Psidium

( SID - ee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of evergreen shrubs and trees needs full sun to partial shade and moderate water to perform and produce well. They are native to the tropical Americas, and bear brush-like flowers that form fruits available for harvest in late summer through fall. The most popular species grown in gardens in the Common Guava (Psidium guajava). Use Guava trees as specimens in the landscape, as members of backyard orchards, to provide evergreen foliage to outdoor spaces, or simply as beautiful garden ornamentals.

Psidium Species and Varietals

There are 78 species in the genus Psidium, which is a member of the plant family Myrtaceae. The best zones for growing Guava trees vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Psidium amplexicaule (Mountain Guava)
This 20-foot tall evergreen species is native to the Caribbean and northeastern Brazil. They have thick, leathery leaves and produce small green and white flowers followed by 3/4 inch fruits.

Psidium cattleyanum (Psidium cattleianum) (Cattley Guava, Strawberry Guava, Cherry Guava, Yellow Cattley Guava, Yellow Strawberry Guava, Yellow Cherry Guava, Lemon Guava, Waiawi)
This small tree reaches between 6.5 and 20 feet tall and produces grey to reddish-brown bark. This species does well in zones 9, 14-24, H1 and H2, and can be grown as a single trunked tree or shrub. Oval fruits are thin-skinned and dark red-purple with a sweet flavor. Harvests can have issues with fruit flies. Variety Psidium cattleanum lucidum has a more open, taller growth habit, green-grey bark and larger yellow-skinned fruit.

Psidium friedrichsthalianum (Costa Rican Guava, Cas)
This species is native to Costa Rica, and has naturalized in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and other Central American countries. These trees produce fruits that are mixed with sugar, water, and cream to make Fresco de Cas. These trees have had some success grown in California's climate.

Psidium guajava (Common Guava, Tropical Guava, Yellow Guava, Lemon Guava, Apple Guava)
This evergreen species grows best in zones 23, 24, H1 and H2. It is considered a weed in Hawaii, where it chokes out other plants. It reaches 25 feet tall and wide, and produces yellow-skinned fruit with white, pink or yellow flesh. Flavor is musky and mildly acidic. This species is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

Psidium guineense (Brazilian Guava, Castilian Guava, Sour Guava, Guinea Guava, Chobo, Araca do Campo, Guisaro, Guayaba Brava)
This species of Guava is native to Central and Southern America, and can grow as either a shrub (to 3.5 and 6.5 feet tall) or a small tree (to 23 feet tall). Flowers are white and fragrant. Bark and foliage are both greyish. Fruits taste strawberry-like and tart, and can sometimes be bitter. It has yellow skin, a yellow outer pulp and whitish inner pulp with a lot of seeds.

Psidium longipetiolatum (Araca Vermelho)
This species is native to Brazil and can reach between 13 and 20 feet tall when mature, and produces fruits from January through March in its native range.

Psidium oligospermum (Galapagos Guava, Guayabillo)
This species forms a shrub or small tree that ranges in height between 10 and 26 feet tall and has smooth, pinkish-grey bark. They are native to the tropical Americas, and produce white flowers followed by yellow fruits that are edible but have a slight taste of turpentine.

Caring for and pruning Guava Trees

In order for most species of Guava to thrive, a warm, tropical habitat is required. There are some species, however, that can do well in more temperate zones. See the species descriptions above to find one that will grow well in your specific growing zone. Plant Guava trees in full sun for best flowering, foliage, and fruit production. They do not do well in shaded areas. Ensure that soil is well-draining and fertile. If local soils are poor or have bad drainage, amend the planting area with plenty of organic material and/or sand to improve structure, fertility, and drainage. Apply a thick layer of mulch around plantings to increase soil moisture retention, suppress weed growth, and regulate soil temperatures. Water newly planted trees regularly to help them establish a strong, deep root system. When mature, these trees also appreciate a good amount of water, especially during the spring and summer months when they are growing, flowering and fruiting.

These trees and shrubs prefer soil that is rich in nutrients. In springtime, apply a thick layer of organic compost to the area around the base of the tree or shrub. If flowering and fruiting is not ideal, apply a 6-6-2 slow-release fertilizer every one to two months when trees are young, and three to four times a year as the tree or shrub matures. Pruning is best done in late winter or early springtime. At this time, remove dead, damaged, diseased, or crossing branches, open up the canopy, and lightly shape trees. When plants are young, decide if they will be grown as trees, shrubs, or hedges and prune as necessary to achieve the desired shape. As a rule of thumb, it is not generally recommended to allow Guavas grown as trees to exceed ten feet in height, as they will be susceptible to breakage in strong wind conditions. Remove suckers from the base of plants to improve health. Protect trees from extremely cold temperatures (especially when they are young); although some species can be grown outdoors in cooler climates, they are still overall tropical plants and will need some extra care in cold temperatures. Use burlap or frost cloth as needed during these times of the year.

Harvesting Guava Fruits
Grafted Guava trees reach reproductive capacity around 3-4 years of age, though this varies somewhat depending on the species and cultivar grown, as well as the growing conditions. Trees grown from seed may take up to eight years to produce fruits. Each tree has the capability of producing between 50 and 80 pounds of fruit each year if cared for correctly. Fruits are typically ovular and can range in size from that of an apricot to a softball. Skin is green when unripe, and ripens to yellow to pinkish-red, depending on the species and cultivar grown. Ripe fruits should have a slight give when pressed, and will have some aroma to them. After picking, rinse fruits off and allow them to continue to ripen indoors. Ripe fruits can be stored in the refrigerator. Cut fruits typically last between 3 and 4 days in the fridge, and can last up to a year in the freezer.

Propagation

Psidium can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Guava tree or shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Psidium by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

Propagating Psidium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. Seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by trees in late summer to early fall. Harvest fruits when they have color and a little give when pressed. There are typically between 100 and 500 seeds in each Guava fruit. Cut open fruit, remove seeds and rinse them to remove any remaining flesh.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Guava seeds are contained inside of the fruits produced by these plants.

Guava fruits typically contain between 100 and 500 seeds.

Problems and Pests

Some species of Guava trees are aggressive growers, and will shade out underplantings and crowd out native plants. They also have leaves that produce chemicals that are toxic to other plant life. In addition to the issues that these plants themselves cause, they can also suffer from pests and diseases, including the following: