Acca sellowiana: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:24, 4 August 2026

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana; also known as feijoa) is a Myrtaceae fruit plant grown for its fruit. The accepted scientific name is used as the canonical page title.

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana)
Acca sellowiana fruit, flower, or plant habit. Wikimedia Commons file page.
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

Identification and description[edit | edit source]

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.

Growing[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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

Fruit and uses[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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.

Commentary[edit | edit source]

Growers are welcome to share observations on the talk page, including climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering, fruiting, and growing conditions.

Photos[edit | edit source]

The images above show documented fruit, flower, or plant-habit views. See the individual Commons file pages in the image credits for authorship and license details.

Sources[edit | edit source]

Image credits[edit | edit source]

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.

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 == Cultivars ==
-Feijoa cultivars differ in fruit size, skin texture, ripening time, growth habit, and pollination behavior. Self-fertile selections can set fruit alone, but planting a second compatible cultivar or a seedling commonly improves crop size and consistency.<ref name="ogw-guide">[https://onegreenworld.com/pineapple-guava-growing-guide/ One Green World: Pineapple Guava Growing Guide] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+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">[https://www.feijoa.org.nz/resources/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">[https://tuigarden.co.nz/inspiration-hub/ideas-and-inspiration/feijoa-variety-favourites/ Tui: Feijoa variety favourites] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
 {| class="wikitable"
-! Cultivar !! Fruit and season !! Pollination and plant notes
+! Cultivar !! Season and fruit !! Pollination, habit, or other notes
 |-
-| '''Coolidge''' || Very large, dark-green, tasty fruit; early ripening || Self-fertile; described by One Green World as a productive choice for Northwest gardens.<ref name="ogw-guide" />
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Nikita''' || Among the earliest to ripen; flavorful fruit || Compact growth habit; One Green World lists it as a useful early selection.<ref name="ogw-guide" />
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Apollo''' || Medium to large oval fruit; smooth, thin, light-green skin with a blue-green bloom; well-developed, slightly gritty pulp; mid- to late-season || Upright, spreading, vigorous, and productive; self-fertile and useful as a pollinator for other varieties.<ref name="ogw-apollo">[https://onegreenworld.com/product/apollo-pineapple-guava/ One Green World: Apollo Pineapple Guava] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Mammoth''' || Very large fruit—the largest in One Green World’s listed collection; sweet and flavorful; early ripening || Plant with another variety or seedling for cross-pollination.<ref name="ogw-mammoth">[https://onegreenworld.com/product/mammoth-pineapple-guava/ One Green World: Mammoth Pineapple Guava] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Robert''' || Large, flavorful fruit; notable flowering || Self-fertile New Zealand selection with a compact growth habit.<ref name="ogw-guide" />
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Unique''' || Smaller fruit than some newer selections, but exceptionally sweet and flavorful || Completely self-fertile; a practical choice where only one plant can be grown.<ref name="ogw-unique">[https://onegreenworld.com/product/unique-pineapple-guava/ One Green World: Unique Pineapple Guava] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+| '''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" />
 |-
-| '''Waingaro™''' || Large fruit with thin skin and a sweet, lightly tart flavor; abundant crops ripening from late October into November || New Zealand selection; partially self-fertile according to the product listing, so a second variety is recommended for heavier crops.<ref name="ogw-waingaro">[https://onegreenworld.com/product/waingaro-pineapple-guava/ One Green World: Waingaro Pineapple Guava] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+| '''Den’s Choice''' || Mid-season; medium-large, very sweet, smooth, juicy fruit with mild aroma || Good keeper.<ref name="nzgfa-varieties" />
 |-
-| '''Kakapo''' || Small to medium fruit with strong sweetness and juicy flesh || Compare with larger-fruited selections when choosing for fresh eating and fruit size.<ref name="ogw-kakapo">[https://onegreenworld.com/product/kakapo-pineapple-guava/ One Green World: Kakapo Pineapple Guava] (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
+| '''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" />
 |}
-One Green World also lists newer New Zealand selections including '''Kaiteri™''', '''Kakariki™''', '''Anatoki™''', and '''Takaka™'''. Its growing guide describes these newer lines as large-fruited, thin-skinned, sweet, and flavorful, while noting that individual ripening and pollination details vary by selection. Kaiteri is described as particularly large-fruited; cultivar pages and local trial observations should be consulted before treating those broad collection-level descriptions as a direct comparison.<ref name="ogw-waingaro" /><ref name="ogw-guide" />
+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.
-Named cultivars should be propagated clonally when the fruit and pollination traits need to be preserved. Seedlings are useful pollinizers but are genetically variable and should not be assumed to reproduce the parent cultivar.
-''Cultivar names, fruit descriptions, and pollination statements above summarize One Green World’s nursery and growing-guide information; performance varies with climate, crop load, pruning, and the presence of a second flowering selection.''
 == Commentary ==
@@ Line 103: / Line 106: @@
 == Sources ==
 * [https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Acca+sellowiana Useful Tropical Plants: Acca sellowiana]
+* [https://www.feijoa.org.nz/resources/varieties NZ Feijoa Growers Association: Feijoa varieties]
+* [https://tuigarden.co.nz/inspiration-hub/ideas-and-inspiration/feijoa-variety-favourites/ Tui: Feijoa variety favourites]