About Growing Guava
Guava is a warm weather tree, suited to zones 9b through 11. Young trees that experience temperatures below about 30 degrees F. (-1 C.) may be damaged or could die. A guava tree will grow to about 20 feet (6 m.) tall, so it needs space to grow. Your guava will need warmth and full sun but will tolerate a variety of soil types and drought conditions. While a guava tree is a great shade tree for warm-climate gardens, a great reason to grow one is to enjoy the fruit. Guava is a large berry that comes in a variety of colors and flavors. The fruit can be enjoyed raw but can also be juiced or made into jams and jellies. Here are some types of guava trees to consider for your garden: Red Malaysian. This cultivar is a great choice for adding interesting color to the garden. It produces red fruits, but also red-tinted leaves, and very showy, bright pink flowers. Tropical White. Guava fruits are often classified by the color of the flesh, and this one is white. ‘Tropical White’ produces a tender, sweet fruit with yellow skin and a pleasant aroma. Mexican Cream. Also known as ‘Tropical Yellow,’ this is another white-fleshed cultivar. The fruit is very creamy and sweet and excellent for use in desserts. The tree grows upright and does not provide much canopy spread as compared to other cultivars. Strawberry guava. This is a different species of tree, but it produces a guava fruit that is named for its flavor. With a pronounced taste of strawberry, this is an excellent eating fruit. Lemon guava. The same species as the strawberry guava, this tree also produces fruits with a distinct taste. The fruits are yellow with a yellow flesh and a flavor reminiscent of both guava and lemon. The tree grows smaller than other types of guava. Detwiler. A true guava cultivar, this fruit is unique for being the only yellow-fleshed guava. It is currently not easy to find, but if you can get it you will enjoy large, yellow fruits with a firm texture.
