Feijoa sellowiana

Common Names

Feijoa, Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen

Summary

feijoa, also called pineapple guava, is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. It has a dense, multi-branched growth habit with glossy green leaves that are silvery beneath, and produces showy flowers followed by egg-shaped fruits with green skin and fragrant, jelly-like flesh; the aroma is distinctive, reminiscent of pineapple and guava, with edible petals.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade, well-drained soil, and regular deep watering during fruit development; drought- and salt-tolerant once established; most cultivars require cross-pollination for best fruit set, though some are self-fertile, with bees and birds as common pollinators; propagation is by cuttings or grafting; it is commonly used as hedges, screens, or small shade trees and yields fruit that can be eaten fresh or used in jams, chutneys, wines, and desserts; prune after harvest to maintain shape, and expect fruit ripening in autumn; hardy to USDA zones 8–11 and tolerant of a range of conditions with proper watering.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

10-15 ft

Spread

10-15 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 8–11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun or partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loamy soil, pH 5.5–7.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.5-7, Acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green above; silvery underneath.

Fall Foliage Color

No fall foliage color

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Grafting

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, Birds