Name: EarliHart™ Pineapple Guava Tree | Early-Ripening Feijoa for Cool-Summer Climates
SKU: PIneapple Guava (EarliHart™)
Price: 39.99 USD
Availability: InStock

PIneapple Guava (EarliHart™)

$39.99

EarliHart™ is a pineapple guava bred for early ripening, finishing its crop well ahead of most other feijoa selections. It was selected from seed shared by noted New Zealand breeder Roy Hart, for whom it is named.

Earliest-ripening selection in its breeding line
Large fruit with thin, edible skin
Sweet, juicy flesh with a classic pineapple-and-mint flavor
Showy edible red and white summer flowers
Partially self-fertile; crops best with a second feijoa nearby

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Ships in 1 to 4 business days from our nursery in Washington state, in a 36 inch box.

SKU: PIneapple Guava (EarliHart™) Categories: Fruiting Shrubs, Pineapple Guava

Description

EarliHart™ was selected from seed shared by New Zealand plant breeder Roy Hart, and named in his honor. It was bred, with collaborator Nigel Ritson, for large fruit, thin edible skin, and sweet flavor, and specifically for early ripening among feijoa selections.

That early finish is the reason to plant it: in a cool-summer growing season that struggles to ripen other feijoas before fall frost, EarliHart™ is bred to get there first. The fruit is sweet and juicy with the clear pineapple-and-mint flavor the species is known for.

The tree flowers in early summer with showy red and white blooms, and the thick petals are edible, often pulled for salads without sacrificing the fruit set.

Overview

Earliest-ripening feijoa in its Roy Hart breeding line
Sweet, juicy fruit, pineapple-and-mint flavor
Large fruit, thin edible skin
Showy, edible red and white summer flowers
Partially self-fertile
Hardier than it looks; an established plant shrugs off brief single-digit cold

Growing Details

Latin Name: Acca sellowiana (syn. Feijoa sellowiana) ‘EarliHart’
Site and Soil: Full sun; well-drained soil; shelter from wind in marginal climates
Hardiness:Hardy to roughly 10F – mature plants have survived lower
Rootstock: Grafted onto pineapple guava seedling rootstock
Bearing Age: 2 to 3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Approximately 8 to 10 ft – often maintained smaller; trains as a small tree or hedge
Ripening Time: Among the earliest-ripening pineapple guavas; early to mid-season
Pollination: Partially self-fertile; better cropping with a second pineapple guava within 20 ft
Pests & Diseases: Generally low-pressure; standard fungal care helps in humid, wet seasons

Additional Notes

Grower’s Insight: A second, genetically different feijoa nearby improves the crop, but EarliHart™ will still set fruit on its own; the early ripening is the trait worth planning around.
Regional Insight: Feijoas suit mild-winter regions best; where winters drop much below 15°F, plant in a sheltered, sunny spot or grow it in a container you can move under cover.
Explore more pineapple guavas in our collection: Pineapple Guavas

Planting & Care

At a Glance – EarliHart™ Pineapple Guava

Sun: Full sun, sheltered from strong wind
Soil: Well-drained soil
Water: Moderate; steady through the first year
Size: Roughly 8 to 10 ft – often maintained smaller; small tree, shrub, or hedge
Pollination: Partially self-fertile; better crop with a second feijoa
Harvest: Earliest-ripening pineapple guava; early to mid-season
Hardiness:Roughly 10F – mature plants have survived lower

Planting & Care – EarliHart™ Pineapple Guava

Site Selection

Choose a sunny site sheltered from strong cold wind.
In colder pockets, a south or southwest wall helps ripening.
Good airflow supports healthy growth and clean fruit.

Soil Preparation

Grows in a range of soils as long as drainage is good.
Amend lightly with compost if the soil is poor.

Planting Instructions

Dig a hole twice the width of the root ball.
Set the plant at the depth it grew in its pot.
Backfill with native soil and water thoroughly.
Mulch lightly to conserve moisture and moderate temperature.

Watering & Fertilizing

Water consistently through the first two or three seasons.
Young plants are more cold- and drought-sensitive than established ones.
Feed lightly in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen.

Pollination

EarliHart™ sets some fruit on its own.
A second, different feijoa within about 20 ft improves cropping.
Both birds and insects pollinate the flowers.

Pruning & Training

Train as a single-trunk tree, a multi-stem shrub, or a hedge.
Pruning needs are light through most of the year.
Do heavier shaping in late winter once hard frost has passed.

Harvest & Use

Fruit softens and drops rather than changing color.
Pick from the ground daily during the ripening window, or net the plant.
Edible flower petals can be picked in early summer for salads.

Cold Care

Shelter the first winter or two while the plant establishes.
An established, fully dormant plant takes brief single-digit cold.
A sudden autumn frost costs the ripening fruit before it harms the plant.

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