Firecracker Penstemon
A Southwestern native perennial with upright spikes of brilliant red tubular flowers above a low clump of leathery green leaves. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and native pollinators; drought tolerant, cold hardy, and well suited to low-water gardens. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage and keep mulch away from the […]
Parry’s Penstemon
A Sonoran Desert native perennial with blue-green foliage and airy spikes of bright pink tubular flowers; well suited to Phoenix desert gardens. Special Features Attracts hummingbirds and native bees; drought tolerant, desert adapted, and readily self-seeds in suitable conditions. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot can occur in wet soil; ensure excellent drainage and […]
Pecan ‘Western Schley’
A large, deciduous pecan cultivar widely grown in the Southwest, producing flavorful, thin-shelled nuts. Well suited to Phoenix heat when given ample irrigation and room to develop. Special Features Edible, thin-shelled pecans; substantial summer shade; adapted to Southwestern heat. A Type I pollen-shedding cultivar; planting a compatible Type II cultivar such as Wichita improves pollination […]
Pindo Palm
A cold-hardy feather palm with arching, blue-gray fronds and edible, aromatic fruit used for jelly. Commonly sold as Butia capitata, landscape pindo palms are usually Butia odorata. Special Features Edible jelly-making fruit; graceful, recurved fronds; good cold tolerance for Zone 9b; moderate drought tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions Extreme desert heat, reflected sun, and […]
Petite Pink Oleander Tree
A dwarf pink-flowering oleander trained into a small tree, with a rounded evergreen canopy and excellent tolerance of Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; long flowering season; heat, drought, and reflected-heat tolerance once established. Problems & Solutions All parts are highly poisonous if ingested; keep away from children and pets, wear gloves when pruning, and […]
Petite Red Oleander Shrub
A compact oleander cultivar with showy red flower clusters and narrow, leathery green leaves, well suited to Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; long flowering season; excellent heat tolerance and good drought tolerance once established. All parts are highly poisonous if ingested. Problems & Solutions Aphids and scale may occur; monitor and treat with labeled […]
Petite White Oleander Shrub
A compact white-flowering oleander with narrow, leathery leaves and abundant summer blooms, well suited to Phoenix heat. Special Features Compact size; excellent heat tolerance; drought tolerant once established; tolerates reflected heat and urban conditions. All parts are highly poisonous if ingested. Problems & Solutions Aphids and scale may occur; use strong water sprays for aphids […]
Philippine Red Guava
A tropical fruiting guava prized for reddish-bronze foliage and aromatic, red-skinned fruit with pink to red flesh. In Phoenix, it needs protection from severe summer exposure and winter freezes. Special Features Edible, fragrant fruit; ornamental reddish foliage; attractive exfoliating bark. Generally self-fruitful, though insect pollination improves fruit set. Problems & Solutions Frost can damage foliage […]
Blue Torch Cactus
Columnar cactus native to Brazil, known for its striking blue-green stem and dense white to golden wool at the apex and along the ribs. Produces nocturnal pink to red flowers and grows as a tall, branching column in warm desert landscapes. Special Features Striking blue-green stem color; dense white woolly trichomes at growing points; nocturnal […]
Pink Muhly
Muhlenbergia rigens is deer grass, not pink muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris). These details describe M. rigens, a Southwestern native bunchgrass with arching foliage and tall, slender flower spikes. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant once established; provides wildlife shelter, erosion control, and movement in the landscape. Problems & Solutions Poor drainage and overwatering can cause root […]