Red Baron Peach
Showy flowering and fruiting peach, commonly sold as ‘Red Baron,’ with double red blossoms and sweet, yellow-fleshed freestone fruit. Suitable for Phoenix gardens where winter chill is sufficient. Special Features Ornamental double blossoms and edible summer fruit; self-fruitful. Typically requires about 250–300 chill hours, so fruit production may vary during warm Phoenix winters. Problems & […]
Quiver Tree Aloe
A sculptural tree aloe native to southern Africa, with a thick, golden-tan trunk, repeatedly forked branches, and rosettes of succulent leaves. Currently classified as Aloidendron dichotomum. Special Features Distinctive branching silhouette, attractive peeling bark, and excellent drought tolerance once established; flowers attract nectar-feeding wildlife. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot from excess moisture, especially […]
White Sapote ‘Suebelle’
A relatively compact white sapote cultivar producing green to yellow-green fruit with sweet, creamy, custard-like flesh. ‘Suebelle’ needs protection from Phoenix’s intense afternoon heat. Special Features Sweet, edible fruit; relatively compact habit; generally self-fruitful. Fruit bruises easily and is best harvested carefully and eaten soon after softening. Do not eat the seeds. Problems & Solutions […]
Silverleaf Cassia
Fast-growing desert shrub native to Australia with silvery-gray, flattened phyllodes that give it a striking, unusual appearance and bright yellow flowers in late winter to spring. Excellent heat and drought tolerance once established. Special Features Extremely drought tolerant; silver-gray foliage for year-round contrast; heat tolerant; attracts pollinators in bloom Problems & Solutions Reseeds and can […]
Silvery Cassia
An Australian desert shrub with fine, silvery-gray foliage and abundant golden-yellow flowers, well suited to Phoenix landscapes. Special Features Heat and drought tolerant; fine-textured silver foliage; showy cool-season flowers attract bees. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage can cause root rot; let soil dry between waterings. Heavy shearing reduces flowers and spoils its natural […]
Spiral Blue Point Juniper
An upright Chinese juniper with dense blue-green foliage, trained and clipped into a decorative spiral. The spiral shape requires ongoing pruning. Special Features Sculptural topiary form; blue-green foliage year-round; drought tolerant once established, though supplemental irrigation is important in Phoenix heat. Problems & Solutions Extreme heat and reflected sun can cause browning; choose a protected […]
Sri Kembangan Starfruit
Sri Kembangan is a Malaysian starfruit cultivar producing large, sweet, golden-yellow fruit with five ribs that form star-shaped slices. A frost-sensitive tropical tree requiring substantial protection in Phoenix Zone 9b. Special Features Sweet, juicy fruit with attractive star-shaped slices; edible skin and ornamental tropical foliage. Generally self-fruitful, although cross-pollination can improve production. Problems & Solutions […]
Snow Queen Nectarine
A low-chill nectarine producing medium-sized, red-blushed fruit with juicy, sweet, aromatic white flesh. Suitable for Phoenix gardens where winter chilling is sufficient. Special Features Self-fruitful; no second variety required. Sweet white-fleshed fruit with freestone pits at maturity. Requires approximately 250–300 winter chill hours; production may be inconsistent in especially warm Phoenix locations. Problems & Solutions […]
Tangerine Aloe
A compact, clumping hybrid aloe generally sold as Aloe ‘Tangerine’, with fleshy, toothed leaves and showy tangerine-orange flowers. Special Features Drought tolerant once established; hummingbird-attracting flowers; produces offsets that expand the clump. Problems & Solutions Root rot from excess moisture: improve drainage and allow drying between waterings. Summer sunburn: provide afternoon shade. Frost damage: cover […]
Tecoma Sparklet
Assuming ‘Sparklet’ refers to ‘Sparklette’: a compact yellow bells cultivar with narrow green leaflets and abundant yellow trumpet flowers accented by orange-red throats. Special Features Compact size; attracts hummingbirds and bees; heat tolerant and moderately drought tolerant once established. Problems & Solutions Frost can damage foliage and stems; protect young plants and prune damaged growth […]