Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade in Phoenix; avoid reflected heat from west-facing walls and pavement.
Water: Water deeply and regularly during hot weather, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry slightly between waterings. Keep newly planted shrubs consistently moist but not soggy; reduce watering after leaf drop.
Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost. Prefers slightly acidic to neutral conditions but tolerates some alkalinity; mulch the root zone while keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Mature size: Typically 8–12 feet tall and 6–10 feet wide; compact cultivars remain smaller.
Bloom: Summer through early fall; extreme heat or moisture stress may reduce flowering.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous; loses leaves in fall or winter and may leaf out relatively late in spring.
Growth rate: Moderate; growth slows under extreme heat, drought, or poor soil conditions.