Acca sellowiana (Feijoa, Pineapple Guava

Slow growing, evergreen shrub or tree from the genus Myrtaceae, which grows 13 to 17 feet (4 to 5 m) tall and gets one crown with the diameter of approx. 13 to 17 feet (4 to 5 m). The bark is light gray. The to 2 inches (5 cm) long leaves are dark green,  smooth, thick and elliptic, and have one whitish felted underside.

The blossoms are pink colored and edible, have 5 blossom husks and many red stamens. The pollination is made by bees, bats or birds.

The fruits become by ripening greenish yellow, plum-sized and egg-shaped, they are looking like small and pear-shaped avocados.. The pulp is white and like the of the pear. The fruits are very fragant and taste like one mixture of pineapple and strawberry when fully ripen, light sourish and refreshing.

The pineapple guava is originated to Southern Brazil, Northern Argentinia, Western Paraguay and Uruguay, where it grows in the mountains. Today it is also grown in Eurasia, of all in Central Asia. Because it is one modest plant, it is also grown in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Also in Sicily it is grown since newer time with success, in New Zealand it is grown as garden plant. The fruits are widely available, they are used for juice, wine or for yoghurt.

It is even outplantable in the milder regions of Germany and can hibernate outdoors there, but it need one well sheltered place and one winter protection. But it does survive only milder winters. If it should hibernate in Germany outdoors for long time, it needs one winter protection with heating cables regulated by thermostat. But on Heligoland it might be hardy at one place which is very well sheltered against the wind. In the Switzerland it does survive at sheltered places in the Ticino.

We have outplanted 2 specimens on December, 3rd, 2010.

Recently outplanted Acca sellowiana on Dec., 3rd, 2010 in our

garden.

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Created by Joachim Jaeck on April, 2nd, 2011