Chilean Guava
Ugni molinae
Sometimes called Strawberry Myrtle or Tazziberry, Chilean Guava is a fruit producing shrub native to the Andes of Southern Chile and Argentina. This attractive, compact evergreen shrub is covered in the spring with profuse, small, deliciously fragrant white flowers which are followed in summer by sweet and tasty, bright red berries. The berries ripen slowly to a deep red color which is usually around mid to late autumn and are ready for picking when the color is very dark and the berries are lightly soft. The 1 cm fruits are very tasty with a sprightly, guava-like flavor and fragrance. They are delicious for fresh eating or added to other fruits in desserts. They can also be added to juices, made into jams and jellies, made into a sauce for yogurt or ice cream or to accompany meat dishes. The leaves are used as a tea substitute and the roasted seeds can be used as a coffee substitute.
Chilean Guava grows from 1-6' tall and 1-3' wide - pruning will decide its ultimate shape so it's really up to you. It's best to prune this shrub at least once a year, right after fruit production to help it keep a nice shape. But, you can prune it more often for a more formal look or even prune it into a topiary shape! It's not the fastest grower, but its beautiful even while small and not bothered by pests.
Chilean Guava is hardy to about 10º F (USDA Zone 8), which is not cold hardy enough for the general Spokane area, however it grows quite well in containers. When kept in a container it should not be allowed to experience temps below
30º F. It likes a fertile, well-drained and loamy soil that is kept moist, so it's a good idea to use some mulch at the top of your pot to keep the moisture from escaping too quickly. It likes sun in cooler areas, partial shade in hot regions. The plants are self-fertile and can produce about 1-5 pounds of fruit and usually take 1-2 years to begin to bear.
Chilean Guava grows from 1-6' tall and 1-3' wide - pruning will decide its ultimate shape so it's really up to you. It's best to prune this shrub at least once a year, right after fruit production to help it keep a nice shape. But, you can prune it more often for a more formal look or even prune it into a topiary shape! It's not the fastest grower, but its beautiful even while small and not bothered by pests.
Chilean Guava is hardy to about 10º F (USDA Zone 8), which is not cold hardy enough for the general Spokane area, however it grows quite well in containers. When kept in a container it should not be allowed to experience temps below
30º F. It likes a fertile, well-drained and loamy soil that is kept moist, so it's a good idea to use some mulch at the top of your pot to keep the moisture from escaping too quickly. It likes sun in cooler areas, partial shade in hot regions. The plants are self-fertile and can produce about 1-5 pounds of fruit and usually take 1-2 years to begin to bear.
Chilean Guava
$18.00
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This attractive, compact evergreen shrub makes a nice container plant with its profuse covering of small, fragrant white flowers in the spring, followed by sweet and tasty, pretty red berries in the summer. Must be grown in a pot unless you live in an area that doesn't get below 10º F (do not allow to get below 30º F if above ground in a pot).
Self-fertile (can produce fruit on it's own).