Description
Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae) is a compact evergreen shrub grown for small, deeply aromatic berries, not to be confused with pineapple guava (Acca sellowiana), a different plant entirely. Its dark red fruit carries the sweetness of a strawberry and the pungency of a guava in one bite-sized package.
The shrub earns its keep in the landscape too: bowl-shaped white flowers scent the summer garden, small leathery leaves stay aromatic when brushed or crushed, and the whole plant holds its glossy evergreen foliage through winter. Flowers are self-fertile, so a single plant sets fruit with no partner required.
Reaching a tidy 3 to 5 feet at maturity, Chilean Guava suits a sunny border, a fragrant hedge, or a large container that can be moved undercover where winters run colder than it likes.
Overview
- Small, deeply aromatic berries taste like a cross between strawberry and guava.
- Compact, evergreen shrub reaching about 3 to 5 ft at maturity.
- Self-fertile: one plant sets fruit with no pollinator partner.
- Fragrant white flowers in summer, aromatic leaves year-round.
- Suits a sunny border, a hedge, or a large container.
- Not the same plant as pineapple guava, a different species.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Ugni molinae
Site and Soil: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well drained soil; shelter from cold, drying wind
Hardiness: USDA Zone 8; grow in a container and move undercover in colder climates
Bearing Age: Flowers in summer, with berries following in autumn
Size at Maturity: Compact, upright evergreen shrub, about 3 to 5 ft tall
Ripening Time: Late season; October into November
Pollination: Self-fertile; flowers are complete and need no separate pollinator
Pests & Diseases: Generally free of pests and disease
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Give it real shelter from cold, drying winter wind, since this evergreen holds its leaves all year and wind burn is the most common setback.
- Regional Insight: Chilean Guava grows happily outdoors from the coastal Southeast through mild western regions, and thrives in a container almost anywhere else.
- Explore more Chilean guava in our collection: Chilean Guava
