| Common Name: |
Lemon Guava |
| Scientific Name: |
Psidium littorale 'littorale' |
| Hardiness Zone: |
Zones 9a through 11 |
| Family: |
Myrtaceae |
General Information
Small compact slow growing tree with smooth leathery green leaves. White flowers in late spring followed by heavy crops of large round yellow fruit with a delicious aromatic flesh. Fruiting from April through to June. Native to Brazil and adjacent tropical South America, it is closely related to common guava (P. guajava), and like that species is a widespread, highly invasive species in tropical areas, especially Hawaii. It tends to form dense, monotypic stands which prevent regrowth of native species, and is very difficult to eradicate. As an invasive species, it is sometimes erroneously called "Chinese guava". The fruit can be eaten by cutting them in half and scooping out the pulp and seeds. Lemon guavas have a more acidic and spicier flavor than the Strawberry guava. The seeds are small and white in colour and can be roasted as a substitute for coffee. Its leaves may be brewed for tea. The skin is also edible and tastes a bit like rose petals but is best removed for a sweeter flavour.
| Bark Characteristics: |
Gray to reddish-brown peeling bark, branches are very strong as a result of being tolerant to high winds. Typically multi-trunked; thorns. |
| Leaf/Foliage Characteristics: |
Leaves are opposite, oblong, glossy, entire and up to 3 in. (7.5 cm) long. |
| Growth Characteristics |
Will grow in any well-drained soil. Prefers full sun although will grow and fruit in part shade. Tolerates extremes in climatic conditions. The Guava can handle frost down to -5° C. Feed with a balanced fertiliser high in nitrogen. Prune to maintain desired size and shape in early spring. Grows slower than the Strawberry guava. |
| Flower/Fruit Characteristics: |
Flowering occurs year-round. Flowers are white, 1 in. (2.5 cm) wide, with 4-5 petals and many stamens. Flowers can occur singly, or in groups of three, in the axils of the leaves. Fruits are dark red, edible and golf ball-sized. |
| Lighting: |
Will grow in any well-drained soil. Prefers full sun although will grow and fruit in part shade. Tolerates extremes in climatic conditions. The Guava can handle frost down to -5° C. |
| Watering: |
Trees grow well in full sun and with ample water, although short periods of drought will not harm the plant. |
| Feeding: |
Feed with a balanced fertiliser high in nitrogen. |
| Pruning/Wiring: |
Prune new shoots back to 2-3 leaves during growth. Prune above a leaf facing in the direction you want new growth to extend. The flexible branches make wiring easy, although the bark will need to be protected. Wire from spring-autumn. |
| Propagation: |
From softwood cuttings, only strong, succulent greenwood sgould be used. The cutting should be placed in an intermittent mist chamber with bottom heat and a media temperture of 80 degrees F. After 6-8 weeks in the mist chamber, the cuttings should be adequately rooted for container transplanting. By root cuttings, By grafting. By air layering. Seeds, Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds. |
| Potting: |
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring |
| Pests: |
The scale insect Tectococcus ( Tectococcus ovatus), Studies in Brazil show that this insect feeds very specifically on strawberry guava, causing reduced growth and seed production. Extensive testing of over 80 native, commercial, and ornamental species demonstrates that Tectococcus will not affect any other species in Hawaii. Young Tectococcus scale insects settle and feed on newly sprouted leaves of strawberry guava and cause the leaves to form galls. Because the plant puts energy into forming galls, it doesn't put as much energy into growth and fruit production. The scale will not kill strawberry guava. Plants act as a host for the Caribbean fruit fly, a pest of citrus crops. |
| Diseases: |
None noted. |
| Bibliography: |
ENH-687, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2006; Edward F. Gilman, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, associate professor, Agricultural Engineering Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. |
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