Yellow strawberry guava (Psidium littorale)

Overview

The Yellow strawberry guava, Psidium littorale, is a sought-after evergreen shrub celebrated for its tropical appeal and edible summer yield. Gardeners value this Brazilian native primarily for its highly fragrant white spring flowers, which provide significant initial aesthetic impact. As a tropical to sub-tropical species, its reliable cultivation often focuses on container gardening in regions outside its native range.

Psidium littorale features glossy green foliage and produces small, yellowish-brown fruits that offer a sweet yet tangy flavor reminiscent of strawberries. While it can grow into a larger shrub in ideal conditions, container-grown specimens remain suitably compact. The combination of striking blossoms, unique bark, and delicious fruit makes the Yellow strawberry guava a rewarding, albeit high-maintenance, addition.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Myrtaceae
• Plant Type: Fruit
• Native Range: Brazil
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-10
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 3-6 ft
  • Spread: 2-3 ft
• Bloom Time: April to May
• Bloom Description: White
• Sun Exposure: Full sun
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: High

How to Grow

Planting Psidium littorale requires careful consideration of its tropical nature. While ideally suited for USDA Zone 9 and 10, gardeners in cooler areas must treat it as a container plant. Choose a location receiving full sun for the best flowering and fruiting, although the plant tolerates some light shade. Soil should be well-draining to prevent root issues common to containerized tropicals.

Water needs for the Yellow strawberry guava are categorized as medium; maintain consistent moisture, allowing the top surface to dry slightly between waterings. Due to its high maintenance rating, this shrub benefits from regular fertilization during its active growing season (spring through fall). For those growing in St. Louis or similarly chilly climates, establishing a routine to move containers outdoors to a sunny location in spring and bringing them inside before temperatures drop below the low 40s is critical.

Winter protection is essential; this guava is only reliably hardy to 20 degrees F. When overwintering indoors, ensure it receives bright light. Although Psidium littorale is self-fruitful, placing containers near each other can enhance cross-pollination, leading to significantly heavier fruit set.

Landscape Uses

For gardeners in Zones 9 and 10, the Yellow strawberry guava serves multiple landscape functions. It excels when used as part of an informal hedge or screen, providing dense, year-round greenery. Its manageable size, reaching only 3 to 6 feet in container settings, also makes it perfect for feature planting in shrub borders where its spring bloom can be highlighted.

The necessity of container culture for many gardeners transforms this plant into a versatile movable specimen. Place containers near patios or entryways to best enjoy the fragrant flowers during April and May. When winterizing, ensure the pots are placed where they remain protected but still receive adequate light, maximizing the ornamental return on your investment in this unique fruit-bearer.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant

Fruit Qualities

• Showy
• Edible

Noteworthy Characteristics

Psidium littorale, commonly called strawberry guava, is an evergreen, tropical to sub-tropical small fruiting tree or multi-stemmed shrub which is native to Brazil. White flowers with numerous stamens appear in spring and give way in summer to dark red guava fruits (1-1.5” diameter) with white flesh and a sweet but tangy strawberry-guava flavor. The plant is identifiable by its elliptic to obovate, glossy green leaves, and its bark ranges from greenish-gray to yellowish-brown, making it attractive year-round.

Tolerances

Potential Problems

Psidium littorale generally avoids serious insect or disease issues when grown in optimal sub-tropical environments. However, growers in mild outdoor climates should remain vigilant for common invaders like the guava moth, fruit flies, and whiteflies, which may target the developing guava fruits and foliage. Consistent inspection upon bringing containers indoors for winter is vital, as indoor environments can sometimes encourage these pests to settle in.

Management should focus on preventative care, such as using horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps if pests are detected, particularly before moving the Yellow strawberry guava inside for the winter months. Ensure good air circulation around containerized plants, which helps deter many fungal issues that thrive in stagnant indoor air.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Yellow strawberry guava suitable for?

The Yellow strawberry guava (Psidium littorale) is reliably winter hardy in USDA Zones 9 through 10.

How large does Yellow strawberry guava grow?

When grown outdoors in ideal zones, it can range up to 15 feet, but when grown in containers, as recommended in cooler areas, the height is typically maintained between 3 and 6 feet tall with a spread of 2 to 3 feet.

When does Yellow strawberry guava bloom?

This guava displays its showy, fragrant white flowers seasonably from April to May.

What sun exposure does Psidium littorale need?

Psidium littorale performs best in full sun, though it has a moderate tolerance for light shade.

Conclusion

The Yellow strawberry guava (Psidium littorale) offers exceptional year-round interest, from its fragrant spring flowers to its spicy, edible summer fruit, highly valued by niche growers. Remember that this plant demands high maintenance, especially concerning winter protection outside of Zones 9 and 10. Before planting, confirm your local climate or prepare adequate space for its indoor winter vacation.

Container Growing Strategies

Successfully growing Psidium littorale in containers requires mimicking its tropical demands. Use a high-quality, fast-draining potting mix to support the medium water requirements without waterlogging the roots. Repotting should occur every few years, moving up only one pot size at a time until the desired container size is reached, keeping the plant appropriately miniaturized.

When overwintering the container indoors, reduce watering frequency significantly, as plant metabolism slows in cooler, lower-light conditions. Place the container in the brightest window available, ideally south-facing. Resume regular watering and feeding as soon as new growth appears in spring upon moving it back outdoors.

Companion Planting

When siting or grouping your Yellow strawberry guava during the warm months, select companions with similar sun and water needs to simplify maintenance. Tropical herbs like lemongrass or dwarf citrus varieties thrive alongside the guava. In the landscape beds of Zone 9 or 10, consider pairing it with other acid-loving, full-sun shrubs to create a multi-layered subtropical screen.

Avoid placing Psidium littorale near plants that require consistently boggy conditions, as this contradicts its requirement for medium moisture and excellent drainage. Since this shrub requires high maintenance, companion choices that also demand attention, like specialty roses or vegetable patches, can keep your garden routine centralized.