Feijoa
Acca sellowiana
Feijoa is an evergreen shrub with grey-green leaves, edible red-and-white flowers and aromatic green fruit tasting of pineapple, guava and mint. It is hardy, drought-tolerant and popular in New Zealand and mild climates.
Photo: Gabriel Collares · CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water regularly while fruit develops; tolerates drought otherwise.
Soil
Well-drained soil; pH 5.5–7.0.
Temperature and humidity
-10–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed, stem cuttings, grafting
Shape after harvest; it also makes a good hedge.
The fruit and flower petals are safe to eat.
Top Cultivation Tips
Plant two varieties for better crops.
Collect fruit from the ground daily.
Scoop out the pulp with a spoon.
Tolerates salty coastal winds.
Common problems
Fruit flies
Flies that lay eggs inside ripening fruit; the maggots rot the fruit from within.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →DiseaseSooty mould
A black, powdery fungal coating that grows on the sticky honeydew left by sap-sucking insects, blocking light from leaves.
How to treat it →
