Strawberry Guava Tree Live Plant – Psidium Cattleyanum – 5-9 Inch Tall Starter

Overview

Embark on a rewarding gardening journey by adding a strawberry guava tree live plant to your collection. This delightful fruit-bearing tree, scientifically known as Psidium Cattleyanum, is cherished for its small, flavorful fruits that taste like a cross between strawberry and passionfruit. Originating from Brazil, the strawberry guava is a versatile evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 20 feet in tree form, though it’s often kept smaller in cultivation. Its attractive foliage, fragrant white flowers, and delicious fruit make it a popular choice for both edible landscaping and container gardening in suitable climates. Our starter plants are well-rooted and ready to establish in your garden or a larger pot, bringing the promise of a bountiful harvest.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, cultivating your own strawberry guava tree live plant offers a unique opportunity to enjoy fresh, organic fruit right from your backyard. These resilient plants are known for their adaptability and moderate growth rate, making them a fantastic addition to various garden styles. The glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round visual interest, and the charming white flowers eventually give way to the vibrant red or yellow fruits, depending on the variety.

Key Benefits

Growing a strawberry guava tree live plant provides numerous advantages beyond just its delicious fruit. This plant offers aesthetic beauty, ecological benefits, and a sense of self-sufficiency. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Homegrown Flavor: Enjoy the unique, sweet-tart taste of fresh strawberry guava fruits directly from your garden. These small, juicy berries are perfect for eating fresh, making jams, jellies, or adding to desserts.
• Attractive Evergreen Foliage: The glossy, dark green leaves provide year-round visual appeal, making it an excellent ornamental plant for your landscape or patio.
• Adaptable Growth Habit: Can be grown as a multi-branched shrub or trained into a small tree, offering flexibility for different garden designs and spaces.
• Cold Hardiness: This plant is surprisingly hardy for a tropical fruit, thriving in USDA Zones 9B and 10, making it suitable for a wider range of climates. Understanding Psidium Cattleyanum care includes appreciating its resilience.
• Moderate Maintenance: Once established, the cherry guava plant is relatively easy to care for, requiring consistent watering and occasional pruning to maintain shape and encourage fruit production.
• Fragrant Blooms: In spring, the plant produces delicate white flowers with numerous stamens, adding a subtle fragrance to your garden before the fruit develops.
• Pest and Disease Resistance: Generally robust, the strawberry guava tree live plant exhibits good resistance to many common pests and diseases, simplifying its care.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

To ensure your strawberry guava tree live plant thrives, proper care and attention to its specific needs are essential. These plants are relatively forgiving, but providing optimal conditions will lead to the best growth and fruit yield. Understanding how to grow strawberry guava successfully involves a few key considerations.

Sunlight Requirements: The strawberry guava tree live plant prefers a location with full to partial sun. Full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day) will encourage the most vigorous growth and abundant fruit production. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. For indoor growers, place the plant near a south-facing window or use supplemental grow lights to provide adequate light.

Watering Schedule and Soil Moisture: Consistent moisture is crucial for young plants and during fruiting periods. Water thoroughly when the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. The soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the cherry guava plant becomes more drought-tolerant but will still benefit from regular watering, especially during dry spells. Ensure good drainage to prevent standing water around the roots.

Soil Type and Drainage: Psidium Cattleyanum thrives in a variety of soil types, as long as they are well-draining and rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal. If planting in a pot, use a high-quality potting mix blended with some compost. For in-ground planting, amend heavy clay soils with compost and sand to improve drainage and aeration. Good drainage is paramount to prevent root issues.

Temperature Range and Hardiness: The strawberry guava cold hardy nature makes it a good choice for USDA Zones 9B and 10. It can tolerate light frosts once established, but prolonged freezing temperatures can cause damage. In colder zones, it should be grown in a container and brought indoors during winter or treated as an annual. Protect young plants from strong winds and extreme temperature fluctuations.

Fertilization: Fertilize your strawberry guava tree live plant during the growing season (spring through fall) with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer or an organic fruit tree fertilizer. Follow the product’s instructions for application rates. Reduce or stop fertilization during the dormant winter months. Micronutrients like iron and magnesium can also be beneficial if deficiencies are observed.

Pruning: Prune your cherry guava plant to maintain its shape, control size, and encourage better air circulation and fruit production. The best time to prune is after the fruiting season. Remove any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. You can also thin out dense growth to allow more sunlight to reach the inner branches. Regular light pruning can help manage the plant’s size if you wish to keep it as a shrub.

Size & Details

This offering is for a strawberry guava tree live plant starter, typically measuring between 5 to 9 inches tall at the time of shipment. These well-rooted young plants are carefully selected to ensure a healthy start in your garden. They are shipped without a pot to minimize shipping costs and environmental impact, and to allow for easy transplanting into your preferred growing medium. Upon arrival, we recommend promptly planting your Psidium Cattleyanum in a suitable container or directly into the ground, depending on your climate and growing intentions. Expect moderate growth, with plants potentially reaching several feet in height within a few years under optimal conditions. The mature size can vary significantly based on pruning, climate, and whether it’s grown in a pot or in the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big will my strawberry guava tree live plant get?
  A: Your starter plant is 5-9 inches tall. In tree form, strawberry guava trees can reach up to 20 feet tall, but they can be kept smaller as a shrub with regular pruning or by growing in a container.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant?
  A: The strawberry guava tree live plant is primarily an outdoor plant in USDA zones 9B and 10. In colder climates, it can be grown in a pot and brought indoors during winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does a Psidium Cattleyanum need?
  A: This plant thrives in full to partial sun, ideally receiving at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for best fruit production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for?
  A: Yes, with proper understanding of Psidium Cattleyanum care, it is considered a moderate grower and relatively easy to care for once established. Consistent watering and adequate sunlight are key.
• Q: What condition will the plant arrive in?
  A: You will receive a well-rooted 5-9 inch tall starter plant, shipped without a pot to ensure safe transit and readiness for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant a cherry guava plant?
  A: The best time to plant is typically in spring or early summer after the last chance of frost, allowing the plant ample time to establish before cooler weather.
• Q: Will a strawberry guava cold hardy plant survive winter in my zone?
  A: This plant is strawberry guava cold hardy for USDA Zones 9B and 10. If you are in a colder zone, it’s best to grow it in a container and provide winter protection indoors.
• Q: What type of soil is best for growing strawberry guava?
  A: A well-draining soil rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal for growing your strawberry guava tree live plant.
• Q: How long until I can expect fruit from my strawberry guava tree?
  A: Typically, a young cherry guava plant can start producing fruit within 2-3 years, but this can vary based on growing conditions and care.
• Q: Can I grow this plant in a container?
  A: Absolutely! The strawberry guava tree live plant is an excellent candidate for container growing, especially in regions outside its hardiness zones. Ensure the pot has good drainage and is large enough to accommodate root growth.