An evergreen shrub with gray-green leaves that are silvery underneath, showy spring flowers with red stamens, and fragrant green fruit in fall. Both the petals and the fruit are edible, so it works as an ornamental and a small food plant.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub schedule in our Landscape Care guide. It tolerates some dryness once established, but steady deep watering through summer and while fruit is forming gives better fruit. It does best in well-drained soil with organic mulch over the roots.
Pruning
It takes pruning well and can be kept as a hedge, raised into a small multi-trunk tree or trained flat against a wall. Heavy shearing removes flowers and fruit, so shape it lightly after bloom if fruit matters to you.
Harvest
Ripe fruit drops on its own. Gather it from the ground every day or two in fall and early winter. Many plants set more fruit with a second variety nearby for pollination.
How our designers use it
Edible screen
A row makes a soft, evergreen screen that also yields fruit, which suits families who like a productive garden.
Silver-toned contrast
The gray-green foliage reads well against darker greens and warm stucco.
East-facing beds
We like it where it gets morning sun and relief from the late-afternoon heat.
Good to know
Around the pool
Ripe fruit drops in fall and winter, and petals fall in spring. Keep it away from the water and paving you want to keep clean.
