Acca sellowiana

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana)
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
Years to fruit	N/A
Fruit and harvest	Usually autumn; green aromatic fruit drops when mature

Description

Feijoa is a cool-tolerant Myrtaceae shrub with aromatic green fruit and edible flowers. It prefers mild seasons, sun, drainage, and enough winter chill for reliable flowering.

The accepted genus, family, and order are Acca, Myrtaceae, and Myrtales.

Cultivation

Feijoa is a cool-subtropical South American shrub of upland grassland and woodland margins. It tolerates light frost, wants sun and drainage, and often fruits best where warm days are followed by cooler nights.

Well-drained acidic to neutral soil; mild subtropical climate. Provide airflow and avoid standing water unless the species is being grown in a deliberately wet habitat.

Soil and water

Well-drained acidic to neutral soil; mild subtropical climate; preserve native drainage and organic-matter conditions rather than treating all tropical fruit trees alike.

Sun and humidity

Most plants in this group prefer bright light; young trees may need shelter while roots establish. Humidity should be paired with airflow, not stagnant enclosure.

Seasonal changes

Flowering and harvest vary with local wet/dry or cool/warm cycles. Adjust irrigation to the species' native rhythm and protect warm-tropical plants during cool weather.

Propagation

Fresh seed variable; cuttings or grafting for named cultivars. Seedlings may vary in fruit quality and maturity; use grafting or other clonal methods when a named selection must be preserved.

Flowering, fruiting, and harvest

Usually autumn; green aromatic fruit drops when mature. Local climate, cultivar, rootstock, pollination, and rainfall can shift the calendar substantially.

Fruit and uses

The ripe fruit is eaten fresh and may be used in drinks, preserves, desserts, or regional savory preparations. Handle ripe fruit carefully because many tropical fruits soften rapidly after harvest.

Cultivars

New Zealand growers commonly group feijoa cultivars by early, mid-season, and late harvest. The current industry list includes newer selections such as Anatoki, Kaiteri, Kakariki, and Pounamu alongside established garden varieties such as Unique, Apollo, Mammoth, Triumph, and Wiki Tu.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties">NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> Self-fertile selections can set fruit alone, but a second cultivar flowering at the same time generally improves crop size and reliability.<ref name="tui-varieties">Tui: Feijoa variety favourites (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>

Cultivar	Season and fruit	Pollination, habit, or other notes
Anatoki	Very early; begins about 2–3 weeks before Unique; good-sized, smooth fruit with a sweet, mild flavor	Compact habit; needs a pollinator. A newer selection bred by Roy Hart.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" />
Kaiteri	Early and extends its crop; large, smooth fruit	Prolific, vigorous, and upright; needs a pollinator. Bred by Roy Hart.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Kakariki	Very early; exceptionally sweet, large fruit	Needs a pollinator; the name refers to green in Māori.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Pounamu	Early; medium-sized fruit with very dark skin, aromatic rich flavor, and a good sugar-to-acid balance	Good storage; a newer selection bred by Roy Hart.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" />
Unique	Very early; medium-sized fruit with smooth, soft, juicy flesh and mild aroma	Reliable self-fertility and good keeping quality; useful where only one tree can be planted.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Apollo	Mid-season; large fruit, sometimes uneven in shape, with sweet flavor and good eating quality	Delicate and bruises easily; vigorous, upright, spreading, and semi-self-fertile.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Den’s Choice	Mid-season; medium-large, very sweet, smooth, juicy fruit with mild aroma	Good keeper.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" />
Mammoth	Mid- to late-season; medium-sized, moderately soft and juicy, somewhat grainy fruit	A pollinator improves fruit size; Triumph is commonly recommended as a partner. The fruit can have empty internal locules.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Opal Star	Late; medium-sized fruit with smooth dark skin and a rich, aromatic flavor	Compact, slow-growing, bushy habit; useful for a home hedge.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Triumph	Late; medium-sized, firm-skinned fruit with sharp flavor; stores well	Slightly gritty, juicy flesh; a useful pollinator for Mammoth, but itself benefits from another cultivar.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />
Wiki™ Tu	Late; large, mild-flavored fruit with firm texture and good keeping quality	Dwarf-growing tree to about 2.5 m; partially self-fertile and more reliable with a nearby pollinator. Some fruit may contain hollow locules.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" /><ref name="tui-varieties" />

For a long harvest, combine at least one early, one mid-season, and one late cultivar. The exact calendar varies by region, crop load, and season; cultivar names and availability also differ between commercial production and home-garden nurseries. Named cultivars should be propagated clonally when their fruit, harvest timing, or pollination traits need to be preserved. Seedlings are useful pollinizers but are genetically variable and should not be assumed to reproduce the parent cultivar.

Photos

Field view or fruit detail of Acca sellowiana. Wikimedia Commons file page.

References

• Useful Tropical Plants: Acca sellowiana
• NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties
• Tui: Feijoa variety favourites

Image credits

• Acca sellowiana Fruit MHNT Fronton.jpg — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.
• Feijoa sellowiana .jpg — Wikimedia Commons file page; creator and license are recorded on the source page.