Description
Flambeau is the variegated form of Chilean guava, and it earns its spot on looks alone. The small evergreen leaves are edged in creamy white and gold over blue-green centers, carried on reddish stems, and every flush of new growth comes in bright pink. It holds that color all year, which makes it one of the brightest small evergreens you can grow in a pot or a border.
It is more than a pretty face. In late spring it hangs small bell-shaped flowers in pink and white, and by late summer into fall it ripens little ruby-red berries with the aromatic strawberry-and-guava flavor Chilean guava is loved for. On a variegated plant the crop is lighter than on the plain green species, so think of the berries as a fragrant bonus on top of the foliage.
Flambeau stays compact, usually around 3 to 4 feet, and takes well to containers and clipping. The one thing to respect is cold. It is hardy to only about 10°F, so it is an in-ground plant in mild-winter regions and a move-it-under-cover container plant everywhere colder. Hardy only to about 10°F, so it overwinters under cover in cold regions.
Overview
- Variegated Chilean guava grown for glowing year-round foliage in cream, gold, and pink on red stems.
- Bright pink new growth all season; one of the most colorful small evergreens for pots and borders.
- Fragrant pink and white bell flowers in late spring, followed by small aromatic ruby berries in fall.
- Compact and container-friendly, about 3 to 4 ft, and takes well to clipping.
- Self-fertile and low-maintenance, but cold-sensitive: hardy to only about 10°F.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Ugni molinae ‘Flambeau’
Site and Soil: Full sun to light shade; moist, humus-rich, well-drained, slightly acidic soil; give bright light to keep the variegation strong
Hardiness: USDA Zone 8-10; hardy to roughly 10°F
Propagation: Grown on its own roots from cuttings
Size at Maturity: Approximately 3-4 ft tall, a little less wide
Bloom Time: Late spring
Ripening Time: Late summer into fall
Fruit: Small ruby-red berries with an aromatic strawberry-and-guava flavor; a lighter crop than the plain green species
Pollination: Self-fertile; a single plant will fruit
Foliage: Evergreen, variegated cream and gold over blue-green, with pink new growth on reddish stems
Uses: Containers, patio and specimen planting, low evergreen hedging, and edible ornamental borders
Pests & Diseases: Generally healthy with low pest pressure
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Grow Flambeau for the foliage first and treat the berries as a bonus, since the variegation lightens the crop; keep it in good light to hold the brightest color, and rub or prune out any all-green shoots that appear so the plant does not revert.
- Regional Insight: Flambeau lives outdoors year-round in mild-winter regions like the maritime Pacific Northwest, coastal California, and the mild South, and in colder areas it is best grown in a container that moves into an unheated greenhouse, sunroom, or garage for the winter.
- Explore more in our collection: Chilean Guava
