Psidium littorale var. longipes (F)

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purple guava

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purple guava RHS
purple guava RHS
purple guava RHS

Other common names

strawberry guava, cattley guava, red strawberry guava

Synonyms

Psidium cattleyanum

Conservatory Greenhouse Shrubs Trees
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An evergreen, small tree or multi-stemmed shrub around 7m tall in its native habitat but usually growing 2-4m tall in cultivation. It has grey to reddish-brown bark that peels readily, cylindrical branchlets and oval, glossy, dark green leaves 4-12cm long; young leaves emerge a bronze-red colour. Small, fragrant, white flowers borne in leaf axils in spring are followed by dark red to purple, edible fruits, 2-3cm in diameter

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

4-8 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
4-8 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Myrtaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy, Suckering
Genus
Psidium are small trees or shrubs with evergreen, simple leaves and axillary flowers, usually borne singly or in threes, which may be followed by small, edible fruits
Name Status
Correct
Horticultural Group

Horticultural Classification Codes

Horticultural Classification Codes are often given to genera which have a large number of species or cultivars. They are used to categorise cultivated plants based on specific, shared characteristics such as shape, colour, size or flowering time, and can be displayed as letters or numbers

For example:
Dahlia ‘Sunset Kate (Sin) = Single flower
Rosa ‘Marigold’ (HT) = Hybrid Tea

This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit
Plant Range
Brazil

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a greenhouse or conservatory in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light but with shade from hot sun. Can also be grown in containers to stand outside in summer but move inside for winter or provide protection from frost

Propagation

Propagate from seed or from suckers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical

Pruning

Pruning group 8

Pests

Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free