Light: Full sun; gradually acclimate nursery-grown plants to Phoenix sun. Young plants may benefit from light afternoon shade during extreme summer heat.
Water: Low water; water deeply but infrequently during warm weather, allowing soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. Keep nearly dry during winter.
Soil: Very well-drained, gritty or gravelly soil. Plant on a raised mound if native soil drains poorly.
Mature size: Typically 15–25 feet tall and 10–15 feet wide over many decades; potentially larger under favorable conditions.
Bloom: Large, night-opening flowers in late spring and summer on mature plants; young specimens may take many years to bloom.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; green stems provide year-round color, with no persistent leaves.
Growth rate: Slow, especially when young; established plants may grow moderately with appropriate summer watering.