Guava, or Guayaba in Spanish, is a fruit known around the world and most commonly its pulp is used to make sauces, jams, pastries and baked goods. Guava juice and milkshakes are popular in Latin cuisine, and the fruit is also eaten out of hand or in fruit salads. They are quite aromatic, and sweet with a slight subacid flavor. Some Guavas have a flavor similar to lemonade, others closer to apple. The fruit is full of vitamin C as well as other healthy vitamins and minerals.
Guava trees are very productive, fruiting several times per year and beginning production at a young age. Most of the harvest occurs in Spring and Summer, but it’s not uncommon to find some ripe Guava fruit on your tree in the cooler months. The common Guava, which we refer to as “Tropical” is the species Psidium guajava. It is a fast growing, small to medium size tree with lush, light green foliage. Guava trees often have multiple trunks but can also be pruned to a standard shape. The flowers are showy and fragrant, and fruit matures quickly, ready to pick in about 2-3 months. Guava trees grow best in full sun, and take well to heavy pruning. They are fairly drought tolerant but benefit greatly from irrigation, especially when bearing fruit.
We also grow Psidium cattleyanum, or Cattley Guava. This species is a compact and ornamental tree with smaller, glossy leaves. Cattley Guava fruit are about the size of a key lime or slightly larger, with a sweet aroma and flavor. We recommend Cattley Guava for those with smaller spaces, HOAs, or container growing. They are productive many months of the year, with most fruit ripening in Spring.
Guava trees enjoy growing in full sun, but will adapt to semi-shaded conditions, particularly the Cattley Guava. They can withstand dry weather when established, but we recommend irrigating and mulching your trees for best results. Establishing quickly and producing reliably, Guava trees are a wonderful addition to your Food Forest and will fill your harvest basket with their abundant fruit.
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Size: P. guajava– 10-15’ tall x 10’ wide, can be pruned heavily
P. cattleyanum– 8-12’ tall x 6-8’ wide
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Cold Hardy: P. guajava– 28 degrees
P. cattleyanum– 22 degrees
Harvest Season: Spring/Summer mostly
Watering requirements: Drought tolerant, benefitting from supplemental watering during fruit bearing periods.
