How to Grow Pineapple & Guava Trees

The pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) tree is a slow-growing large shrub that grows to 15 feet tall and wide. It is an evergreen with silvery green leaves and can be pruned or sheared to form a thick hedge or screen. The outstanding feature of the pineapple guava is the interesting white and red flowers followed by the edible egg-shaped fruit that falls to the ground when ripe. The pineapple guava is suitable for growing in USDA horticultural zones 8 through 11.

Things You'll Need

• Pineapple guava trees
• Shovel
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Choose a location to plant your pineapple guava trees that has at least six hours of full sun exposure each day. While pineapple guavas trees will grow in shady spots with as little as four hours of sun each day, the best flower and fruit production occurs in a full-sun location. Also, the location should be well-drained. The pineapple guava cannot tolerate waterlogged soil.

2. Clear the planting area of all weeds and vegetation so there is no competition for water and nutrients. Pineapple guava trees are highly adaptable to soils in their planting range so there is no need to add any soil amendments.

3. Dig a series of holes to plant the pineapple guava trees that are 8 to 10 feet apart. Plant closer for a dense hedge, but any closer than 4 feet is not necessary for complete coverage. The holes should accommodate the entire root system of each plant while not allowing the trees to be planted any deeper than they are planted in their containers.

4. Place the pineapple guava trees in the planting holes. Spread out by hand any roots encircling the root system of any of the trees so they cannot continue to grow around the root ball. Roots encircling the root system eventually girdle the tree and cut off nutrients and moisture flow to the above-ground portion of the tree.

5. Add water to the soil as you fill the planting holes to ensure a good seal of soil around the existing roots of the pineapple guava trees.

6. Spread a layer of mulch 1 to 2 inches thick over the roots of the pineapple guava tree to conserve moisture and prevent weeds.

7. Add water to the area around the bottom of the pineapple guava trees every 10 to 14 days for the first year and during exceptionally dry periods. Although the pineapple guava is drought-tolerant, it blooms and produces more fruit if placed on a regular watering schedule.

Tips & Warnings

• The scientific name for pineapple guava, (Feijoa sellowiana) is occasionally seen as (Acca sellowiana) in some gardening publications.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension:Feijoa sellowiana
• University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension: Pineapple guava
• Floridata: Feijoa sellowiana

Resources

• USDA: Plant Hardiness Zone Map