Ambrosia pomegranate
Punica granatum ‘Ambrosia’An exceptionally large-fruited pomegranate with pale skin, bright pink flesh, and a sweeter profile than Wonderful.
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Desert Southwest plant finder
Find the right plants for your desert landscape.
Explore Sonoran Desert natives, fruit trees, and vegetables and herbs for Phoenix’s cool season. Filter by growing space, climate, and use, then check each crop’s planting window and frost needs.
Amla
Phyllanthus emblicaA graceful tree with feathery leaves and sour green fruit prized in Indian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine. Handles full Phoenix sun well once established.
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Angelita daisy
Tetraneuris acaulisCompact yellow-flowering perennial especially useful in cooler suburbs, outskirts, and high-desert gardens.
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Anna apple
Malus domestica ‘Anna’A very low-chill apple developed for warm winters, producing crisp sweet-tart fruit when paired with a compatible early-blooming pollinizer.
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Arabian jasmine
Jasminum sambacIntensely fragrant jasmine for protected courtyards, north or east walls, containers, and trellises in the warmest desert microclimates.
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Araza
Eugenia stipitataA small Amazonian shrub in the guava family with very aromatic, very sour yellow fruit. Best grown in a large container with acidic soil and afternoon shade.
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Arbequina olive
Olea europaea ‘Arbequina’A relatively compact, early-bearing Spanish olive valued for high-quality oil and better small-space fit than many traditional cultivars.
View complete guide →Arbosana olive
Olea europaea ‘Arbosana’A compact Spanish oil olive with dense growth, high-quality aromatic oil, and a naturally smaller footprint than many olive cultivars.
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Arizona grape
Vitis arizonicaNative deciduous vine for riparian or partly shaded situations, producing tart fruit valuable to people and wildlife.
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Arugula
Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativaFast salad green; harvest young for milder flavor. It bolts quickly when the Valley warms.
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Asparagus
Asparagus officinalisA permanent bed, not a quick winter vegetable. Let spears fern out after the spring harvest to rebuild crowns; plan for irrigation and summer fern growth.
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Atemoya
Annona × atemoyaA cross between cherimoya and sugar apple with large, custardy fruit that tastes of pineapple and vanilla. The hardiest of the annonas and a strong performer in Phoenix.
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Avocado
Persea americanaAvocados can grow and fruit in Phoenix, but they are not easy. They need filtered sun while young, careful deep watering and the hardier Mexican-type varieties.
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Babcock white peach
Prunus persica ‘Babcock’A classic aromatic white-fleshed freestone peach with sweet, juicy, low-acid fruit and low winter chill needs.
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Bamboo
Bambusa spp.A fast privacy screen and vertical food-forest element when a clumping species, adequate irrigation, and its final footprint are chosen deliberately.
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Banana
Musa species and hybridsFast, lush and surprisingly productive in Phoenix when fed heavily and given afternoon shade. Frost burns the leaves, but the roots regrow each spring.
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Barbados cherry
Malpighia emarginataA bushy shrub that fruits in flushes for much of the warm season. Its bright red cherries are among the richest sources of vitamin C of any fruit.
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Bearss Persian lime
Citrus × latifolia ‘Bearss’A larger, generally seedless lime with the familiar grocery-store profile, ripening earlier than much of the winter citrus crop.
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Beauty plum
Prunus salicina ‘Beauty’A low-chill Japanese plum with sweet, flavorful red-over-yellow fruit and amber flesh streaked red.
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Beet
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Conditiva GroupBoth roots and leaves are edible. Keep growth even for tender roots; thinning greens can be eaten.
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Bermudagrass lawn
Cynodon dactylon and hybridsThe Valley's standard warm-season lawn, laid as sod or seeded, that takes heavy play and summer heat and goes dormant brown in winter. Mixing clover in keeps it greener with less fertilizer.
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Bilimbi
Averrhoa bilimbiA close relative of starfruit that bears clusters of small, very sour green fruit right on its trunk. A tender tree for the warmest yards or a large pot.
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Black Mission fig
Ficus carica ‘Black Mission’A large, long-lived fig with dark purple skin and rich strawberry-colored flesh, dependable below roughly 2,000 feet in Arizona.
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Black sapote
Diospyros nigraA persimmon relative whose ripe fruit has soft, dark brown flesh often compared to chocolate pudding. A handsome evergreen with glossy leaves.
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Blackberries
Rubus spp. (blackberry cultivars)The most realistic of the three wholesale cane-berry groups for the low desert, provided its roots stay evenly moist and its fruiting canes are protected from brutal western sun.
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Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthumA compact Southwest native mound with white daisy flowers, excellent drainage tolerance, and uncommon durability in hot, lean sites.
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Blue palo verde
Parkinsonia floridaArizona’s blue-green state tree; a fast nurse canopy for desert food forests when given room for its natural form.
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Blueberries
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Sunshine Blue'A compact, low-chill blueberry for an engineered acidic root zone—not ordinary Phoenix soil. In the low desert, Sunshine Blue belongs in a large container or isolated raised bed with afternoon shade.
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Bok choy
Brassica rapa Chinensis GroupHarvest the whole rosette or outer stalks. Sudden heat or stress can trigger bolting.
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Brittlebush
Encelia farinosaA foundational native shrub with silver foliage and yellow winter-to-spring flowers; reseeds readily in basins.
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Broccoli
Brassica oleracea Italica GroupChoose a quick-maturing type and protect young starts from lingering heat. Cut the main head before buds open; some varieties make side shoots.
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Brown Turkey fig
Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’A sweet fresh-eating fig with brown-purple skin and pink flesh, often best in Arizona’s slightly cooler 2,000–3,000-foot band.
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Brussels sprouts
Brassica oleracea Gemmifera GroupA long-season crop with less predictable tight sprouts in warm winters. Harvest firm lower sprouts first; prioritize early fall establishment.
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Bulb fennel
Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricumChoose Florence/bulb fennel, not ordinary herb fennel, if you want the grocery-store bulb. Stress and rising heat cause bolting before the base swells.
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Bulb onion
Allium cepa Cepa GroupChoose short-day or suitable intermediate-day onions for the low desert; long-day northern varieties often fail to bulb properly.
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Cabbage
Brassica oleracea Capitata GroupHeading cabbage includes green, red, and savoy types. Give full space and consistent moisture to form dense heads.
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Calamondin
Citrus × microcarpaA compact citrus with abundant small, tart fruit used throughout Southeast Asian cooking and drinks; well suited to containers and protected patios.
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Canistel
Pouteria campechianaA tropical tree with bright yellow-orange fruit whose dense, sweet flesh is often compared to egg yolk or sweet potato. Tolerant of poor soil.
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Cara Cara navel orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Cara Cara’A seedless pink-fleshed navel with sweet flavor; Arizona heat may soften the depth of its interior pigmentation.
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Carrot
Daucus carota subsp. sativusLoose, stone-free soil prevents misshapen roots. Do not transplant; cool winter soil slows germination and sizing.
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Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea Botrytis GroupSteady moisture and mild weather help form compact curds. Heat or frost stress can interrupt head quality; blanch white varieties if needed.
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Celery
Apium graveolens var. dulceNeeds fertile soil and steady moisture; dry spells or heat make stalks stringy and bitter. Fall starts have time to size before spring.
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Ceylon gooseberry
Dovyalis hebecarpaA thorny shrub with velvety maroon fruit that tastes tart and fruity, like a sour plum. Useful as an edible security hedge.
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Cherry of the Rio Grande
Eugenia involucrataA Brazilian 'tropical cherry' that is actually quite cold hardy. Its dark purple fruit tastes much like a real cherry and ripens in spring.
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Chitalpa
× Chitalpa tashkentensisA desert-willow hybrid with a broad flowering canopy; useful where a larger ornamental shade tree is desired.
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Chives
Allium schoenoprasumKeep roots mulched and give afternoon shade as the weather warms. Garlic chives are a distinct species but share this cool-season herb role.
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Cilantro
Coriandrum sativumLeaf cilantro and dried coriander seed are harvests of one species. Bolts rapidly in warm spells; keep it in a cool, sunny winter bed.
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Clementine mandarin
Citrus × clementina ‘Algerian’An early, easy-peeling mandarin whose crop size and seed count both rise when compatible citrus bloom nearby.
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Collard greens
Brassica oleracea Acephala GroupA leafy brassica with a long harvest period; take older leaves from below and leave the center growing.
View complete guide →Conadria fig
Ficus carica ‘Conadria’A heat-tolerant light-skinned fig with mild, sweet flesh that performs well for both fresh eating and drying.
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Creeping thyme
Thymus serpyllumA low, fragrant mat for stepping-stone joints and cool garden edges, best where desert heat is moderated by elevation or afternoon shade.
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Crimson Seedless grape
Vitis vinifera 'Crimson Seedless'A popular red seedless table grape with firm texture and sweet-tart flavor, especially useful where a productive summer canopy can shade an arbor.
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Culinary sage
Salvia officinalisThis is the edible kitchen sage, not the catalog's ornamental Texas sage. Use excellent drainage and afternoon shade as summer approaches.
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Damianita
Chrysactinia mexicanaA compact, aromatic mound covered in yellow daisies, widely used in Southwestern specialty landscapes for strong color with little water.
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Dancy tangerine
Citrus reticulata ‘Dancy’A richly flavored winter tangerine with easy-peeling fruit and a tendency to alternate between heavy and light crops.
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Desert fern
Lysiloma watsoniiFast-growing, fine-textured native canopy tree that creates filtered shade without thorns; protect young trees in colder Valley pockets.
View complete guide →Desert Gold peach
Prunus persica ‘Desert Gold’A very early, heavy-bearing low-chill peach whose tree-ripened yellow fruit develops good sweetness before the worst summer heat.
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Desert hackberry
Celtis pallidaDense, thorny native that works as a low-canopy tree, understory thicket, or living hedge while its orange berries and protected branching feed and shelter desert wildlife.
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Desert ironwood
Olneya tesotaLong-lived keystone tree that shelters wildlife and creates a protected understory microclimate.
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Desert marigold
Baileya multiradiataA silver-leaved Sonoran native that sends up bright yellow flowers through much of the year and readily fills sunny, open ground.
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Desert milkweed
Asclepias subulataLeafless blue-green stems host monarch and queen butterflies and thrive in hot, open desert exposure.
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Desert willow
Chilopsis linearisShowy spring-to-summer flowers on a small native tree suited to washes, basins, and reflected heat.
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Desert zinnia
Zinnia acerosaA fine-textured native mound with crisp white flowers for exposed rock gardens, desert edges, and lean soils.
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Dichondra
Dichondra repensA soft, low carpet of round green leaves that takes light foot traffic and more shade than turf. It wants regular water in the desert summer, so it suits small shaded lawns and paths rather than open sun.
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Dill
Anethum graveolensGrow for leaves or allow umbels to make dill seed. Heat and long days end the leaf harvest quickly.
View complete guide →Diller Arizona sweet orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Diller’A productive Arizona-origin sweet orange chosen primarily for abundant, richly flavored juice in the Salt River Valley.
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Dorsett Golden apple
Malus domestica ‘Dorsett Golden’A low-chill yellow apple for warm-winter gardens and one of the standard pollination partners for Anna.
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Dragon fruit
Selenicereus undatusA climbing cactus with huge white night flowers and bright fruit. It grows well in Phoenix on a sturdy post if shaded from the harshest summer sun.
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Dwarf Everbearing mulberry
Morus alba ‘Dwarf Everbearing’A smaller fruiting mulberry with a long harvest window, useful where growers want berries without the full scale of a Pakistan mulberry.
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Dyssodia
Thymophylla pentachaetaA tiny, aromatic desert perennial that makes bright yellow daisies through warm weather and fits naturally between rocks and larger natives.
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Endive and escarole
Cichorium endiviaCurly endive and broad-leaf escarole are forms of the same crop. Harvest before hot weather makes leaves more bitter.
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Eureka lemon
Citrus limon ‘Eureka’A thornless, productive true lemon with ridged fruit and a rougher rind; it needs one of the warmer, better-protected citrus sites.
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Eustis limequat
Citrus × floridana ‘Eustis’A kumquat–lime hybrid combining tart lime-like juice with a small tree and somewhat better cold tolerance than true limes.
View complete guide →Eva’s Pride peach
Prunus persica ‘Eva’s Pride’A fine-flavored yellow freestone peach with very low chilling needs and an early May harvest window.
View complete guide →Eversweet pomegranate
Punica granatum ‘Eversweet’A very sweet, nearly seedless pomegranate with pale non-staining juice and an early harvest suited to warm-winter gardens.
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Fava bean
Vicia fabaA cool-weather bean, unlike summer snap beans. Give it the longest mild stretch; protect flowers from a hard freeze and harvest before heat.
View complete guide →Fig
Ficus caricaReliable desert fruit tree that benefits from afternoon protection, mulch, and consistent deep irrigation.
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Flame Seedless grape
Vitis vinifera 'Flame Seedless'An early red seedless table grape and consistent warm-climate producer, well suited to edible arbors when fruit receives irrigation and leaf shade.
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Flavor King pluot
Prunus salicina × Prunus armeniaca ‘Flavor King’A richly flavored plum–apricot hybrid best where sufficient winter chill and a compatible Japanese plum pollinizer are available.
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Flordahome pear
Pyrus communis ‘Flordahome’A low-chill European-type pear with sweet, smooth, juicy fruit and early bloom for warm-winter regions.
View complete guide →Florida Prince peach
Prunus persica ‘Florida Prince’An exceptionally early low-chill peach successful in Arizona, yielding flavorful yellow semi-cling fruit before summer intensifies.
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Foothill palo verde
Parkinsonia microphyllaA slower, exceptionally drought-adapted native for hot, well-drained sites away from turf irrigation.
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Frogfruit / Kurapia
Phyla nodiflora and Kurapia® hybridA low flowering carpet for unirrigated-looking landscapes: native frogfruit supports wildlife, while sterile Kurapia selections make a more uniform walkable cover.
View complete guide →Fukumoto navel orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Fukumoto’An early navel orange that can be ready before its peel develops a fully orange color in Arizona’s warm autumns.
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Fukushu kumquat
Citrus japonica ‘Fukushu’A compact ornamental-and-edible kumquat bearing bright-orange fruit that can be eaten peel and all.
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Fuyu persimmon
Diospyros kaki ‘Fuyu’A non-astringent persimmon that is sweet while still firm and crisp, on an attractive, generally low-maintenance tree.
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Garden pea
Pisum sativumHarvest plump pods for peas inside; the pod is usually discarded. Growth slows in midwinter and stops as spring heat arrives.
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Garden Prince almond
Prunus dulcis ‘Garden Prince’A compact genetic-dwarf almond with soft shells and sweet kernels, sized for smaller home orchards.
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Garlic
Allium sativumDo not plant a whole bulb. Keep beds weed-free and reduce water as leaves brown before spring harvest.
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Globe artichoke
Cynara cardunculus var. scolymusAllow a large footprint and regular water. Harvest unopened flower buds; summer heat can damage crowns, so mulch and afternoon protection help persistence.
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Globe mallow
Sphaeralcea ambiguaLong-blooming desert perennial with orange, pink, or lavender flowers and strong heat tolerance.
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Gold Kist apricot
Prunus armeniaca ‘Gold Kist’A heavy-bearing freestone apricot selected for warm winters, with excellent backyard fruit and an early Arizona harvest.
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Golden Muscat grape
Vitis 'Golden Muscat'A richly aromatic golden grape with floral Muscat flavor, thriving through warm summers when clusters remain shaded by a healthy canopy.
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Goodding’s verbena
Glandularia gooddingiiA spreading Arizona verbena with lavender flower clusters that wakes up after rain and cool weather, feeding butterflies and native bees.
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Green hopseed bush
Dodonaea viscosaDurable native screen shrub with a natural upright form, wildlife value, and excellent reflected-heat tolerance; avoid constant shearing and protect in severe frost pockets.
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Green onion
Allium cepaHarvest before a large bulb forms. True bunching onion (*Allium fistulosum*) is another suitable type sold under the same grocery name.
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Grumichama
Eugenia brasiliensisA compact Brazilian tree with glossy leaves and dark cherry-like fruit that tastes much like jaboticaba. Can be grown as a small tree or an edible hedge.
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Guava
Psidium guajavaOne of the easiest tropical fruits for Phoenix. It grows fast, takes full sun once established, fruits within a year or two and makes a good nurse tree for more delicate tropicals.
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Guavaberry
Myrciaria floribundaA Caribbean shrub or small tree with small orange to dark purple berries used for a traditional holiday liqueur. Tender and best in a large pot.
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Hacienda creeper
Parthenocissus quinquefolia 'Hacienda Creeper'A vigorous deciduous creeper selected for Southwestern landscapes, covering walls and screens with green foliage before a vivid autumn color change.
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Hog plum
Spondias mombinA fast, deciduous tropical tree with small, tangy yellow plums. Large in the tropics, but usually much smaller and frost limited in Phoenix.
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Honey Jar jujube
Ziziphus jujuba ‘Honey Jar’A compact jujube producing exceptionally sweet, crisp, juicy round fruit for fresh eating in hot, dry climates.
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Hong Kong orchid tree
Bauhinia × blakeanaA fast, nearly evergreen tree with large magenta flowers from late fall into spring. It is sterile, so it skips the messy seed pods of other orchid trees.
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Ice cream bean
Inga edulisA fast legume tree with long pods full of sweet, cottony pulp that tastes like vanilla. It feeds the soil with nitrogen and makes quick shade for other tropicals.
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Indian cluster fig
Ficus racemosaA large fig tree that bears clusters of small figs directly on its trunk and main branches. Grown in India for food, shade and its spiritual significance.
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Indian jujube
Ziziphus mauritianaAn evergreen, heat-loving relative of the Chinese jujube with crisp, apple-like fruit in winter. It shrugs off Phoenix heat and drought but is more frost tender than its Chinese cousin.
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Interlaken grape
Vitis 'Interlaken Seedless'An exceptionally sweet green seedless grape with greater cold tolerance than many table grapes, making it especially useful for mid- and high-elevation Arizona.
View complete guide →Izu persimmon
Diospyros kaki ‘Izu’A very low-chill, non-astringent persimmon that ripens weeks before Fuyu and stays relatively compact for a backyard tree.
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Jaboticaba
Plinia caulifloraA slow Brazilian shrub that bears grape-like fruit directly on its trunk and branches, sometimes several times a year. A striking container plant that needs acidic soil.
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Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllusProduces the largest tree fruit in the world. In Phoenix it is an experiment for dedicated growers, needing afternoon shade and serious frost protection.
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Jamaican cherry
Muntingia calaburaA very fast tree that fruits in its first year, with tiny red berries that taste like cotton candy. A good quick nurse tree and a favorite with kids.
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Jamun
Syzygium cuminiA large evergreen shade tree with dark purple, sweet-tart fruit that stains the mouth. Takes full Phoenix sun and usually needs no winter protection once established.
View complete guide →Jujube
Ziziphus jujubaTough, low-water fruit tree for both hot and frost-prone desert sites; select named cultivars for fruit quality.
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June plum
Spondias dulcisA tropical tree with crunchy, tart-sweet green fruit. The dwarf form fruits young and stays small enough for a large container.
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Kale
Brassica oleracea Acephala GroupHarvest lower leaves as the plant grows. Watch cabbage loopers and aphids; leaves become tougher in hot spring weather.
View complete guide →Katy apricot
Prunus armeniaca ‘Katy’A large, flavorful all-purpose freestone apricot whose tree-ripe fruit is mild rather than sharply tart.
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Kei apple
Dovyalis caffraA tough, very thorny South African shrub with bright yellow, apricot-like fruit. One of the best drought, heat and salt tolerant fruit plants for Phoenix.
View complete guide →Kieffer pear
Pyrus × bretschneideri ‘Kieffer’A dependable heat-tolerant pear with good fire-blight resistance and firm, coarse-textured fruit suited to cooking and canning.
View complete guide →Kinnow mandarin
Citrus reticulata ‘Kinnow’A very sweet late mandarin prized for its strong classic flavor, with seediness influenced by nearby citrus pollen.
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Kohlrabi
Brassica oleracea Gongylodes GroupThe swollen stem forms above soil, not a root. Harvest small and tender before spring heat makes it woody.
View complete guide →Koroneiki olive
Olea europaea ‘Koroneiki’A productive Greek oil olive known for small fruit, excellent oil quality, heat tolerance, and strong fit in dry climates.
View complete guide →Lane Late navel orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Lane Late’A late-season navel that extends fresh orange harvest after standard navels have finished.
View complete guide →Lang jujube
Ziziphus jujuba ‘Lang’A pear-shaped jujube selected for sweet, chewy date-like fruit after it fully browns, on a tough tree that welcomes long hot summers.
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Leek
Allium ampeloprasum Porrum GroupA slow crop. Give it room and steady water; plant early enough that the shanks develop before hot weather.
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Lettuce
Lactuca sativaSow after the worst soil heat passes. Harvest outer leaves or cut whole heads; heat and lengthening days bring bitterness and bolting.
View complete guide →Li jujube
Ziziphus jujuba ‘Li’A large-fruited, widely adapted jujube with crisp apple-like fruit that becomes chewy and date-like as it dries.
View complete guide →Lisbon lemon
Citrus limon ‘Lisbon’A vigorous true lemon with smoother rind and a pronounced nipple, valued for dependable tart juice in desert gardens.
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Longan
Dimocarpus longanA slow, handsome lychee relative with clusters of sweet, translucent fruit in late summer. A little tougher than lychee and a better bet for Phoenix.
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Loquat
Eriobotrya japonicaAn easy evergreen that flowers in fall and ripens sweet, apricot-colored fruit in spring. Very cold hardy, but needs heavy shade for its first two Phoenix summers.
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Lychee
Litchi chinensisPrized for its fragrant, juicy fruit. Lychee can grow in Phoenix as a slow, small tree with afternoon shade, but crops are less reliable than longan.
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Malay apple
Syzygium malaccenseA tropical tree with showy pink powder-puff flowers and crisp, juicy red fruit. It struggles with Phoenix's dry air, so it does best in a sheltered, shaded courtyard.
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Mango
Mangifera indicaThe tropical fruit most Phoenix growers want. Mangos do fruit here with afternoon shade, acidifying care and frost protection for the first few winters.
View complete guide →Manzanillo olive
Olea europaea ‘Manzanillo’A classic dual-purpose olive with larger fruit for curing and enough oil content for pressing, on a broadly adapted evergreen tree.
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Marsh white grapefruit
Citrus × paradisi ‘Marsh’A classic nearly seedless white grapefruit that becomes sweeter and less acidic the longer it hangs into spring.
View complete guide →Meiwa kumquat
Citrus japonica ‘Meiwa’A round kumquat with a spicy-sweet peel and sweeter pulp than Nagami, useful fresh or preserved.
View complete guide →Methley plum
Prunus salicina ‘Methley’A vigorous, heavy-bearing low-chill plum with juicy red flesh and mild flavor, useful as both producer and pollinizer.
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Mexican bird of paradise
Erythrostemon mexicanusA fast native-region shrub or small tree with ferny foliage and yellow flowers, useful for filtered shade, pollinators, and informal screens.
View complete guide →Mexican Key lime
Citrus × aurantiifoliaThe small, intensely aromatic culinary lime; extremely frost sensitive and best reserved for the warmest protected microclimate.
View complete guide →Microclover
Trifolium repens (small-leaved selections)A small-leaved white clover that knits into a lawn or stands on its own, feeds the soil with nitrogen and stays green with less water and no fertilizer. Mixed into Bermuda or Kurapia it fills thin spots and keeps the soil alive.
View complete guide →Mid-Pride peach
Prunus persica ‘Mid-Pride’A benchmark yellow freestone peach for warm-winter climates, extending the low-desert crop beyond the earliest selections.
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Minneola tangelo
Citrus × tangelo ‘Minneola’A large, bright red-orange tangelo with a characteristic neck, combining grapefruit tang with mandarin sweetness.
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Mint
Mentha spp.Give morning sun and afternoon shade as Phoenix heats up. Confine runners and keep roots consistently moist; mint is not a drought-tolerant desert shrub.
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Miracle fruit
Synsepalum dulcificumA small shrub with red berries that make sour foods taste sweet for an hour or more. A fun container plant that needs acidic soil and low-salt water.
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Moringa
Moringa oleiferaA very fast, airy tree grown for its nutritious leaves and long seed pods. It loves Phoenix summer heat, freezes back in a cold winter and usually regrows from the trunk or roots in spring.
View complete guide →Moro blood orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Moro’The darkest of the blood oranges: deep red to maroon flesh with a sweet, berry-like flavor. The color comes on with cool winter nights, so it is at its best in the Valley from midwinter into early spring.
View complete guide →Mulberry
Morus alba cultivarsExceptional food and summer shade with moderate water; choose fruiting cultivars thoughtfully and allow ample space.
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Multi-grafted cocktail citrus
Citrus spp., multiple cultivars grafted to one rootstockSeveral compatible citrus cultivars trained on one root system for small-space variety—with extra pruning attention needed to keep one graft from taking over.
View complete guide →Mustard greens
Brassica junceaPeppery leaves grow quickly. Mizuna is a leaf mustard type; harvest young before spring heat intensifies the bite.
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Mysore raspberry
Rubus niveusA tropical black raspberry that tolerates heat far better than ordinary raspberries. Thorny canes produce sweet, dark berries in spring and again in fall.
View complete guide →Nagami kumquat
Citrus japonica ‘Nagami’An oblong, bright-orange kumquat with a sweet edible peel and tart center on a naturally compact, comparatively cold-tolerant tree.
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Nance
Byrsonima crassifoliaA small Central American tree with yellow, cherry-sized fruit that has a strong, cheesy-sweet aroma. Tolerant of poor soil and dry conditions.
View complete guide →Napa cabbage
Brassica rapa Pekinensis GroupA tender, elongated Chinese cabbage. Avoid heat-stressed starts and harvest while the head is tight.
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Natal plum
Carissa macrocarpaA common Phoenix landscape shrub with glossy leaves, fragrant white star flowers and edible red fruit. Thorny, salt tolerant and easy.
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Noni
Morinda citrifoliaA small tropical tree with large glossy leaves and lumpy fruit used mostly for juice. It fruits young and nearly year-round in warm conditions.
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Oregano
Origanum vulgareA spreading perennial herb that supplies kitchen harvests and nectar-rich flowers where it receives drainage and protection from punishing afternoon heat.
View complete guide →Oro Blanco grapefruit hybrid
Citrus grandis × Citrus paradisi ‘Oro Blanco’A low-acid, high-sugar pummelo–grapefruit hybrid for growers who want a sweeter grapefruit character and thicker peel.
View complete guide →Pakistan mulberry
Morus macroura ‘Pakistan’A fast-growing shade-and-food tree producing exceptionally long, sweet berries in warm desert climates.
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Palmer’s Indian mallow
Abutilon palmeriSoft silver foliage and apricot flowers provide nearly year-round structure and nectar in warm sites.
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Panamint nectarine
Prunus persica var. nucipersica ‘Panamint’A proven low-chill nectarine for warm climates, producing smooth-skinned red-blushed fruit with yellow flesh.
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Papaya
Carica papayaA fast, single-trunk plant that can fruit within a year. Heavy producers in Phoenix if protected from frost and given afternoon shade while young.
View complete guide →Parent Washington navel orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Parent Washington’The classic midseason Arizona navel: large, seedless fruit that peels readily and excels for fresh eating.
View complete guide →Parfianka pomegranate
Punica granatum ‘Parfianka’A large red pomegranate with soft seeds, deep-red arils, and a rich sweet-tart balance for fresh eating and juice.
View complete guide →Parsley
Petroselinum crispumFlat-leaf and curly parsley share the same crop profile. Pick outer stems and protect from drying winds in spring.
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Parsnip
Pastinaca sativaGermination is slow, especially in cool soil; maintain surface moisture. Allow deep, loose soil for straight roots.
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Passion fruit
Passiflora edulisA fast, vigorous vine with spectacular flowers and tangy, aromatic fruit. Give it a sturdy fence or trellis and afternoon shade for the first summer.
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Peanut butter fruit
Bunchosia argenteaA small South American tree with sprays of yellow flowers and small red fruit whose dense flesh tastes and feels a bit like peanut butter. A great conversation plant.
View complete guide →Persian mulberry
Morus nigra ‘Persian’A compact black mulberry prized for intensely flavored dark fruit and a manageable shrubby form compared with larger shade mulberries.
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Peruvian apple cactus
Cereus repandusFast columnar cactus with edible fruit; best in the warmest microclimates and protected from hard frost.
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Pineapple
Ananas comosusA low, spiky plant that grows one fruit from its center about two years after planting. Easy to start from a store-bought top and well suited to pots.
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Pineapple guava
Feijoa sellowianaA tough evergreen shrub with silver-backed leaves, edible flower petals and aromatic green fruit in fall. Cold hardy but needs afternoon shade in Phoenix summers.
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Pitomba
Eugenia luschnathianaA slow Brazilian tree in the Surinam cherry family with bright orange-yellow fruit that is soft, juicy and lightly acidic, like a small apricot.
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Pomegranate
Punica granatumOne of the Southwest’s most dependable fruits, tolerating heat and winter chill while accepting shrub or tree form.
View complete guide →Ponderosa lemon
Citrus × pyriformis ‘Ponderosa’A lemon–citron hybrid grown as much for spectacle as the kitchen, producing grapefruit-sized, thick-peeled fruit.
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Potato
Solanum tuberosumThis is a late-winter planting for spring harvest, not a crop to leave through Phoenix summer. Use certified seed potatoes and hill developing tubers away from light.
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Prickly pear
Opuntia engelmanniiArchitectural native cactus with edible pads and fruit, strong wildlife value, and broad climate adaptability.
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Prostrate myoporum
Myoporum parvifoliumA very low Australian groundcover that makes a dense green carpet across hot banks, broad beds, and difficult slopes.
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Queen’s wreath
Antigonon leptopusA vigorous heat-loving vine that covers large arbors and fences with pink flower clusters through the warm season.
View complete guide →Radicchio
Cichorium intybus var. foliosumA grocery-store chicory distinct from endive. Heading and color can be uneven in warm spells; harvest loose leaves if heads fail to form.
View complete guide →Radish
Raphanus sativusSmall red radishes and daikon are types of the same crop. Roots get pithy or sharp if left too long or stressed by heat.
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Raspberries
Rubus idaeusA cool-rooted bramble that is far more demanding than blackberry in metro Phoenix: Baba Red can work, but only where afternoon shade, deep mulch, moisture, and airflow are designed in from day one.
View complete guide →Red pummelo
Citrus maximaThe largest citrus there is: a thick-rinded fruit with red to pink flesh that is sweet and mild, without a grapefruit's bitterness. It wants the Valley's heat to ripen and protection from hard frost while young.
View complete guide →Rio Red grapefruit
Citrus × paradisi ‘Rio Red’A deeply pigmented grapefruit with large, low-seeded fruit that can hold on the tree well into summer.
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Rollinia
Annona mucosaThe most tropical of the annonas, with yellow, soft-spined fruit and sweet, lemony custard flesh. Best kept in a large pot that can move into shelter in winter.
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Royal poinciana
Delonix regiaA spreading shade tree that covers itself in scarlet flowers in early summer. It loves Phoenix heat but needs a warm, frost-protected site to survive its first winters.
View complete guide →Ruby Red grapefruit
Citrus × paradisi ‘Redblush’A widely grown Valley grapefruit with pale-pink flesh, few seeds, and flavor that mellows as fruit remains on the tree.
View complete guide →Rutabaga
Brassica napus Napobrassica GroupDistinct from turnip and slower to size up. The long, mild winter window is important; harvest before sustained spring heat.
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Saguaro
Carnegiea giganteaThe signature cactus of the Sonoran Desert. It grows very slowly, feeds bats, birds and bees with its flowers and fruit, and needs almost nothing once settled except good drainage.
View complete guide →Santa Rosa plum
Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’A widely grown Arizona plum with tangy, juicy flavor, reddish-purple skin, and amber flesh flushed red.
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Sapodilla
Manilkara zapotaA slow, tidy evergreen with brown-skinned fruit that tastes like a pear soaked in brown sugar. Its tolerance of alkaline and salty soil makes it a good fit for Phoenix.
View complete guide →Shallot
Allium cepa Aggregatum GroupMaricopa's calendar lists shallot sets in summer, while the Pima guide includes fall sowing and transplanting. Trial a small bed and watch bulb formation.
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Shinseiki Asian pear
Pyrus pyrifolia ‘Shinseiki’A vigorous, heavy-bearing Asian pear with crisp, juicy, sweet fruit and bright yellow skin for warm-winter orchards.
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Snap pea
Pisum sativum var. macrocarponHarvest when edible pods are plump but still crisp. Frequent picking keeps vines productive before spring heat.
View complete guide →Snow pea
Pisum sativum var. saccharatumPick flat edible pods before seeds swell. Do not confuse with shelling peas or the thick, crisp pods of snap peas.
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Southern live oak
Quercus virginianaA massive, long-lived evergreen shade tree for large, deeply irrigated properties—not a desert xeriscape tree or a small-yard substitute.
View complete guide →Spinach
Spinacia oleraceaTrue spinach thrives in cool days. New Zealand and Malabar spinach are different warm-season crops, not synonyms.
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Star gooseberry
Phyllanthus acidusA small tropical tree that bears dense clusters of ribbed, pale yellow fruit along its branches. Sour and refreshing, and best grown in a large pot in Phoenix.
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Starfruit
Averrhoa carambolaA bushy, productive tree with star-shaped fruit. Easy in Phoenix with afternoon shade for its first few summers and protection from frost.
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Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassaA fruiting ground layer for protected food gardens, most productive through the low desert's cool season and in cooler Arizona microclimates.
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Sugar apple
Annona squamosaA small tree with knobby green fruit full of sweet, custardy segments. Loves heat but needs frost protection and afternoon shade.
View complete guide →Sugar Cane jujube
Ziziphus jujuba ‘Sugar Cane’A precocious, very sweet jujube with small round fruit and crisp flesh on a hardy, drought-resistant tree.
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Sugarcane
Saccharum officinarumA tall, clumping grass that makes a quick summer screen and fresh cane to chew or juice. It handles full Phoenix sun and is useful for shading young trees on a hot west wall.
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Surinam cherry
Eugenia unifloraA fast, bushy shrub with ribbed red to near-black fruit that is sweet and resinous. A heavy producer and a handsome edible hedge.
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Swiss chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Cicla GroupCut outer stalks without stripping the growing crown. More heat tolerant than spinach, but quality is best in cool weather.
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Tamarind
Tamarindus indicaA graceful, slow-growing shade tree with fern-like leaves and tangy brown pods. It takes full Phoenix sun and heat and makes good dappled shade for other plants.
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Tangerine Beauty crossvine
Bignonia capreolata 'Tangerine Beauty'A self-clinging vine with tangerine trumpet flowers, useful for turning a sturdy wall or pergola into hummingbird habitat.
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Texas mountain laurel
Dermatophyllum secundiflorumA slow, tidy evergreen with glossy leaves and purple flower clusters in late winter that smell like grape soda. One of the toughest small trees for a hot Phoenix yard.
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Texas sage
Leucophyllum frutescensSilver-leaved Chihuahuan Desert shrub whose pink, purple, or white flowers respond dramatically to monsoon humidity and rain.
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Trailing indigo bush
Dalea greggiiA silvery, low native legume that roots as it spreads, stabilizes hot slopes, and carries small purple flowers for desert pollinators.
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Trailing lantana
Lantana montevidensisHeat-tough flowering groundcover for banks and broad beds; frost may cut it back before spring recovery.
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Trailing rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus 'Prostratus'An aromatic, cascading rosemary that softens walls and slopes while providing edible foliage and cool-season flowers for pollinators.
View complete guide →Trovita sweet orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Trovita’A dependable sweet orange with medium-to-large fruit and a strong record of production in Arizona’s low desert.
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Tufted evening primrose
Oenothera caespitosaA low native rosette with large white evening flowers that fade pink, bringing fragrance and moth activity to dry gardens.
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Turnip
Brassica rapa Rapifera GroupHarvest tender young roots and greens. Larger roots can turn fibrous as weather warms.
View complete guide →Valencia orange
Citrus sinensis ‘Valencia’Arizona’s premier late orange for deeply colored, high-sugar juice, ripening after the winter navel season.
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Velvet mesquite
Neltuma velutinaDeep-rooted shade tree with food-producing pods; best where its mature canopy and litter can be welcomed.
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Violette de Bordeaux fig
Ficus carica 'Violette de Bordeaux'A compact French fig with small, nearly black fruit and rich, berry-red flesh. Its small size makes it one of the best figs for patios and large containers in Phoenix.
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Wax jambu
Syzygium samarangenseA popular Asian fruit tree with glossy, bell-shaped fruit that is crisp, juicy and lightly sweet. Stays a small to medium shrub in Phoenix.
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Weeping bottlebrush
Melaleuca viminalisA graceful Australian tree with red brush-like flowers that feed hummingbirds and pollinators, best where a broad weeping canopy and moderate water fit.
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Western Schley pecan
Carya illinoinensis ‘Western Schley’A productive, early-bearing pecan recommended by Arizona guidance when only one home-garden tree can be planted.
View complete guide →White Pakistan mulberry
Morus macroura ‘White Pakistan’A pale-fruited counterpart to Pakistan mulberry with very long, sweet berries that are less likely to leave dark stains below the tree.
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White sapote
Casimiroa edulisA vigorous Mexican tree with creamy, custard-like fruit that tastes like vanilla and pear. One of the more cold-tolerant tropical fruits for Phoenix.
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Willow acacia
Acacia salicinaNarrow, evergreen Australian shade tree; place away from paving and use as an adapted—not native—canopy.
View complete guide →Wonderful pomegranate
Punica granatum ‘Wonderful’The classic dark-red pomegranate for juice and arils, combining exceptional desert heat tolerance with broad winter adaptability.
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Yellow bells
Tecoma stans var. angustataFast, heat-loving native shrub with yellow trumpet flowers that can grow as an informal screen, dense hedge, or small multi-trunk tree.
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Yellow oleander
Cascabela thevetiaA glossy evergreen screen or small tree with yellow trumpet flowers—beautiful and heat tolerant, but dangerously toxic in every part.
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Yellow orchid vine
Callaeum macropterumNative Baja and Sonoran-region vine with bright yellow flowers; give it a trellis and reflected warmth.
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