Orange fruit trees thrive in Phoenix.
Phoenix, or the "Valley of the Sun" as it's sometimes called, is in the harsh Sonorran desert, not a place where edible fruit trees naturally grow. Water, mostly from the Colorado River, turns the desert into a garden. Add in nutrients to the soil, because the desert dirt doesn't have much organic material, and lots of different fruit trees will thrive.
Citrus
Citrus is a major cash crop for Arizona. The state was built on the five Cs: citrus, cotton, cattle, climate and copper, according to Arizona's Secretary of State Office. Citrus trees have dark green leaves, are evergreen, have thorns on the branches and grow up to 15 feet high. Citrus includes well known fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit, but also includes less common pommelos and tangelos. Citrus is frost tender for the most part. However, the trees will survive occasional freezing temperatures. Oranges bloom in early spring and the fruit ripens in November and December. Lemons have blossoms, immature fruit and mature fruit all at the same time. Citrus trees hold their ripe fruit on the tree for up to four months, unlike deciduous fruit trees, which will drop their ripe fruit.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate trees grow in areas with mild winters and hot summers. They prefer dry arid conditions, rather than high humidity. The California Rare Fruit Growers' website states that the tree can grow as far north as southern Utah and Washington D. C. but rarely produces fruit where it's cold. The fruit has a bright pink outer leathery shell filled with seeds surrounded by a juice sack. Pomegranates feel right at home in Phoenix.
Stone Fruits
Peaches, plums and nectarines all grow in Phoenix. These trees are deciduous in colder climates, losing their leaves at the first frost and blooming in April or May. In Phoenix, they may not lose their leaves until December and start blooming by the end of January to early February. Choose a variety of tree that requires fewer chilling hours to set fruit. Chilling hours are when the temperature is between freezing and 45 degrees F.
Avocado
Avocados will grow in Phoenix, but they are susceptible to the heat and salt burn. They need shade during the hot summer months. Since the water and soil are alkaline, avocados need to have their roots flushed on a regular basis. Adding gypsum to the soil helps counteract its alkalinity.
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