Cherry guava
Psidium cattleianum
Family: Myrtaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. The young shoots are rounded. They can be hairy or smooth. The leaf stalk is 4-15 mm long. Leaves are dark green and shiny above and 4-6 cm x 2-3 cm. The edges of the leaves curl backwards. The leaves are wedge shaped at the base. There are several glands under the leaf. Flowers are white and singly in the axils of leaves. The flower stalk is 3-7 mm long. It has small round red or purplish fruit. The flesh is white. There are several hard seeds inside. The seeds are 3 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. The fruit are edible.
It can become a weed in some places eg Hawaii. There are about 150 Psidium species. It can be invasive.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It is native to Brazil. It does quite well in highland areas in the tropics. It grows from sea level to 1,900 m. It is more frost resistant than common guava. It can be grown on a range of soils. It is fairly drought resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. In Hobart Botanical gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. In Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil (country/location of origin), Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
Fruit are eaten raw or used in jams and jellies.
A cultivated fruit tree. At present not widely grown in Papua New Guinea, but fruit are liked and it will probably get wider acceptance.
Edible parts
Fruit, flowers
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed, suckers or cuttings. It can also be grown by layering. Pruning helps fruit production. It can be pruned to form a hedge. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seed removed and washed in running water then dried in the shade. Seed will remain viable for 4 months. Fresh seed should be planted and they germinate in 20-40 days.
Plants grow slowly. Fruit are produced after 2 years. Fruit production is seasonal. There are probably two crops per year. Fruit matures in 60-90 days.
Its other names
Local names
Araca, Araca-amarelo, Araca-vermelho, Bella seebai, Cattley guava, Cheena pera, Goavitsinahy, Guayabita fresa, Jambu stroberi, Konda jamipandu, Malam perakka, Mpera-ngombe, Mpera, Pahadi pijuli, Pahari payara, Pohon jambu stroberi, Porpay, Purple guava, Purple strawberry guava, Quwawa ni vavalagi, Red Strawberry guava, Seemai koyya
Synonyms
Eugenia ferruginea Sieber ex C. Presl; Eugenia oxygona Koidz.; Eugenia urceolata Cordem.; Guajava cattleiana (Afzel. ex Sabone) Kuntze; Guajava humilis (Vell.) Kuntze; Guajava obovata (Mart. ex DC.) Kuntze; Psidium cattleianum var. coriaceum (O. Berg.) Kiaersk.; Psidium cattleianum var. littorale (Raddi) Fosberg; Psidium cattleianum f. lucidum O. Deg.; Psidium coriaceum var. grandiflorum O. Berg.; Psidium coriaceum var. longipes O. Berg; Psidium coriaceum var. obovatum O. Berg.; Psidium ferrugineum C. Presl.; Psidium littorale Raddi; Psidium littorale var. longipes (O. Berg) Fosberg; Psidium obovatum Mart. ex DC.; Psidium chinense Hort.; Psidium variabile O. Berg.;