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 |
| 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
Named feijoa selections differ in relative harvest position, fruit traits, plant habit, and pollination behavior. The detailed comparison has been moved to Acca sellowiana cultivars and selections, while this species page retains the practical point that early, mid-season, and late selections can be combined to extend harvest and that flowering overlap matters for crop reliability.[2][3]
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).
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.
