April in Phoenix. Fruit generally ripens from late fall into winter.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate water and nutrition.