
The Pineapple Guava
Feijoas with their oval shaped fruit, fragrant sweet jelly like flesh and said to taste like a pineapple mixed with pear are commonly called the pineapple Guava.
This is a little confusing as they are not Guavas at all, however are related. They are from cool temperate climates, widely grown in New Zealand however originally from cooler areas of Brazil and Argentina.
The botanical name is Acca sellowiana and this versatile fruit tree will grow from cool climate zones with through to su – tropical zones.
How To Grow Feijoa Trees – Care and Growing conditions
This is a frost tolerant fruit tree once established however is susceptible to frost damage when young, try growing it in a position with protection from the hot afternoon sun for best results.
- Prepare the soil well before planting, dig in good amounts of compost, aged cow manure and other organic matter.
- When planting, prune your new tree to a single trunk if growing purely for the fruit.
- Water in well with liquid seaweed fertiliser.
- Much around the plant to maintain a cool moist root run.
Ongoing Care
Each winter fertilise, with a specialist fruit tree fertiliser, or a high nitrogen fertiliser. In late winter to early spring, renew the mulch, a good thick layer of organic mulch set back 6 inches (15 cm) from the trunk of the plant extending out to the drip line.
Mulch is important not only to suppress weeds and hold in moisture. Mulch improves microbial activity in the soil, encourages worms and improves soil structure
- Feijoa trees require little care once established.
- Feijoa trees are best grown in a sunny position.
- They require a humus rich well drained soil.
- Once planted, mulch around the plant with stable straw, lucerne mulch or similar.
- An application of aged cow manure at this time will also be beneficial.
Harvesting is best carried out when the fruit is ready to fall off the tree, this will give you the sweetest best tasting fruit.
Remember to remove all fallen fruit from the ground to prevent disease and insects.
Planting Suggestions and Landscaping Uses
These are an attractive tree, nice foliage and flowers, they are also easy to prune so options are many.
Feijoa are used both as a fruiting tree and an ornamental tree, the fruit can be eaten when ripe, and the pink flowers are attractive.
- Grow Feijoa as a fruiting and flowering hedge.
- Try growing them as an espalier against a fence or a wall.
- Grow them in containers.
- Train them a single trunk tree.
- Allow multiple trunks to form.
In areas of strong winds and poor sandy soil you may wish to stake your Feijoa tree.
Harvesting Feijoa Fruit
Different varieties will fruit at different timed, from mid summer (Gemini) to Autumn (Opal Star).
Harvesting is best carried out when the fruit is ready to fall off the tree, this will give you the sweetest best tasting fruit.
Remember to remove all fallen fruit from the ground to prevent disease and insects.
The taste of the Feijoa fruit is sweet and perfumed, it can be eaten fresh, simply split the fruit in half and scoop out the flesh. The fruit can also be used in muffins and goes well with ice-cream.
The flowers are also edible and can be added to salads where they will ad a sweet taste, or to cordials and soft drinks.
Pruning Feijoa Trees
Prune dead and diseased wood at any time.
Other pruning should be carried out in earl spring, late winter in warmer climate zones. Or try 4 weeks after the last fruit.
If you are pruning for maximum fruit, remove any crossing congested growth. And then prune fairly lightly, always leaving at least 6 nodes on each stem for best fruiting.
What you are trying to do is to allow light into the tee for better fruit production.
If you are pruning to keep the plant smaller and still want fruit, then leave 4 nodes.
If you Feijoa tree is really overgrown and far too large, then you may want to take a leap faith and hard prune it down to 1 – 2 m (3 – 6 ft).
It is good practice to remove all suckers as they appear.
Problems

Tree not setting fruit.
Three main reasons for lack of fruit include:
- A lack of a pollinator, you will always get better fruit production with two trees, so convince a neighbour to plant one as well.
- The plant is in too much shade.
- Heavy pruning will also set back flowering and fruit production.
Feijoa Varieties and Cultivars
If you are looking for good fruit production look for named cultivars rather than seedlings. For good fruit, try popular varieties such as:
- ‘Apollo’ – This one has a good flavour and is grown commercially for the fruit. Tall and spreading growth habit.
- Unique – A self fertile variety suited to smaller spaces.
- Mammoth – Large fruit as the name suggests, self fertile but with better fruit production with cross pollination.
- Nazematze – Interesting pear shaped fruit, again self fertile and better fruiting with cross pollination.
Others Include
- ‘Opal Star’,
- Gemini,
- Kakapo,
- Pounamu
- Wiki Tu
Older cultivars that are still available, include ‘Coolidge’, ‘Choiceana’, and ‘Superba’
Where to Buy Feijoa Trees
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More Fruit Trees
What is Feijoa fizz?
This a simple fermented drink made from feijoa skins. For a 3 litre container
- Take the skins from around 15 to 20 feijoa
- Clean them but don’t wash them, so cut off any bits that don’t look good.
- You need a deep wide mouthed jar – A preserving jar is ideal
- Sterilise the jar and dry it
- Pack the skins into the jar a top with a 1/4 cup of sugar.
- Fill the jar with water. Around 1.5 – 2 litres, boiled and cooled.
- Use a smaller jar filled with water to weigh the skins down.
- Cover with a cloth and leave for three days in a cool dark position
- If the skins begin to float, push then under
- If the skins grow mould, start again with fresh skins
The water should look a little cloudy after 3 days
Strain the liquid add another 1/4 cup of sugar and dissolve it.
Pour the liquid into sterilised bottles with proper caps.
Chill and your ready to enjoy Feijoa fizz.