An old selection from the famous and prolific plant breeder Luther Burbank. His namesake Chilean Guava was selected for its larger, sweeter berries and prolific crops. Still an excellent variety for the home garden and it’s fun to have a little piece of horticultural history growing in your backyard.

A very attractive shrub, Chilean Guava produces profuse, fragrant, small white flowers followed by pretty red berries. Sweet with a sprightly, Guava-like flavor and fragrance. Fruit are delicious for fresh eating and for making jams and jellies. Makes a nice container plant and can be brought inside when severe cold threatens.

Latin Name: Ugni molinae
Site and Soil: Guava likes 1/2 day to full sun in cooler regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained, acidic soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 10º F, possibly lower once established.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 3-4 ft. in height.
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: October
Taste: Sweet/sweet-tart
Fruit Skin: Bright red
Flower Color: White
Yield: 1-2 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8
Sunset Western Zone: 14-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed

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Villarica Strawberry is a new-to-us Chilean Guava selection that we’re very excited to trial! This one collected by Paul Barney of Edulis Nursery at a rather high elevation in Pucon, Chile and named for the Villarica Volcano (pronounced “via-rica”) near the town. Berries are particularly large and red and plants have proven themselves more cold hardy than other selections. Hopefully this will expand the range where this precious and delicious species can be grown. Introduced to the US by the fine folks at the Far Reaches Botanical Conservancy.

Latin Name: Ugni molinae ‘Villarica Strawberry’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun in slightly acidic, well-drained soil.
Hardiness: We’re guessing this variety will be hardy to at least 5F, possibly lower?
Bearing Age: 2-3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: Villarica Strawberry grows 3-6 ft. in height
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: August-September
Yield: 15+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: None that we’ve found here
USDA Zone: at least Zone 7b,  possibly lower

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A very attractive shrub, Chilean Guava produces profuse, fragrant, small white flowers followed by pretty red berries. Sweet with a sprightly, Guava-like flavor and fragrance. Fruit are delicious for fresh eating and for making jams and jellies. Makes a nice container plant and can be brought inside when severe cold threatens.

Latin Name: Ugni molinae
Site and Soil: Guava likes 1/2 day to full sun in cooler regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained, acidic soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 10º F, possibly lower once established.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 3-4 ft. in height.
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: October
Taste: Sweet/sweet-tart
Fruit Skin: Bright red
Flower Color: White
Yield: 1-2 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8
Sunset Western Zone: 14-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed

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The variegated form of Chilean Guava absolutely glows year round with its creamy yellow, pink and green variegation that emerges a bright purplish pink in spring! Flambeau Variegated Chilean Guava Seems to be slightly more tolerant of shade than the non-variegated forms but also not quite as cold hardy so be sure to site in a protected place. Fruit set is not as heavy on this variety but it’s hard to beat Flambeau’s beauty. One of our favorites in winter when some bright variegation in the garden really lightens our spirits!

Latin Name: Ugni molinae ‘Flambeau’
Site and Soil: Guava likes 1/2 day to full sun in cooler regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained, acidic soil.
Pollination Requirements: Guava is self-fertile.
Hardiness: ‘Flambeau’ Chilean Guava is hardy to about 12º F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 3-4 ft. in height.
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: October
Yield: 1-2 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Chilean Guava is not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8b
Sunset Western Zone: 14-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed

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A supremely cute ground cover from Tierra del Fuego in Southern Chile, the Chilean Cranberry Myrtle or Myrteola nummularifolia is not really a true cranberry but a relative of Chilean Guava that grows as a ground cover and can tolerate, and in hot climates even requires, a bit of shade. Leaves are tiny, aromatic and look oh so elegant on the wiry stems. Little white flowers in summer are followed by white and pink blushed delicious Chilean Guava-like berries. The perfect fruiting ground cover beneath a fruit tree and sure to be a great addition to food forest designs. We can’t stop planting this one anywhere we see a patch of open ground! Keep well watered through the summer if you live in a dry summer climate.

Latin Name: Myrteola nummularifolia
Site and Soil: Likes 1/2 day to full sun in cooler regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained, acidic soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to at least 10º F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 6″ tall by 3-4 ft. wide
Bloom Time: July-August
Ripening Time: September-October
Yield: 1-2 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Chilean Cranberry is not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8 for sure, possibly 7 (or lower?) but we haven’t had the chance to test it, though it can get pretty cold down there at the tip of South America where it’s from.

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The Jim Gerdemann clone of Chilean Guava was selected by Ian Barclay of Desert Northwest from the collection of infamous gardener and plant collector Jim Gerdemann’s garden on the Southern Oregon Coast. Jim could not remember where he got this plant from but in his honor we’ve named this selection after him. Plants have a more rounded leaf shape than the species and supposedly a bit more cold hardiness. In coastal climates or part shade the Jim Gerdemann Chilean Guava may grow up to 8 feet tall but in full sun and growing in hotter climates it usually stays around 4 feet high by 3 feet wide. Fruit is just as delicious and a bit larger and more prolific than the typical clone being offered.

Latin Name: Myrtus ugni (Ugni molinae)
Site and Soil: Guava likes 1/2 day to full sun in cooler regions, partial shade in hot regions, and well-drained, acidic soil.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to about 10º F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 3-6 ft. in height.
Taste: Sweet-tart, sprightly
Fruit Skin: Red
Bloom Time: May-June
Ripening Time: October
Yield: 1-2 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Guava is not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 8
Sunset Western Zone: 14-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: Not listed

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