Feijoa sellowiana

pineapple guava
Pineapple guava. Silvery evergreen edible ornamental sports brushy ruby flowers in spring with edible pink petals. Ample water for best fruit production (fall). Otherwise not thirsty.
synonyms Acca sellowiana
height 8–25ft
width 6–15ft
tolerates Cold, Cool Summers, Wind
water
needs
Low – Moderate
water
info
For the first three years after it’s planted, this plant should be watered deeply but infrequently (when the top three inches of soil or so have dried). After that, it will want deep irrigation every month or so during the dry season. Use drippers, emitters or a slow stream of water so that it doesn’t run off; allow the water to trickle all the way down through the deepest layers of soil.

For best fruit production, provide more frequent deep irrigation, especially from late spring through harvest.
hardy
to
10F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor
Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Ground: Planting Mix, In Pots: Potting Soil, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose 1/2 Strength
origin S Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, N Argentina
california
native
No
sunset
zones
5–9, 14–H1

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

Provide good drainage in heavy soils by planting on a slope or a mound.
Useful as a luminous, open hedge in full sun, where it will flower and sometimes even fruit.
To grow as a small tree, prune regularly to shape. Best as a multi-stem low-branching tree.
One of the hardiest of subtropical fruits.

Special Interest

Two seasons of eating: spring petals are a nice edible accent in salads; harvest fruit in fall.

The fragrant fruits remain green when they begin to ripen and fall off the tree three to five months after flowering. They’ll sweeten and soften up for a day or two after harvest. Critters seem uninterested in the fruits, especially compared to apples, plums and other orchard fruits. Skin edible but can be leathery.