Cherry Guava – Pineapple;Guisaro

Plant family: Myrtaceae

Plant origin: Brazil

Fruit description: The Guisaro is round and the size of a cherry. The edible skin is thick. Green fruit becomes golden when ripe, then it is fragrant. There are several small seeds within the sweet flesh.

Flowers: The flowers are white, with five petals and lots of fluffy stamens.

Growing conditions: The Guisaro likes well-drained soil and a warm sunny position. It grows to a height of 2 metres. It grows well and fruits in a pot. It is quite frost tolerant. The leaves are long, oval, olive green and tough. You could plant them as an attractive fruiting hedge. It grows in temperate, tropical or sub-tropical climates.

Uses: Guisaro fruit are eaten fresh, or used to make jams and juices. As the fruit is high in pectin it can be mixed with other fruits to help jam set. They can be sliced and eaten as a savoury with chilli or vinegar. The wood is strong and used for the handles of tools. The bark is rich in tannin, used for curing hides to make leather. The wood and leaves are fragrant and can be used in smoking food.

Medicinal uses: Guisaro fruit are very rich in vitamins A and C and an excellent source of dietary fibre as well as folic acid and minerals. They are a good anti-oxidant. In Brazil, the bark and roots were traditionally used to make medicine to treat urinary diseases and diarrhoea.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Many Crops are produced throughout the year.

Plant relatives There are many other Guava species, including Hawaiian Guava, Indian Guava, Thai White Guava, Feijoa, Red Cherry Guava, Yellow Cherry Guava.

Special features:

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 140mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 1.5 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 2 metres high by 1.5 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 140mm