Ugni molinae
( UG - nee moh - LEE - nay )
At-A-Glance Information
Also known under the botanical name Myrtus ugni and under the common name Chilean Guava or Strawberry Myrtle this evergreen shrub needs partial shade in the warmest climates of its zone range and regular water. It is native to Chile and Argentina, and is valued for its foliage, flowers and fruit. The Spanish name for this plant is Murta, and the Mapuche Native American name is Uni or Uniberry. it commonly reaches 3-6 feet wide and has small leathery dark green leaves with white undersides, Flowers are rose-tinted white, and look like small bottlebrushes, and pop in late spring and early summer. The blooms are followed by purple to red fruits that can be used in jams and jellies.
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The genus was first described by Juan Ignacio Molina (hence moliae) in 1782, and was introduced to Britain in 1844 by botanist and plant collector William Lobb. It became a favorite plant of Queen Victoria, and was grown as both a crop and ornamental plant. Chilean Guava is great for patios, terraces, walkways, and paths, and can be grown successfully in containers. Chilean Guava is best in zones 14-24 (to find your zone, click here: Zone Map).
Caring for and pruning ugni molinae shrubs
Plant Chilean Guava in full sun to partial shade. These plants can tolerate a wide range of light conditions, but will produce more fruit in full sun. Ensure that soil is well-draining, especially if grown in a container. These plants prefer soil that is well-draining and acidic to slightly acidic (with a pH of between 3.5 and 5.2). Enrich soil with plenty of organic matter before planting for best results. Water regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist, especially during dry spells.
Chilean Guava is cold-hardy down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will incur some damage below freezing temperature. Fertilize each springtime with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Avoid excessively fertilizing with nitrogen, as this can encourage foliage growth over the production of flowers and fruits. Prune to maintain a compact, bushy shape, and remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches. The best time to prune these shrubs is in late winter or early spring, before the plant has pushed out new growth.
Harvesting Ugni moliae Shrubs
Chilean Guava is usually ready to be harvested in mid to late autumn, when they are a deep red color. The fruit is about the size of a cranberry, and can be eaten right off of the tree (after being washed, of course). The fruit is also used in jellies and jams, ice creams, syrups, and baked into muffins and other baked goods. They taste like kiwi-strawberry bubblegum, and can add interesting flavor to even mixed drinks and salad dressings.
Chilean Guava is cold-hardy down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will incur some damage below freezing temperature. Fertilize each springtime with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Avoid excessively fertilizing with nitrogen, as this can encourage foliage growth over the production of flowers and fruits. Prune to maintain a compact, bushy shape, and remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches. The best time to prune these shrubs is in late winter or early spring, before the plant has pushed out new growth.
Harvesting Ugni moliae Shrubs
Chilean Guava is usually ready to be harvested in mid to late autumn, when they are a deep red color. The fruit is about the size of a cranberry, and can be eaten right off of the tree (after being washed, of course). The fruit is also used in jellies and jams, ice creams, syrups, and baked into muffins and other baked goods. They taste like kiwi-strawberry bubblegum, and can add interesting flavor to even mixed drinks and salad dressings.
Propagation
Ugni molinae can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed, but growing from seed requires both sacrificing delicious fruit as well as a lot of waiting, as these plants take a long time to grow from seed into a fruit-producing plant. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Ugni moinae by Cutting
Propagating Ugni moinae 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 late 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 portion(s) of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make sure the cutting includes about two inches of hardwood beneath the green growth. 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.
Problems and Pests
Chilean Guava is virtually disease and pest free.
Gallery
Videos
All about Chilean Guava
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An overview of a variegated Ugni moliae plant.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 642, Ugni molinae (Chilean Guava)
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