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Acca sellowiana - (O.Berg.)Burret.

Common Name Feijoa, Pineapple Guava
Family Myrtaceae
USDA hardiness 8-11
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Tropical and sub-tropical highlands below 1,000 metres.
Range S. America - Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Acca sellowiana Feijoa, Pineapple Guava


(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010
Acca sellowiana Feijoa, Pineapple Guava
(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded, Spreading or Horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Acca sellowiana is an evergreen Shrub growing to 3 m (9ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July, and the seeds ripen from October to January. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Acca sellowiana. Orthostemon sellowianus.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Hedge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit
Edible Uses:

Fruit - raw or cooked[3, 11, 183]. A delicious aromatic taste, somewhat like a cross between a pineapple and a strawberry[183]. The fruit is best eaten raw but it can also be made into pies, cakes, puddings, jams, jellies etc[183]. Fruits can suffer damage from autumn frosts, though the flavour develops better at low temperatures[200]. The fruit is up to 7.5cm long[200]. Flowers - raw[3, 160, 166]. The petals are sweet, crisp and delicious, they taste more like a fruit than many fruits[K]. They should be harvested just after they begin to soften[183] (not sure that I agree with this last sentence[K])

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Hedge  Hedge

Although not very cold hardy in Britain, it resists maritime exposure and can be grown as a shelter hedge in mild maritime areas[200, K].

Special Uses

Hedge  Hedge

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Pest tolerant, Hedge, Massing, Screen, Standard, Seashore. Prefers a light loamy well-drained soil[11, 200], requiring a warm sunny position[182]. Prefers light shade[202]. Succeeds in any reasonably good soil, even chalk[1, 182]. Dislikes extreme alkalinity[202]. Tolerates drought and salt winds[200]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain. It grows very well on a west-facing wall at Kew where it often produces fruits, though these do not always ripen[K]. A very good crop of fruit was produced on this plant after the cool summer of 1998, these were not quite ripe at the end of October, but they ripened in storage[K]. Plants have also succeeded in Norfolk and in Scotland when grown against a sunny wall, though some extra protection might be required in very cold winters[219]. Succeeds as a free-standing shrub in Cornwall[1, 59]. Tolerates temperatures down to between -12 and -15°c[184] when the plant is fully dormant[200]. Occasionally, and more frequently, being cultivated for its edible fruit in sub-tropical zones[3, 61], there are some named varieties[183]. 'Apollo' and 'Mammoth' are cultivars noted for their fruiting propensity[182]. 'Smith' fruits well in the Pacific Northwest and so might be suitable for the mild areas of Britain[183, K]. Fruits only ripen outdoors in Britain in hot summers[3]. Plants rarely set fruit in Britain, perhaps they are self-sterile[11]. Some cultivars are self-fertile whilst others require cross-pollination[183]. Special Features:Not North American native, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Rinse the seed before sowing to ensure there is no fruit flesh remaining since this can inhibit germination. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 6 weeks at 15°c[3]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots as soon as they are large enough to handle. Grow on for at least the first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring or early summer after the last expected frosts. Give the plants some protection for their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 7 cm with a heel, July/August in a frame. Slow to root[K], but you eventually get a good percentage take[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Goiaba-do-campo, Goiaba serrana, Goiaba verde, Goiabo abacaxi, Goiabeira-serrana, Guayaba chilena, Guayabo chico, Guayabo grande, Jambu nanas,

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Brazil (Minas Gerais (south), Paraná, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, São Paulo), Argentina (Misiones), Paraguay, Uruguay

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(O.Berg.)Burret.

Botanical References

11200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Prince Amdo   Wed Mar 20 13:53:47 2002

Link: set our tribal forests free landreform/tribal forests/permaculture

Ivan Viehoff   Wed Mar 12 15:14:58 2003

See attached link which gives the self fertility/sterility of different cultivars. Hand pollination may be required.

Link: California Rare Fruit Growers Fact sheet on Feijoa varieties

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Subject : Acca sellowiana  
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