Do I need two plants for fruit?

Most varieties are self-sterile, so planting two different cultivars will significantly improve your harvest.

How do I know when the fruit is ripe?

The fruit is ready when it falls to the ground or feels slightly soft to a gentle squeeze.

Plant guide

Feijoa.

Acca sellowiana

Pronounced AK-uh sel-oh-nee-AY-nuh

Also known as Acca sellowiana, Feijoa, pineapple-guava, pineapple-guava,-feijoa

The feijoa is a lovely evergreen shrub that produces delicious, aromatic fruit with a unique pineapple guava flavor. It makes a fantastic ornamental hedge or specimen plant in warmer climates. You'll enjoy its silvery foliage and striking red and white flowers during the growing season.

Another photo of Feijoa — Photo by Denis Zabin (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen shrub
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 10 to 15 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 10
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant your feijoa in a sunny spot with well draining soil to keep it happy. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate poor drainage or nutrient issues. Regular moisture is key for good fruit production during the summer months.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy during the fruit development stage.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the spring and summer to support healthy growth.
Pruning: Prune lightly after harvest to maintain shape and encourage airflow.
Repotting: Repot only when the plant becomes root bound in its container.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: -10 to 40°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 30 to 50 years
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth during the active season.

Safety

People: The plant is non-toxic to humans.
Children: The fruit is safe, but the small seeds may pose a minor choking hazard to very young children.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the fuzzy leaf undersides.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can trigger mild seasonal allergies in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: The petals are edible and sweet, but ensure they are free from pesticides before snacking.

How to identify it

Oval leaves with silvery undersides
Showy red and white flowers
Green egg shaped edible fruit
Evergreen shrub or small tree

Height: 2 to 4.5m
Spread: 2 to 4m
Leaves: dark green, silvery gray, evergreen
Flowers: white, red, 4 to 6cm
Fruit: green, Autumn

Problems to watch for

Fruit FlyCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Root RotUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your feijoa from a photo

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed, layering
When to plant: Spring, Autumn
Overwintering: In colder regions, move container plants to a sheltered, frost-free location. Mulch the base of outdoor plants to protect roots from deep freezes.
In containers: It grows well in large containers, provided the pot is at least 50 centimeters wide and has excellent drainage.

Softwood Cuttings

Take 10 centimeter cuttings in late spring.
Remove lower leaves and dip the base in rooting hormone.
Place in a well-draining mix and keep humid until rooted.

Planting aromatic herbs nearby can help mask the scent of the fruit from potential pests.

Grows well with

Rosemary · It shares similar sun and drainage requirements.
Lavender · It attracts pollinators that help with fruit set.

Similar species

Strawberry Guava · It is a related fruiting shrub with similar growth habits.

Science

Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Feijoa
Order: Myrtales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Highlands of southern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina.
Conservation: This species is not currently listed as threatened or endangered.

It thrives in cool, subtropical climates and is well adapted to survive in nutrient poor soils.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, attracts birds
Pollinators: bees, birds
Uses: ornamental hedge, edible landscaping, fruit production

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 6/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need two plants for fruit?: Most varieties are self-sterile, so planting two different cultivars will significantly improve your harvest.
How do I know when the fruit is ripe?: The fruit is ready when it falls to the ground or feels slightly soft to a gentle squeeze.

Where the name comes from

The genus honors the Portuguese botanist João da Silva Feijó, while the species name honors German botanist Friedrich Sellow.

Good to know

Feijoa is also known as the pineapple guava.
The flowers are edible and taste like cotton candy.
It is native to the highlands of southern Brazil and neighboring countries.
The plant is highly tolerant of wind and salt spray.

Keep your feijoa growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 25, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.