Costa Rica guava
Psidium friedrichsthalianum

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It grows 3-4 m tall. The branches are angular and hairy. They are reddish. The leaves are papery and 4-10 cm long. There are 8 pairs of secondary veins. The flowers occur singly. They are white and have a scent. The fruit are a medium size and yellow with soft acid pulp. They are like a guava. They have many seeds. The fruit are 6-7 cm across.

There are about 150 Psidium species.

Where it is found

It is tropical. It suits hot, tropical lowlands. It cannot tolerate frosts. It grows naturally in seasonally flooded forests in Central America. It is best with medium to high rainfall. It can tolerate a range soils conditions if well drained.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Colombia, Costa Rica (country/location of origin), Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Pacific, Panama, Peru, Philippines, SE Asia, South America, West Indies, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh or used in jelly and juice. It is very acid.

It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can also be grown by cuttings.

It produces fruit in 4-5 years if grown from seed. The fruit matures in 90 days.

Its other names

Local names

Arrayan, Cas, Cos, Goiaba-da-cosa-rica, Goiaba-da-agua, Guayaba agria, Guayaba de choco, Guayabina, Kachore, Pohon jambu kosta rika

Synonyms

Psidium grandiflorum Ruiz & Pav; Calyptropsidium friedrichsthalianum O. Berg.;