Feijoa sellowiana
Feijoa sellowiana · Myrtaceae
📷 Didier Descouens · CC BY-SA 4.0
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around feijoa sellowiana and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, greyish-green
- Flowering
- May to June, spectacular red and white flowers
- Mature size
- 2.5 m in height, bushy habit
- Fruits
- Edible, oval-shaped, tangy tropical flavor
- Growth
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- From -8°C onwards (warm zones recommended)
- Origin
- Uruguay and southern Brazil
- Family
- Myrtaceae
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Mild climate preferred. Install it on the southwest side, sheltered from north winds.
The common mistake
Planting it in unprotected exposure where regular frosts occur: it survives -5°C but suffers from temperature fluctuations.
The pro's trick
Plant two specimens nearby for cross-pollination: fruit production (edible fruits) improves or improves dramatically.
Care
Sunlight
Place your feijoa in full sun for optimal fruiting. It tolerates partial light shade, but fears overly shaded spots that slow growth and reduce flowering. Protect it from strong winds that can damage delicate foliage.
Watering
Water regularly during the growing season, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the feijoa tolerates dry periods. Increase watering in summer; reduce gradually in winter. Excess water promotes fungal diseases.
Soil
The feijoa appreciates well-draining soil, slightly acidic to neutral. Enrich the planting soil with compost or organic matter. Avoid heavy, overly chalky soils that can cause iron deficiency.
Fertilizer
Apply balanced fertilizer in spring and early summer to promote flowering and fruiting. Reduce applications in autumn and winter. A magnesium boost can improve fruit quality.
Pruning
Prune lightly after flowering to maintain a compact shape and encourage branching. Remove dead or diseased branches. Avoid severe pruning, which would delay fruiting.
Diseases and pests
The feijoa fears powdery mildew in excessively humid conditions. Watch for mealybugs and spider mites indoors or in greenhouses. Ensure good air circulation and avoid foliar watering to prevent fungal diseases.
Did you know?
The feijoa is named after the Brazilian botanist João da Silva Feijoa and was introduced to Europe in the 19th century via New Zealand, becoming popular in the Mediterranean. Its spectacular flowers, with white petals and bright red stamens, attract pollinators and are themselves edible, with a slightly sweet flavor.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Blue gumEucalyptus globulus
- MyrtleMyrtus communis
- MānukaLeptospermum scoparium
- Strawberry guavaPsidium cattleianum
- Snow gumEucalyptus pauciflora
- Woolly TeatreeLeptospermum lanigerum
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.