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Conservatory GreenhouseShrubsTrees

Psidium littorale var. longipes (F)

purple guava

An evergreen, small tree or multi-stemmed shrub around 7m tall in its native habitat but usually growing 2-4m tall in cultivation. It has grey to reddish-brown bark that peels readily, cylindrical branchlets and oval, glossy, dark green leaves 4-12cm long; young leaves emerge a bronze-red colour. Small, fragrant, white flowers borne in leaf axils in spring are followed by dark red to purple, edible fruits, 2-3cm in diameter

Other common names

strawberry guava
cattley guava
see morered strawberry guava

Synonyms

Psidium cattleyanum

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Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

4–8 metres

Time to ultimate height

10–20 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing or East–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Myrtaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy, Suckering
Genus: Psidium are small trees or shrubs with evergreen, simple leaves and axillary flowers, usually borne singly or in threes, which may be followed by small, edible fruits
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Brazil

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a greenhouse or conservatory in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light but with shade from hot sun. Can also be grown in containers to stand outside in summer but move inside for winter or provide protection from frost

Propagation

Propagate from seed or from suckers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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