Strawberry Guava Tree Live Plant – Psidium Cattleyanum 5-9 Inch Tall Starter

Overview

Embark on a delightful gardening journey with the strawberry guava tree live plant, scientifically known as Psidium cattleyanum. This charming and productive tree, also commonly referred to as Cattley guava or cherry guava plant, is a fantastic choice for both seasoned gardeners and enthusiastic beginners alike. Originating from Brazil, the strawberry guava is celebrated for its delectable, small, red or yellow fruits that boast a sweet, slightly tart flavor reminiscent of strawberries, hence its popular common name. This versatile plant can be grown as an upright, multi-branched evergreen shrub or a small tree, adding a tropical flair and abundant harvest to your garden or patio. Its attractive foliage and fragrant white flowers contribute to its appeal as an ornamental as well as a fruiting plant, making it a valuable addition to any edible landscape plant.

Our strawberry guava tree live plant offers the unique opportunity to cultivate your own supply of this exotic and nutritious fruit. Known for its adaptability, this plant thrives in a variety of conditions, making it a robust choice for many climates. Whether you’re looking to enhance your garden’s biodiversity or simply enjoy fresh, homegrown fruit, the strawberry guava is an excellent investment. The ease of Psidium cattleyanum care further solidifies its position as a top pick for fruit tree enthusiasts.

Key Benefits

Bringing a strawberry guava tree live plant into your home or garden offers numerous advantages, from its delicious fruit to its aesthetic appeal and ease of maintenance. It’s a plant that truly gives back, providing both beauty and bounty.

• Delicious, Nutritious Fruit: The primary benefit is undoubtedly the sweet and tangy fruits. Rich in vitamins C and A, these small guavas are perfect for fresh eating, making jams, jellies, juices, or desserts. The flavor is a delightful blend of strawberry and passion fruit.
• Attractive Evergreen Foliage: The glossy, dark green leaves remain vibrant throughout the year, providing continuous visual interest and a lush backdrop in your garden. The foliage also has a pleasant aromatic quality when crushed.
• Adaptable and Hardy: This plant is remarkably resilient, tolerating various soil types and being cold-hardy down to USDA Zone 9B. This makes grow strawberry guava a feasible option for many regions.
• Ornamental Value: Beyond its fruit, the strawberry guava features beautiful white flowers with numerous stamens, which are attractive to pollinators. Its compact growth habit makes it suitable for smaller gardens or container planting.
• Easy to Maintain: With its moderate growth rate and relatively simple care requirements, the strawberry guava tree live plant is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a productive yet low-maintenance fruiting tree.
• Versatile Growth Habit: It can be pruned and maintained as a shrub or allowed to grow into a small tree, offering flexibility in how you incorporate it into your landscape design. This versatility is key for an edible landscape plant.
• Supports Pollinators: The fragrant white flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, contributing to a healthy garden ecosystem.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Ensuring the success of your strawberry guava tree live plant involves understanding its basic needs for sunlight, water, and soil. This plant is known for its resilience, but providing optimal conditions will lead to a more vigorous plant and a more abundant harvest. For successful Psidium cattleyanum care, start by choosing the right location.

Sunlight Requirements: The strawberry guava tree live plant thrives in a full to partial sun location. This means it should receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day for optimal growth and fruit production. While it can tolerate some shade, too little sun may result in fewer fruits and leggy growth. If planting indoors, place it near a south-facing window or under grow lights to ensure it gets adequate light.

Watering Schedule and Soil Moisture: Strawberry guava prefers consistently moist soil, especially when young and during fruiting periods. Water deeply when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot. Good drainage is crucial. Once established, the plant becomes more drought-tolerant but will perform best with regular watering. During hot, dry spells, increase watering frequency. Proper watering is a cornerstone of how to grow strawberry guava successfully.

Soil Type and Drainage: This plant is adaptable to various soil types but prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.0-7.0). A rich, loamy soil amended with organic matter will provide the best environment for healthy root development. If planting in a container, use a high-quality potting mix with good drainage. Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent water accumulation.

Temperature Range and USDA Hardiness Zone: The strawberry guava is cold-hardy for a tropical fruit. It can tolerate temperatures down to about 20-25°F (-4 to -7°C) and is fine in USDA Zone 9B or anywhere in Zone 10. In colder zones, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter or treated as an annual. Protect young plants from frost.

Fertilization: Fertilize your strawberry guava tree live plant during the growing season (spring through fall) with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or an organic fruit tree fertilizer. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Reduce or stop fertilizing during the dormant winter months. A healthy feeding schedule supports robust growth and fruit development for your cherry guava plant.

Pruning: Prune to shape the plant, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage fruit production. Pruning can also help maintain its size if you wish to keep it as a shrub. The best time to prune is after the fruiting season. Regular pruning also helps improve air circulation within the plant, reducing the risk of fungal issues.

Size & Details

You will receive a healthy strawberry guava tree live plant, a vigorous starter plant typically measuring 5-9 inches tall. These young plants are well-rooted and ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. While currently a starter, the strawberry guava is a moderate grower and, if left unpruned in tree form, can eventually reach a height of up to 20 feet with a smooth trunk. Its leaves are oblong, typically 2-4 inches long, dark green, and aromatic. The flowers are white, about 1 inch long, featuring 4-5 petals and numerous stamens, adding to its visual appeal before fruiting begins. This plant ships without a pot, allowing for easier and more sustainable transport, and it should be planted as soon as possible upon arrival.

The strawberry guava tree live plant will begin to produce fruit within a few years under ideal growing conditions, offering a rewarding harvest of sweet, cherry-like guavas. Its adaptability makes it an excellent choice for various climates, especially where you can provide its preferred full to partial sun exposure. This edible landscape plant is designed to bring both beauty and bounty to your outdoor space or a large indoor container.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This strawberry guava tree live plant is a starter at 5-9 inches tall. If grown as a tree and left unpruned, it can eventually reach up to 20 feet tall. However, it can also be maintained as a smaller shrub through regular pruning.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The strawberry guava can be grown both indoors and outdoors. It thrives outdoors in USDA Zones 9B-11. In colder climates, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter months, making it a versatile edible landscape plant.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This plant prefers full to partial sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. Adequate light is crucial for healthy growth and prolific fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the strawberry guava is considered relatively easy to care for, especially for a fruiting tree. Its resilience and adaptability contribute to straightforward Psidium cattleyanum care, making it suitable for gardeners of varying experience levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive a well-rooted, healthy starter plant that is 5-9 inches tall. It will be shipped without a pot to ensure safe and efficient transport, ready for you to plant upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: Typically, a young strawberry guava tree live plant will start producing fruit within 2-3 years after planting, given optimal growing conditions and proper care.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: This plant is cold hardy to USDA Zone 9B and Zone 10. If you are in a colder zone, it is recommended to grow the cherry guava plant in a container so it can be moved indoors during periods of frost.
• Q: What type of soil is best for this plant? A: The strawberry guava prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Amending your soil with organic matter will create an ideal growing environment for this plant.
• Q: Can I grow strawberry guava in a pot? A: Absolutely! Growing the strawberry guava tree live plant in a large pot is an excellent option, especially for those in colder climates or with limited garden space. Ensure the pot has good drainage.
• Q: What are the fruits like? A: The fruits are small, round, and typically red or yellow when ripe. They have a sweet and tangy flavor, often described as a mix between strawberry and passion fruit. Perfect for fresh eating or culinary uses.