Shrub layer · Evergreen fruiting shrub / small tree
Guava
Psidium guajava
A fragrant fruiting shrub or small tree for frost-free to lightly frosted warm pockets. Intensely aromatic fruit where heat and shelter align.
Also known as: Guava, Tropical guava
Layer
Shrub layer
Climate
Subtropical, Warm temperate
Sun
Full sun with wind shelter.
Water
Regular moisture for fruit fill; mulch well.
Soil
Fertile free-draining soil with organic matter.
Size
2–4 m H · 2–3 m W
Growth
Fast in warm sites
Frost
Frost tender; light frost may burn tips; hard frost can kill young plants to the ground.
Edible uses
Fruit
Harvest window
Autumn in warm northern sites; highly site-dependent
Ecological functions
Shrub structure · Flower forage · Dense cover
Wildlife value
Birds take fruit · Insect forage
Human uses
Fresh fruit · Juices · Preserves
Propagation
Seed or cuttings; named types preferred where available.
Maintenance
Prune for size and light; protect from frost; harvest promptly.
NZ growing notes
Best in frost-sheltered Northland, Auckland and coastal Bay of Plenty. Cooler sites may grow plants without reliable fruit.
In the food forest
Guava occupies the shrub layer in warm subtropical guilds beside banana and pigeon pea. Keep it out of frost hollows and give it sun for aromatic fruit.
Establishment
Plant in spring in a sheltered warm spot. Mulch and water through dry spells. Tip-prune to keep harvest height manageable. Protect juveniles from frost.
NZ honesty
Warm-only honesty: foliage may appear elsewhere, but reliable fruiting needs local proof. Do not scale plantings on catalogue claims alone.
Suitable NZ regions
Companion plants
Related guilds
References
- NZ subtropical gardening observation — Heat and frost shelter decide fruit quality.