Guava

Important note: if you live in the Auckland region, you aren’t permitted to buy or plant new guava plants, as they've been classified as invasive. If you’re lucky enough to have one already on your property, it’s OK to maintain it, but please make sure it doesn’t 'jump the fence'. Seeds can be widely spread by birds, so covering your ripening guava fruit with bird netting is a sensible precaution. Unfortunately, this regional weed control applies to Strawberry Guava and Tropical Guava species.

Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleyanum, AKA Cattley guava, or cherry guava) is the species most commonly seen in NZ, traditionally grown as a fruiting plant. It’s robust enough to grow in temperate zones, as long as it isn't exposed to frost. Native to Brazil, it's closely related to the tropical guava. Both species are members of the Myrtaceae (myrtle) family.

It can develop from a large evergreen shrub into a small tree, growing up to 6m tall. It has attractive, thick dark green leaves, along with distinctive ‘peeling’ bark. The white flowers are shaped like mini pōhutukawa flowers, which makes sense; pōhutukawa is also in the Myrtaceae family. Small round fruit (about 2cm in diameter) develop in winter, turning dark purple or red when ripe. The fruit is good to eat fresh, or make into jams, juices, smoothies or desserts. The whole guava fruit can be eaten, skin and all. The soft juicy interior contains small white seeds that can have a gritty texture; some prefer to spit them out, but they are perfectly edible and you can just crunch them up if you want.

Tropical Guava (Psidium guajava) is difficult to grow outside warmer sub-tropical areas in NZ, but in conditions where it’s comfortable it can become invasive. The taste of tropical guava fruit can range from sweet, to sour and tangy, and it’s eaten fresh or used in jams, juices and desserts, just like strawberry guava. Tropical guava trees fruit generously, so there won't be any shortage!

Originally native to Central and South America, evergreen tropical guavas can grow from 3-7m tall. They also have attractive white flowers and can be grown in large pots as a fruiting plant.

The Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae) is a related species that isn't currently considered invasive. It's a small evergreen shrub with attractive glossy leaves, growing up to 1.5m in height.

Chilean guava is great for containers or hedging, as it doesn't mind being clipped or shaped. A big part of the appeal is that it produces pretty bell-shaped flowers, in pale pink tinged with cranberry-coloured centres. These fragrant flowers develop into berry-sized, wine-red guava fruit. The tangy-tasting fruit can be eaten off the bush, or juiced. In it's native Chile, the fruit is used in jam, desserts and liqueur. Fruit ripens in late summer and early autumn.

As guava seed is easily spread by birds, we recommend using bird netting to cover ripening fruit, to prevent this species from joining its cousins on the weed 'naughty list'.

How to maintain Guavas in a garden

1. Regularly mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.
2. Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
3. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed with Yates Thrive Citrus & Fruit Granular Plant Food.
   Throughout the year, apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.

 How to grow a Guava in a pot

1. Choose a pot at least 600mm wide. Position in full sun and fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
2. Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
3. Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well.
4. Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
5. During the growing and flowering/fruiting season, feed with Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food.
   Throughout the year, apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.