Description
Glossy evergreen foliage and sweet-tart fruit
The strawberry guava shrub combines glossy evergreen leaves with bright red fruit that has a pleasantly sweet-tart flavor. The fruit is delicious eaten fresh and works well in jellies, preserves, and juice.
Its dense foliage provides year-round structure in warm climates, making it useful as a specimen, informal hedge, or edible screen. Where winters are too cold for planting in the ground, it grows well in a large container that can be moved to a protected, frost-free location.
Planting & Care
1. Planting: Plant or repot within 4 weeks of arrival. Choose full sun to light shade and fertile, well-draining soil. For containers, use a pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix; protect the plant from freezing temperatures.
2. Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water when the top few inches of soil feel dry, keeping moisture more consistent during flowering and fruit development.
3. Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter or after fruiting to maintain the desired size and shape. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches and any unwanted shoots from the base.
4. Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer formulated for fruiting shrubs in spring and again in early summer. Container-grown plants may benefit from lighter, more frequent feeding according to the product label.