Pineapple Guava

Its very name suggests that pineapple guava is planted as a food-producing shrub, but, just as often, gardeners select it as an evergreen specimen plant for its ornamental qualities.

Clusters of attractive bluish green leaves with grayish white undersides cover cinnamon-colored bark on rather thin, upright stems that can be trained into tree form. Eye-catching, inch-wide, white flowers add to the décor with their center tuft of large, white-tipped red stamens. Each flower gives the promise of a tangy, late fall fruit.

Improved Varieties

Despite the common name of this South American native, pineapple guava is neither a true guava nor a pineapple, but fruits do somewhat resemble a true guava or pineapple in taste.
Known previously as Feijoa sellowiana, the genus name of pineapple guava is now more correctly known as Acca sellowiana. Pale green, oval fruits 1-4 in. long are known as feijoas.
Most improved varieties are self-fertile but not all are. Know the pollination requirement when you purchase a tree. Fruit production is normally heavy, but two plants usually produce an even more bountiful crop.
Dozens of named varieties are available, differing slightly in fruit shape and tree size. ‘Apollo,’ ‘Coolidge,’ ‘Mammoth,’ ‘Nazemetz,’ and ‘Trask’ are all self-fruitful.

Minimal Care

Check for a shrub or tree form when you purchase a plant. Training may be required to achieve a single-trunk shape. Ongoing pruning is needed to preserve a tree form and to remove suckers that grow from the base.
Many gardeners prefer a multi-branched trunk when featuring pineapple guava as a specimen plant. Any amount of pruning is tolerated, even as a hedge.
Expect slow growth the first few years leading to an 15-25 ft. height and an equal spread after many years.
Height and width may be kept as low as 8 x 8 ft. with regular pruning.
Once it reaches the desired height and width, heavy pruning in early spring and later in summer will maintain those proportions.
Blossoms appear throughout spring, attracting bees to nectar and birds to the deliciously sweet, edible flower petals but not to the fruits. Deer seem to ignore this virtually pest-free plant.
Pineapple guava is drought-tolerant once established but benefits from periodic watering during the dry season to optimize fruiting.
Winter temperatures as low as 10-15 degrees can be tolerated for short periods.
Fruits ripen late October-December when they naturally fall. For a convenient harvest, spread a tarp underneath and give branches a light shake every few days.
Slightly grainy, tangy fruits are usually peeled, or pulp is scooped out with a spoon to eat, but the skin is edible particularly on small, mature fruits.

Additional Information

https://fruitsandnuts.ucanr.edu/dsadditions/Feijoa_Fact_Sheet/

February 2022