Accession Count: 9
Common Name:
guava
Family Name:
Myrtaceae
Botanical Name:
Psidium guajava
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Compound:
Psi gua
Geographic Origin:
Tropical America
Ecozone Origin:
Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Guava originates from Central Mexico and Central America, in areas with a warm, tropical climate (1). Birds, small mammals and most recently humans have since distributed the plant. Early explorers in the New World, such as the Portuguese and Spanish, brought the Guava to surrounding islands of the West Indies and into Florida by 1847 (1). It has since spread as far as the Pacific Islands, Egypt and other African countries. Today Guava is cultivated and grown commercially in Brazil, parts of the United States and Mexico (1).
Cultivation Notes:
Guava grows very rapidly, seeds germinate in 2-3 weeks (1). It is often propagated by bare root, container and cuttings (2). The Guava plant grows best in warm environments with high precipitation, and is intolerant of cold and frost. Though it tends to be tolerant of a variety of soil types (1). Guava is adapted to growth in fine, medium, and course textured soils (2). It is marginally salt resistant and can tolerate high water saturation better than most plant species (1).
Ethnobotany:
The Guava plant is cultivated primarily for its characteristic pinkish red fruit. It is commonly eaten in many Central and South American countries and is exported around the world as a exotic commodity. Guava is also used to treat diarrhea, cough and gastrointestinal disorders (3). Most of the compounds that are used for medicinal purposes are extract from the leaf of the plant (3). Birds and mammals also find the fruit and foliage of the Guava to be a good food source.
Height:
16 - 20 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
White
Function:
Patio
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
1. hort.purdue.edu
.Morton, J. "Guava." Psidium
guajava.
Purdue University, 1987. Web. 07 Dec. 2013.
2. plants.usda.gov
."Plants Profile for Psidium Guajava (guava)." Plants
Profile for Psidium Guajava (guava).
United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.
3. medicinal
plants .
Zhejiang, J. "Effects of Two Medicinal Plants Psidium Guajava L.
(Myrtaceae) and Diospyros Mespiliformis L. (Ebenaceae) Leaf Extracts
on Rat Skeletal Muscle Cells in Primary Culture." National
Center for Biotechnology Information, 21 Dec. 2005. Web. 08 Dec.
2013.
