Perennial Edible Fruits C2P42

Distribution: Introduced elsewhere but rare outside South America.

Cultural requirements: Tropical to warm subtropical climates. Tolerant of a variety of soil conditions.

Description: Shrub or tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed or cuttings. Fruit ellipsoid, 2–3 cm in diameter, solitary on new growth; external color pale yellow, internal white.

Utilization: Pulp made into jellies. Flavor sour to subacid, pleasant; moderate appeal. Limited potential for processing.

References: Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939.

Psidium cattleianum Sabine
Common names: Cattley guava, strawberry guava (English); cas dulce, guayaba de fresa (Spanish); goyavier de Cattley, goyavier (raise (French); Araca da praie, araca de coroa (Portuguese).

Origin: South America.

Distribution: Tropics, subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Cool to hot climate. Variety of soil conditions, swampy to well drained. With-stands temperature to -6° C without injury.

Description: Shrub or tree to 7 m. Propagation by seed, cuttings, layering. Fruit production in 2–3 years from seed. Flowers several times a year (Florida). Fruit matures in 60–90 days. Fruit spherical, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, solitary on new growth; external color yellow or red, internal whitish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, as juice, jellies, pre-serves, sherbets. Flavor sweet or subacid, aromatic; wide appeal. Good home garden fruit and ornamental plant. Little potential for commercial production.

References: Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939, Ruehle et al. 1958.

Psidium friedrichsthallanum Niedz.
Common names: Costa Rican guava (English); cas, guayaba ágria (Spanish); goyavier de Costa Rica (French).

Origin: Central America.

Distribution: Tropical America.

Cultural requirements: Hot tropical climate with medium to high rainfall; variety of soil conditions if well drained. Easily injured by frost.

Description: Tree to 10 m (usually smaller). Propaga-tion by seed, cuttings. Fruit production in 4– 5 years from seed. Main blooms March–April, September–October (Florida). Fruit matures in about 90 days. Fruit spherical to ovoid, 4–6 cm in diameter, solitary on new growth; external color yellow, internal pale yellow.

Utilization: Pulp made into beverages, jellies, preserves. Flavor very sour, aromatic; moderate appeal. Limited potential as home garden fruit.

References: Fouqué 1974, Popenoe 1939.

Psidium guajava L.
Common names: guava, common guava (English); guayaba (Spanish); goyavier (French); goiaba (Portuguese).

Origin: Tropical America.

Distribution: Tropics, warm subtropics.

Cultural requirements: Warm climate with medium rainfall. Thrives in variety of light to medium soils, even with poor drainage. (So widely adapted it is considered a weed in some areas.) Mature plants can tolerate very light frost.

Description: Tree to 10 m. Propagation by seed, cut-tings, layering, grafting. Fruit production in 4-5 years from seed, 2-3 years from vegetative propa-gation. Main blooms April-May, September-October (Florida). Fruit matures in 90-120 days. Fruit spherical, ellipsoid, or pyriform; 3-8 cm in diameter, solitary on new growth; external color white or yellow, sometimes with pink blush; internal color white, yellow, or red.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, stewed, as juice, jellies, paste, preserves. Flavor sweet to sour, aromatic; high appeal. Rich in vitamin C. Good potential as home garden fruit or for commercial production for fresh market or processing. Variety improve-ment and cultural research in many countries, especially India and U.S.A. (Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico).

References: Popenoe 1939, Ruehle 1959.

Psidium microphyllum Britt. (= P. sartorianum Niedenzu)
Common names: Puerto Rican guava (English); guayaba, pichiche (Spanish).

Origin: West Indies, Central America.

Distribution: West Indies, Central America.

Cultural requirements: Warm tropical climate.

Description: Tree to 15 m. Propagation by seed.Fruit spherical, 1-1.5 cm in diameter, solitary on new growth; external color pale yellow, internal whitish.

Utilization: Pulp eaten fresh, in jellies. Flavor sweetish; low appeal. Little potential for wider cultivation.

Reference: Fouqué 1974.

Perennial Edible Fruits of the Tropics