Red Raspberry
Deciduous berry-producing bramble with upright, usually prickly canes and sweet red fruit. A challenging crop in Phoenix because extreme summer heat and limited winter chill can reduce survival and fruiting. Special Features Edible red berries; flowers support pollinators. Primocane-fruiting cultivars may be worth trialing, but reliable production is not assured in Phoenix. Problems & Solutions […]
Rubus ‘Black Satin’ Blackberry
A vigorous, thornless blackberry producing large, glossy black berries on second-year canes. Can grow in Phoenix, but intense summer heat and insufficient winter chilling can limit fruit production. Special Features Thornless canes; self-fertile flowers; edible berries attractive to wildlife. Fruit is best harvested fully black and soft for sweeter flavor. Problems & Solutions Not a […]
Rubus X Superlicious PP
Superlicious is a fruiting Rubus hybrid grown for sweet, dark berries and lush green foliage. In Phoenix, it requires protection from intense afternoon sun and consistent irrigation; it is not a low-water desert plant. Special Features Edible berries, pollinator-attracting flowers, and generally self-fertile flowers. Best suited to a carefully managed edible garden rather than a […]
Chiltepin Pepper
A shrubby wild pepper native to southern Arizona and other parts of the Americas, producing tiny, round, intensely hot peppers that ripen from green to red. Special Features Edible, very hot fruits; attracts fruit-eating birds, which disperse the seeds; a native crop wild relative well suited to sheltered desert gardens. Problems & Solutions Harsh sun […]
Fantasy Seedless Grape
A vigorous table grape producing large, elongated, blue-black seedless berries with firm flesh and sweet flavor. Can grow in Phoenix, but extreme summer heat and variable winter chill may affect fruit quality and cropping. Special Features Large, dark seedless table grapes; self-fruitful, so only one vine is needed. Broad leaves provide seasonal shade, and established […]
Artichoke
A bold, edible perennial with deeply lobed, silvery leaves and large flower buds harvested as globe artichokes; best grown as a cool-season crop in Phoenix. Special Features Edible immature flower buds; striking architectural foliage; open flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat can cause wilting, poor buds, and summer dieback; provide […]
Strawberry
A low-growing fruiting perennial with three-part leaves and sweet red berries. In Phoenix, best grown as a cool-season crop planted in fall for spring harvest. Special Features Edible fruit, attractive foliage, pollinator-friendly flowers, and easy propagation from runners. Fall-planted short-day cultivars such as Chandler and Camarosa are useful choices for desert gardens. Problems & Solutions […]