Interesting guava variety from Cal Poly Pomona

[greg_D]

Description:

Psidium guajava ‘Strawberry’ Also known as Chinese guava. The fruits are great when eaten fresh but also can be used to make excellent juices or jams.

This selection of guava by Dr. Greg Partida, has a distinctly strawberry fragrance when cut open, with the usual acid, sweet balance of the other tropical guavas.  (Do not confuse this with Strawberry guava Psidium cattleianum variety!) Heavy-bearing tree is self-fertile. These plants typically grow up to 12' in height and produces fragrant red fruits that are similar to the common guava but with a scent similar to strawberries. Grows in full sun and hardy to 29 degrees.  Fruits September thru December. Drought tolerant once established but the quality & quantity of fruit will decline without water.

Photos:





$6 on the Cal Poly Pomona nursery website (only ships within California)

[chrisafix23]

Thanks for sharing this find. Anyone have experience with this variety of guava? It sounds interesting.

[Epicatt2]

Since this guava seems to have been developed in California (and for California) I am wondering, would this cultivar adapt well to our more humid Florida conditions?

If so will it eventually be approved for Florida or is it restricted?

Just wondering.

Paul M.
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[greg_D]

Update: they grow the ones they sell from seed. Might be possible to get an airlayer or something if you contact them directly.

[Humboldt9aRiverBottomland]

Update: they grow the ones they sell from seed. Might be possible to get an airlayer or something if you contact them directly.

Is this variety of guava known to grow true to seed? I thought there was high variability with seedling guavas.

[greg_D]

I emailed them, and they said it's true to type, but that would be very unusual if true. The inference with fewer assumptions is that it grows something similar but not dead on the same. The online store only sells little seedlings, but the in person store has some big ones if anyone wants to try. Could probably get fruit in a year or two.