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
Years to fruit	N/A
Fruit and harvest	Usually autumn; green aromatic fruit drops when mature

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; this article follows Acca sellowiana as the accepted title.

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 or fruit flies 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

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.^[2] Self-fertile selections can set fruit alone, but a second cultivar flowering at the same time generally improves crop size and reliability.^[3]

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.[2]
Kaiteri	Early and extends its crop; large, smooth fruit	Prolific, vigorous, and upright; needs a pollinator. Bred by Roy Hart.[2][3]
Kakariki	Very early; exceptionally sweet, large fruit	Needs a pollinator; the name refers to green in Māori.[2][3]
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.[2]
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.[2][3]
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.[2][3]
Den’s Choice	Mid-season; medium-large, very sweet, smooth, juicy fruit with mild aroma	Good keeper.[2]
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.[2][3]
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.[2][3]
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.[2][3]
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.[2][3]

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

Leaves and flowers of Acca sellowiana in Fronton, France.

References

• North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Feijoa
• Useful Tropical Plants: Acca sellowiana
• NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties
• Tui: Feijoa variety favourites

1. [1] North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Feijoa (accessed 24 August 2026).
2. [2] NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties (accessed 24 August 2026).
3. [3] Tui: Feijoa variety favourites (accessed 24 August 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.