About
Psidium guajava is a perennial shrub or small tree that can reach heights of 6 meters. Its leaves are ovate to oblong, measuring up to 15 centimeters in length, and feature distinct serrations along the edges. The plant produces white flowers, each about 2.5 centimeters in diameter, which appear either individually or in small clusters. These flowers have elongated stamens and can bloom throughout the year on new lateral growth. The fruit, which is edible, varies in shape from rounded to egg- or pear-like, measuring between 2.5 and 10 centimeters long. As they ripen, the fruits transition from green to a yellowish-green hue, with the flesh ranging from white to deep pink or orange-red.
About the genus
Psidium comprises small trees or shrubs characterized by their evergreen, undivided leaves. The flowers typically appear in axillary positions, often individually or in clusters of three, and can give rise to small, edible fruits.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs, Trees, Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 4-8 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
- Native to
- S America, Caribbean
- Fragrance
- Flower
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a greenhouse or conservatory in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light but with shade from hot sun. Can also be grown in containers to stand outside in summer but move inside for winter or provide protection from frost
- Pruning
- Pruning group 8
- Propagation
- Propagate from seed or from suckers
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free