Guava Tree Guide: How To ID (Pics, Charts), How To Grow Guava Indoors

Image Credit: Rajesh Balouria (balouriarajesh)²¹

What Is Guava Tree (Psidium guajava)?

Guava Trees are usually evergreen, shrubby, and in small size, boasting 3-10 m high. They belong to the phylum Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, and Myrtaceae family.

It grows best in tropical or subtropical climates, and most fruit will mature in the summer.

The Guava Tree has been adopted in Australia, New Zealand, Southeastern USA, tropical Southern America and Southern Africa, tropical and temperate Asia, and various Oceanic islands with warm climates.

Some parts of the US, such as Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii grow these trees commercially.

The Guava Tree begins to produce fruits after approximately two years and can go on for up to 40 years. These fruits are highly nutritious, boasting significant concentrations of fiber, potassium, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, and B.

The leaves, fruit, bark, and flowers have medicinal properties.⁶

Origin of Guava Plant: Where Is Guava From?

It is almost impossible to ascertain where the Guava Tree came from.

However, they are believed to have originated from Southern Mexico into Central America. There is archaeological evidence of guava cultivation in Peru as early as 2500 BCE.

Archaeologists believe the Portuguese and Spaniards were responsible for distributing the Guava Tree to the rest of the world.¹⁰

Moreover, birds and animals have also contributed to the distribution.

Types of Guava Trees (How To Identify Guava Tree and Fruit)

Guavas are a common fruit in many tropical and subtropical regions.

However, you’ll notice they come in different sizes, shapes, and colors.

When you cut these refreshing fruits, you will also notice differences in taste, smell, and flesh color. So, the guava you eat will depend on the region you are visiting.

Nonetheless, these guava fruits are nutritious, used in various recipes, or eaten raw.

For instance, when visiting Mexico, you must try Agua de Guayaba. It’s a popular Mexican drink from guava, water, and sugar.

Also, you can never go wrong trying the Guava cake, a traditional Hawaiian dessert.

Tropical Guava

Tropical guavas are the common or true guavas. Below we have divided them into two:

• White-fleshed
• Red or pink-fleshed

Here are the types of White and Red/Pink Guava Trees.

White Guava Tree (White Fleshed)

The White Fleshed Guava Trees are the most common types of guava with a more profound concentration of vitamin C than the other varieties and sweeter.¹

They include:

The China White boasts a height of 12-20 feet, with high fruit-bearing potential that begins in the second year after planting.

If grown in stable conditions, the China White Guava Tree can yield its fruits throughout the year regardless of the seasons. The fruits weigh roughly a pound each.

You can tell that a China White guava fruit is ripe when its skin turns yellow. At this point, it contains a sweet taste and pleasing aroma.

The tree usually fruits all year round under the right growing conditions. Ripe Mexican Cream guavas have yellow skin and pale pink-white flesh. It has a creamy texture and is sweet, close to the strawberry flavor.

Tropical White Guava

The Tropical White Guava is native to Southern Mexico but has spread to other subtropical regions. This fruit thrives in subtropical climates with not too-dry or too-wet soil.

It is grown within 9 to 11 USDA zones as long as the temperature doesn’t fall below 22°F. This is one of the fruit trees in Florida and their fruits are harvested all year ’round.

Tropical white guavas are large with a diameter of 3-4 inches. Moreover, it can attain a height of up to 20 feet.

When ripe, the skin will turn to yellowish-green. The inside is soft and creamy white flesh with a pleasant smell and a sweet and acidic taste.

Giant Vietnamese Guavas are usually round and weigh from 1.8-2.7 pounds. They have white flesh with a mellow taste.

Ripe white Indian guava has yellow-whitish skin and the flesh is soft but with large, hard seeds. Nonetheless, the fruit has a sweet-to-sour flavor that will appeal to your taste buds.

Unfortunately, it does not fruit all year around but only in early spring and late winter.

Another interesting fact about Apple Guava is that it’s sweeter in autumn due to temperature changes. The tree can grow up to 32 feet, and fruits are 1.9 to 3 inches long.

The fruit is sweet with a crispier texture, no seeds, and has a peach-to-passion-fruit flavor.

Red Guava Tree (Red or Pink Fruit Flesh)

Other guava varieties have either red or pink flesh inside. Some of these include:

It also does well in USDA zones 9 to 11.

The Hong Kong Guava Tree can grow as tall as 40 feet. You can expect fruits at the start of the second year, which are available all year round.

The fruits are small, round with thin skin, and weigh between 0.3-0.5 pounds. Their skin is yellow when ripe with a pink sweet to sour flesh.

Barbie Pink

This is another easy-to-grow guava cultivar, even for novice gardeners. Native to Florida, this fruit does well in USDA zones 9b to 11.

It can be grown on pot or ground and will start producing fruits in the first year. Moreover, it bears fruits all year round.

You should have this plant in your backyard if you love homemade recipes. The fruit is perfect for making cakes and fruit ice cream.

The flesh is pink and sweet with tiny edible seeds.

Ruby Supreme Guava

Ruby Supreme Guava is a crossbreed of Ruby and Supreme cultivars. It is an easy-growing and fruiting variety.

It grows to a height of up to 20 feet and fruits all year round under the right growing conditions.

Ruby Supreme Guava loves heat and produces more fruits during the warmer and sunnier months. This plant is ideal if you are a novice gardener in a warmer area.

The fruits are yellow on the outside and sweet pink flesh on the inside.

Beaumont Guava

This guava variety is native to the United States. It is named after Beaumont, where it was first grown.

It is also grown in other South American, Central American, and Caribbean tropical regions.

It is fast-growing and a heavy producer, thus commercially grown. It grows as high as 5 to 16 feet and can still thrive at 27°F.

Beaumont Guava fruits are usually available during fall and early winter. The pink flesh has a sweet to mild sour taste.

They weigh about 0.5 pounds and contain many tiny seeds. For this reason, they are primarily grown for processing.

Its leaves and bark are used in the treatment of many ailments; the stem for ornamental purposes.

The fruits are round but slightly flattened at the bottom. When ripe, they have a sweet aroma, and the skin will turn red.

The inside of the fruit is red flesh with many little seeds but a very sweet flavor.

Other Types of Guava That Don’t Fall in the Tropical Guava Category

While guavas are typically tropical fruits, some varieties don’t exactly fit in that group as they can be grown in sub-tropical to warm temperate zones. Here are some of them:

The tree usually grows wild in native regions, but it’s also cultivated for edible and ornamental purposes.

Pineapple Guava Trees are evergreen shrubs and are categorized as small trees. They can attain 15-25 feet in height and begin bearing fruits about 3 to 4 years after planting.

The fruits are available for harvest in late summer through fall. They are small, with a diameter of 2 to 5 cm, and have an oblong, oval, to slightly pyriform shape.

Their skin is dull green to yellow-green and sometimes blushed with red-orange patches. The flesh is white and crisper than the true guava varieties.

An interesting fact about this species is that the skin doesn’t change color when ripe. The way to determine ripe Pineapple Guavas is usually they are softer than unripe guavas and will fall from the tree.

Pineapple Guavas have a sweet and floral taste with nuances of apples, strawberries, pineapples, and mint.

Moreover, Pineapple Guava flowers are also edible. They are sprinkled over porridge, grain bowls, guava juice, soups or garnish cocktails, smoothies, and iced teas.

Strawberry Guava Tree (Psidium cattleianum)

Strawberry Guava, a subspecies of Peruvian Guava, is native to Southern America. It’s also known as Cattley Guava, Cherry Guava (US), Waiawi (Hawaii), and Purple Guava.

This Guava Tree usually grows between 6 and 15 feet high. This tree is hardier than Common Guava and tolerates harsher growing conditions such as poor soils.

Although it prefers a warmer climate and full sun, the Strawberry Guava will tolerate temperatures as low as 22°F.

The tree blossoms in spring and starts fruiting in summer. However, the tree usually fruit throughout the year in its native region.

As fruits ripen, they usually change from green to pink, maroon, or red. The flesh is sweet with a strawberry flavor.

Like the Strawberry Guava, the Lemon Guava is not a true guava nor a lemon but belongs to the varieties of Psidium cattleyanum (yellow-fruited type).

Depending on the region, this tree has other names, like Yellow Cattley Guava or Yellow Cherry Guava.

The Lemon Guava takes slightly longer than most guavas to mature and start fruiting. A mature tree usually reaches a height of 6 to 15 feet but there are records of some trees reaching 40 feet in their native area.

The Lemon Guava fruit will have yellow skin and measure 1-1.5 inches in diameter and its skin is relatively thin, hence it gets bruised easily. For this reason, you should avoid buying them while they are fully ripe, and if you are transporting them for a longer distance.

The flesh inside has a sweet-sour flavor and smells like a mix of lemon and passion fruit.

Guava Tree Care

Under the right growing conditions, Guava Trees are easy to care for.

But like any other plant, there are some tricks that can maximize the tree health and the fruit you’ll harvest. .

How To Grow a Guava Tree

Guava Trees originate from tropical and subtropical regions, making them more suitable in similar conditions.

Below are the best-growing conditions for Guava Tree:

• Soil: While Guava Trees can tolerate many types of soils, these trees grow best in well-draining soils, with a pH of 4.5 to 7. If you prefer to plant them at a point, it’s advisable to do so in the usual potting mix.
• Light: If you’re wondering how much sunlight does Guava Tree need each day, guavas love sunlight and require at least 6 hours of daily exposure.
  That makes it hard to grow in extremely cold areas because they need the sun to flourish and bear fruits. People desiring to grow guavas, but dwell in cold areas, can do so indoors.
• Water: Watering a tree is essential, more so during its infant years. Environmental conditions such as drought can cause flowers and fruits to drop.
  However, watering needs for Guava Tree plants will depend on the season; reduce watering during winter.
• Fertilizer: Guava Trees are heavy feeders. If you don’t fertilize, don’t expect fruits.

Guava Tree Growing Zone: Where Do Guavas Grow?

Guava Fruit Trees thrive in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.²

Different varieties can be found in warmer areas of countries like India, Vietnam, China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, the Southern United States, and many more.

These types of trees thrive on any soil, provided it has good drainage.

The Guava Tree also requires full sun for flowering and fruiting.

US Growing Zones for Guava Tree (Where To Grow Guava)

As stated above, Guava Fruit Trees do not grow in every region. They are tropical and subtropical plants.

In the United States, they are commercially grown in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. But they also extend to California and Texas.

Farther north than this, Guava Trees wouldn’t survive outside because of the weather. They are frost-tender, especially young trees.

The ideal growing zones for guavas are USDA zone 9b to 11. But don’t be deterred if you are passionate about growing guavas outside this region—it’s possible to grow indoors.

Methods of Growing Guava Fruit

Now, if you love guavas and you prefer growing your own, there are various methods you can use.

Below are some planting tips for Guava trees.

Growing a Guava Tree From a Seed

Growing a Guava Tree from a seed is probably the most complex method, because they may take longer to germinate.³

Additionally, the plant takes longer to mature, fruiting is not assured, and the farmer might even end up with fruits entirely different from the initial guava fruit.

But one thing is for sure; the plant is magnificent.

When planting guava seeds, one must firmly extract them from the fruit before washing them thoroughly. If you don’t want to plant them now, you can dry them to preserve them for the future.

Below are tips to boost the chance of germination while reducing the duration taken:

• Boil the seeds for 5 minutes.
• Soak them in water for at least two weeks.
• Scrape the seeds with a knife tip or file.

How To Plant Guava Tree Seeds

Once the Guava Tree seeds are ready, it is ready to be planted. Here are the six steps you need to follow to plant a Guava Tree.

1. First, fill a reasonably-sized container with a soil-less seed-starting mixer
2. Sow the seeds
3. Use a water spray to mist the soil and continue doing so whenever the toppings feel dry
4. Use a plastic bag to cover the container for speedy germination
5. Position the container on a heat mat set at 75°F
6. With that, germination will start after 2 to 8 weeks

Growing a Guava Tree From a Softwood Cutting

If growing a Guava Tree from a seedling is not an option for you, then try growing a Guava Tree from a cutting.

1. Cut 4 to 6-inch softwood cutting from a Guava Tree. It must be young, healthy, flexible, and not snap when bent.
2. Remove all the leaves except the top two
3. Use a 1-gallon (4 L.) container for a maximum of four cuttings. You can use a smaller container if you are propagating fewer cuttings.
4. Prepare your potting mix and put it in the pot. Mist some water to ensure the mixture is moist and not wet
5. Dip the cut end in the rooting hormone and plant it in the moist potting mix
6. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag (the plastic bag should not touch the cutting). You can also cut a plastic soda bottle in half and place it over the container.
7. Place the pot in a sunny area. The temperatures should be between 75 to 85°F all the time. Use a heat mat to keep the potting mix warm when cold
8. New growth will appear in two to three weeks, indicating the cuttings have rooted. Remove the plastic bag
9. Water gently to keep the soil slightly moist

After your seeds have germinated or the cuttings have rooted, you must choose where to plant them.

(Image: Davidals²⁰)

Planting them outside on the ground is best if you live in tropical and subtropical regions. If you don’t have enough space, the only option is to plant them in a container.

If your area is cold, keep the tree indoors.

How To Grow Guava Tree in Container

This technique is also strategic for people who live in cold areas because you can shift them to a sheltered spot when it gets cold.

1. Select a container with at least 18 to 24 inches in height and width and with enough drainage holes
2. Put a mixture of organic compost and potting soil with a pH of 5 to 7
3. Proceed to plant the Guava Tree in the mixture and water it to achieve a moist soil and not wet
4. Expose the tree to full sunlight to facilitate germination
5. You should water the Guava Tree roughly three to four times a month with little water during winter.
6. Fertilizers should be added once every 90 days.

How To Grow Guavas Indoors

Growing guavas indoors still follow the guideline above.

A farmer should expose the tree to maximum sunlight for approximately six hours daily. The temperatures shouldn’t fall below 50°F because the tree may start losing leaves and fail to fruit.

Furthermore, deep watering accompanied by a daily dry-out period, as stated above, will accelerate germination. Continue watering only when the top 3 inches of the soil feels dry.

Guava Tree Growth Rate: How Big Does a Guava Tree Get?

When you have ideal conditions for guavas, growing the trees outside is the best way.

Even so, it’s essential to understand how far apart to plant Guava Tree, what are the companion plants for growing Guava Tree, and when to plant Guava Tree for the best yield.

On average, guavas usually grow 15 to 25 feet wide and tall. Therefore, allocate 5-8 m of space on each side.⁴

One common question a lot of people ask is, “How long it takes to grow Guava Tree?” It varies, but one thing is for sure: it requires a lot of patience.

To grow a tree from a seed, it usually takes one to three years to start fruiting, depending on growing conditions. The initial growth stages are generally very slow.

But do trees have genders? How does Guava Tree pollination happen?

These trees are usually self-pollinators but with the slight help of insects, such as some types of bees. When there are no bees, hand pollination is the most effective option.

You should add other types of trees and fruits, such as chives, citrus trees, borage, or comfrey, in a guava garden to complement them.

Guava Trees bloom in spring and throughout the year in tropical climates. But note that planting guavas should be done during spring.

This is because there’s adequate sunshine and rain to support the young plants during this period, and the soil is easy to dig.

Most essentially, do not perform mulching around trees to assist with water retention, enhance soil fertility, and shield the roots.

Guava Tree Fertilizer (How Much Is Needed?)

The Guava Tree is a heavy feeder. Therefore, it should be fed at least once a month when young, and every 90 days after that.

Fertilizers rich in magnesium, nitrogen, potash, and phosphorus help to enhance yields.

You should also spray urea before the blooming period and iron sulfate twice a year.

Keep in mind fertilizing can cause burns on stems and leaves. Water the plant after fertilizing to minimize this.

How To Prune Guava Tree

Pruning Guava Trees is essential because it keeps the plant compact; guavas are super invasive.

It helps keep the plant in its preferred shape and size. The tree also develops a strong structure and yields more fruits.

Pruning should be done at the beginning of each growing season and after harvesting.

There are three methods of pruning guavas:

• Thinning: You cut branches from their base. This method allows air and sunlight to reach the inner branches.
• Pinching: You remove shoots growing from the tips.
• Head back: Cutting specific branches to decrease their length. Effective for controlling the horizontal tree spread

What Happens to a Guava Tree Flower After Pruning?

What happens depends on the flowering stage.

(Image: Sarangib¹³)

Pruning is best done during dormancy. When done during the flowering period, you will cut flowers minimizing the overall yield.

Fruiting may also delay as the tree adjusts to the changes.

When Is Guava in Season?

Guava is usually an all-season fruit given ideal growing conditions.

Location, climatic conditions, fertilization, and pruning usually affect the guava season.

Here are examples of different regions where guava is in season.

• Hawaii: August to December, January to April
• Florida: August to October, February to March; some cultivars are harvested throughout the year.
• South Africa: May to October

Guava Fruit Tree Diseases and Pests (Guava Tree Disease Prevention)

Guava Trees and fruits are often attacked by pests and diseases.

The common pests of the Guava Tree include white flies, aphids, mealy bugs, moths, thrips, and scales.

Although you can use pesticides, using natural methods is better. Wrapping the fruits with covers is the most natural pest control for the Guava Tree.

Furthermore, Guava Trees are prone to diseases such as rust, anthracnose, leaf spot, alga, and red.

Below is how to stop Guava Tree disease:

• You can use copper spray, neem oil spray, or insecticidal soap to control these diseases.
• Rust is usually caused by adversely warm weather, and you can control it through adequate irrigation.

How Much Carbon Does Guava Tree Sequester?

The amount of carbon Guava Trees can sequester depends on factors such as environmental conditions, management practices, location, size, and age.

Usually, younger Guava Trees sequester less insignificant carbon than older and larger ones since they are yet to attain their maximum growth potential.

(Image: Jitendra1¹⁸)

A case study by CurrentScience incorporating 2-year to 10-year-old guava orchards showed that the average carbon sequestration was 2.76 kg – 41.98 kg.⁵

Guava Tree Facts

Nearly everyone loves eating guavas, but do we know enough about the fruit? Below are mind-blowing facts about them.

• Guava is often referred to as a super fruit due to its profound vitamin content.⁸
• Guava can be used to manufacture non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.
• Guava leaves tea contains medicinal properties and has traditionally been used to manage conditions like fever, diarrhea, and dysentery.
• Guava contains more vitamin C than oranges.
• Guava Trees usually live for approximately 40 years.
• Guavas have three times more proteins and four times more fiber compared to pineapples.
• Guava fruits have 100-500 miniature seeds.
• Guava contains more potassium than bananas.
• A few varieties of guava fruits are seedless.
• Guava contains more lycopene than tomatoes.
• You can cook or eat guavas raw.
• There are over 150 Guava species.
• Guavas are planted for food and decorative purposes.
• Guava can produce fruits from 2 to 8 years after planting.
• Guavas are invasive. Seed dispersal is facilitated by birds, animals, and people who consume guavas.

Guava Tree Symbolism (Guava Tree Leaves)

Guava leaves have been, for a long time, used for spiritual purposes through smudging.

The practice is highly associated with Filipinos who burn guava leaves to eradicate any negative forces before application.

(Image: PumpkinSky¹¹)

Others believe dreaming about guavas attracts fertility, growth, and abundance.⁹ Whether this tree symbolism is true or not, we cannot confirm.

While there are various types of Guava Trees, it can be challenging to differentiate them apart at first glance.

The good thing is that they aren’t challenging to grow in various conditions. Therefore, you can choose several types of Guava Trees for your garden.

In warmer climates, you can embrace a Guava Tree for its aesthetic foliage, fruits, and shade. Whether you grow them on the ground, in a pot, or indoors, you can anticipate a fruity reward after adhering to the above Guava Tree guide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guava Tree