Native & adapted

Guava

Psidium guajava

Also known as Common guava · Apple guava · Guayaba · Ổi

One of the easiest tropical fruits for Phoenix. It grows fast, takes full sun once established, fruits within a year or two and makes a good nurse tree for more delicate tropicals.

EdibleFruitingFast growingHeat tolerantEvergreen

Landscape layersLower canopy

Mature size

10–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b

Plant spacing

10–12 ft from other trees

Frost

Leaves damaged near 30°F; plants freeze back below about 27°F and regrow from the base.

Special categories

EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

USDA 9b–11; damaged below about 28°F

Winter chill

None

Typical harvest

Main crop late summer through early winter.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Tolerates many soils, including alkaline ground. Add compost and chelated iron if leaves yellow.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

Sunny spot with some frost protection; a south or east wall is ideal.

Cold hardiness

Cover in a hard freeze below 28°F

Young trees can be killed at 27 to 28°F, while mature trees take short dips to 25 to 26°F. Cover young trees on frost nights, and cover everything when a hard freeze is forecast.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 28°F

Heat tolerance

Needs afternoon shade

No west exposures in Phoenix. It's damaged by long stretches above about 115°F, so the east or southeast side of a building is best.

Sources:

ask.ifas.ufl.edu , asu.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Guava grow at your Arizona property?

Fruit flies and birds love ripe guavas; pick when the skin softens and the smell turns sweet.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full sun once established; afternoon shade helps the first summer.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate. Deep water once or twice a week in summer.

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fertile.

Harvest

How to use it

Fresh, juiced, or cooked into paste, jam and pastries. Leaves are brewed as tea.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Guava thrive

1
Prune after harvest to keep it bushy and within reach.
2
Feed every 6 to 8 weeks from spring to late summer.
3
Cover on frost nights for the first few winters; established plants resprout after freezes.
4
Pick up dropped fruit to avoid pests.

Read the horticultural reference ↗