Practical
Plants

Psidium cattleianum

Strawberry Guava

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Myrtaceae
Genus
Psidium
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[1][6][8]. The fruit can be used in jellies, jams, custards, drinks etc[3]. Sweet and aromatic. The flavour is more pronounced than that of the yellow strawberry guava but lacks the muskiness of the common guava[3]. The fruit has an agreeable acid-sweet flavour and is good when eaten raw[4][7], though it can also be used in preserves[2]. The fruit is about 4cm in diameter[5].

Plant part
Fruit

Material uses

Grown as a hedge in warm temperate climates[5].

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
S. America - Brazil.
Habitat
Not known
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 10+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a warm greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If trying the plants outdoors, plant them out in the summer and give them some protection from winter cold for at least their first two winters. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.

Cultivation

Requires a well-drained sandy loam with leafmold[1]. Requires cool greenhouse treatment in Britain[1]. Tolerates short-lived light frosts[5] and cool summers[6] so it might succeed outdoors in the mildest areas of the country. Dislikes much humidity. Sometimes cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Simmons. A. E. Growing Unusual Fruit. David and Charles 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-7153-5531-7

    ↩1↩2

  7. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

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