Botanical Name: Psidium cattleianum
Plant Family: Myrtaceae
Plant Description
A compact, evergreen bushy shrub to 3 - 6 m in height, native to Brazil, with smooth, rounded branches. Its leaves are smooth, glossy, leathery and about 5 - 8 cm long. The white flowers with fluffy stamens are borne close to the stems, they bloom in late spring, but sometimes the tree blooms a second time in late autumn. The fruit is round 2.5 - 4 cm in diameter (the size of a small plum), deep wine-red, with a very thin skin. The flesh is juicy and believed to have the finest flavour of any guava. Cherry guavas will grow in a wide range of soils but need good drainage. They dislike low temperatures and will not tolerate very heavy frost but are hardier to cold than the common guava.
Planting Details
Sow When: germinates best at 24 - 29°C soil temp.
Seed Preparation: pre-soak for 48 hours
Planting Depth: 5 mm deep
Spacing: 4 m between plants
Position: full sun
Soil Type: tolerant of wide range of soil types but needs good drainage; pH 5 - 7
Harvest
The fruit ripens January to June. In moist, tropical areas there is a risk of this plant becoming weedy. Cover it with a bird net to prevent birds spreading the fruit into nearby rainforest areas or do not plant it.
Eating: the fruit can be eaten raw and is high in Vitamin C. It is also used for sauces, jellies, drinks and jams.
Other Uses: the plants are also useful as fruiting hedge, poultry forage and windbreak.
