Acca sellowiana
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) | |
|---|---|
| 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
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
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
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
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">One Green World: Pineapple Guava Growing Guide (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref>
| Cultivar | Fruit and season | Pollination and plant 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" /> |
| 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" /> |
| 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">One Green World: Apollo Pineapple Guava (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> |
| 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">One Green World: Mammoth Pineapple Guava (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> |
| Robert | Large, flavorful fruit; notable flowering | Self-fertile New Zealand selection with a compact growth habit.<ref name="ogw-guide" /> |
| 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">One Green World: Unique Pineapple Guava (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> |
| 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">One Green World: Waingaro Pineapple Guava (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> |
| 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">One Green World: Kakapo Pineapple Guava (accessed 4 August 2026).</ref> |
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" />
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
Growers are welcome to share observations on the talk page, including climate, provenance, propagation method, plant age, flowering, fruiting, and growing conditions.
Photos
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
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.
