Acca sellowiana

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana)
Fruits of Acca sellowiana photographed in Fronton, France.
Scientific name	Acca sellowiana
Genus	Acca
Family	Myrtaceae
Order	Myrtales
Growth and size	Evergreen shrub or small tree; 3–7 m
Climate and site	Well-drained acidic to neutral soil; mild subtropical climate
Propagation	Fresh seed variable; cuttings or grafting for named cultivars
Fruit and harvest	Usually autumn; green aromatic fruit drops when mature

Acca sellowiana is the accepted scientific name for feijoa, an evergreen shrub or small tree in the myrtle family.

Description

Feijoa is an evergreen perennial shrub or small tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae), native to South America. The foliage is silvery, the flowers are edible, and the aromatic green fruit is harvested as a fresh fruit. In warm climates it may reach about 3–4.6 m with a similar spread; North Carolina Extension reports a smaller 1.5–1.8 m garden size under its conditions.^[1]

The accepted genus, family, and order are Acca, Myrtaceae, and Myrtales. Feijoa sellowiana is a widely encountered former name; the accepted title is Acca sellowiana.

Cultivation

Feijoa flowers and fruits best in full sun, although established plants tolerate light shade. Consistent soil moisture is important for fruit quality, but the root zone should remain well drained. In exposed sites, the evergreen shrub can also serve as a specimen, hedge, or container plant.[1]

Soil and water

Use moist, well-drained soil and water deeply and regularly while fruit is developing. North Carolina Extension reports tolerance of both sandy and heavy-clay soils, but shallow roots benefit from mulch and from avoiding prolonged saturation.[1] The source does not establish a single universal soil pH, so the summary's acidic-to-neutral wording should not be read as a strict pH requirement.

Sun and humidity

Full sun gives the best flowering and fruiting; light shade is tolerated. The plant's evergreen foliage and dense habit can suit humid gardens, but airflow remains useful where scale occur. Humidity alone is not a substitute for drainage or regular root-zone moisture management.[1]

Seasonal changes

Feijoa remains evergreen rather than entering a normal leafless dormancy. Cultivar harvest timing is usefully described as early, mid-season, or late in the New Zealand industry guide, but the local calendar depends on climate and selection. Keep moisture more consistent during flowering and fruit development; do not infer a universal harvest month from the New Zealand classification.^[2]

Propagation

Fresh seed separated from ripe fruit is the most reliable general method reported by North Carolina Extension, but seedlings are genetically variable. Summer cuttings can be rooted when propagating a named cultivar, preserving a selection more faithfully than seed.[1]

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

The edible flowers are followed by aromatic green fruit. Harvest maturity is commonly judged by fruit softening or natural drop; handle fallen or fully ripe fruit carefully because quality declines after overripening. Cultivar, climate, crop load, and pollination can shift the harvest period, so the NZFGA early/mid/late grouping is more transferable than a single calendar date.[2]

Fruit and uses

Ripe feijoa fruit is eaten fresh, while the flowers are also edible. The plant is grown both as a fruit crop and as an ornamental evergreen shrub; North Carolina Extension also lists specimen, edible-garden, container, and privacy uses.[1]

Cultivars and selections

Mainstream New Zealand varieties

New Zealand industry sources group feijoa cultivars as early, mid-season, or late; actual timing varies with region, climate, variety, and season, so these are not fixed calendar dates. The comparison below focuses on established and widely discussed selections rather than every nursery listing. Availability, plant-protection status, and recommended pollinizer combinations can change, especially outside New Zealand.^[2][4] A self-fertile selection may set fruit alone, but a second cultivar flowering at the same time generally improves crop size and reliability.^[3]

Cultivar	Relative season	Fruit, flavor, and keeping	Tree, pollination, or practical note
Kakariki	Very early	Large fruit with an exceptionally sweet flavor	Needs a second flowering cultivar; Waimea places it about four weeks before Unique, an approximate regional comparison.[4]
Kaiteri	Early	Large, smooth fruit; the crop begins before Unique and extends longer	Prolific, vigorous, and upright; needs a second flowering cultivar. Bred by Roy Hart.[2][3]
Anatoki	Very early	Good-sized, smooth fruit with a sweet, mild flavor	Compact habit; needs a second flowering cultivar. Reported to begin about 2–3 weeks before Unique.[2][4]
Unique	Very early to early	Medium to large fruit; Waimea describes rough skin with smooth, soft, juicy, mildly aromatic flesh; good keeping, especially when harvested a little early	The most consistently self-fertile selection in the cited industry guidance, but cross-pollination can still improve cropping. Upright to spreading with moderately weak branches.[2][3][4]
Pounamu	Early	Medium fruit with very dark green skin, aromatic rich flavor, and a good sugar-to-acid balance; stores well	Upright to spreading with moderate vigor. A useful early, dark-skinned selection; availability claims are time-sensitive.[2][4]
Apollo	Early-mid to mid/late, depending on source and region	Large, sweet fruit with good eating quality; some fruit is uneven	Vigorous, upright to spreading, and described as semi-self-fertile. The fruit is delicate and bruises easily, so handle it carefully.[2][3][4]
Kakapo	Mid-season	NZFGA describes medium fruit; Waimea describes medium-to-large fruit; blocky-oval form, mild sweet refreshing flavor, and good shelf life/storage	Naturally open tree habit that can make picking easier. Pollination requirements are not specified in the cited descriptions.[2][4]
Den’s Choice	Mid-season	Medium-large, very sweet, smooth, juicy fruit with mild aroma; good keeper	A useful mid-season comparison, but no cultivar-specific pollination or habit claim is established here.[2][5]
Mammoth	Mid-late	Medium fruit; moderately soft and juicy with a somewhat grainy texture	A second flowering cultivar can improve fruit size; Triumph is commonly recommended as a partner. NZFGA notes a high incidence of empty internal locules in its description.[2][3]
Opal Star	Waimea places it mid-season; NZFGA and Tui place it late	Medium to medium-large, smooth dark-green fruit with aromatic, juicy flesh; good storage is reported	Compact, slow-growing, bushy habit suitable for a home garden or hedge; heavy crops may need thinning. Do not treat an isolated hollow-center report as a universal cultivar trait.[2][4][3]
Triumph	Late	Medium to large oval fruit; firm skin, sharp or excellent flavor, soft juicy flesh that can be slightly gritty; stores and handles well	Strongly vigorous, especially when young. A useful second flowering cultivar for Mammoth, while Triumph itself benefits from another flowering cultivar.[2][3][4]
Wiki Tu (Anilvinkoru)	Mid-late to late	Very large fruit, reported up to about 300 g; mild, meaty, firm flesh with good keeping and handling	Dwarf or slow-growing tree to about 2.5 m, suitable for dense planting. Self-fertility is conditional and region-dependent; a nearby cultivar is still the safer choice. NZFGA and Waimea note that some fruit may have hollow locules.[2][3][4]

For a long harvest, combine at least one early, one mid-season, and one late cultivar whose flowering overlaps. In New Zealand, commercial harvest is generally earlier in warmer northern districts and later in cooler districts; the same cultivar can therefore shift relative to its neighbors from one region to another.^[4]

Availability note: Anatoki, Kaiteri, and Pounamu are identified as newer or protected selections in the cited New Zealand industry material, while Opal Star and Wiki Tu also carry time-sensitive protection or regional-availability qualifiers. Check current nursery stock and legal status before treating any selection as locally available.^[2][4]

Photos

References

• ↑ [1] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Feijoa (accessed 24 August 2026).

• ↑ [2] NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties (accessed 24 August 2026).

• ↑ [3] Tui: Feijoa variety favourites (accessed 24 August 2026).

• ↑ [4] Waimea Nurseries: Feijoa Varieties for Fruit Growers (accessed 4 October 2026).

• ↑ [5] NZ Life & Leisure: 16 feijoa varieties to plant for your ideal harvest time (accessed 4 October 2026).

Image credits

• Acca sellowiana Fruit MHNT Fronton.jpg — Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0; fruits photographed in Fronton, Haute-Garonne, France.
• Feijoa sellowiana .jpg — Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0; leaves and flowers photographed in Fronton, Haute-Garonne, France.