Tropical Plant "Guava"
Psidium guajava

Characteristics - The guava is extensively cultivated throughout the country, in both domestic and commercial orchards. It occurs sub-spontaneously and is native to most of Brazil. It is a small tree, semi-deciduous, with crooked trunk and branches, smooth, peeling bark, 3-6 m tall, new branches are thick, quadrangular and pubescent. Leaves bicolored, chartaceous, glabrate on the upper surface, except over the main nerve, 8-12 cm long, with 12-18 pairs of highly visible nerves. Flowers generally solitary, form in the spring. The fruits are berries, gobose or piriform, with a succulent, aromatic pulp, the color varies by cultivar, the flavor is acidic-sweet; ripening occurs in the summer. The following photos show the main cultivars grown in Brazil; shown on this page is guava 'Yonemura'.

Uses - The fruits are consumed in their natural state, as juices, compotes, sweets or jellies.

Propagation - Better by vegetative means.