Overview

Pineapple guava, Acca sellowiana, is a durable evergreen shrub or small tree with silvery leaf undersides, showy red-and-white flowers, and aromatic edible fruit where pollination and seasonal conditions cooperate.

Mature Size and Habit

Unpruned plants commonly reach about 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, forming a dense rounded crown with low branching.

Best Landscape Uses

Use it for an edible landscape, evergreen screen, specimen, informal hedge, or coastal-style garden.

Sunlight

Full sun produces the densest growth, strongest flowering, and best fruit potential.

Soil, Drainage, and Irrigation

Adaptable to several soil textures, it performs best in well-drained soil with regular water during establishment.

Best Planting Season for Tampa and Central Florida

Fall through early spring is ideal for root establishment before peak heat. Spring planting also works well.

Pruning and Maintenance

Prune after fruiting or during late winter to remove crossing wood and maintain the chosen form. Avoid severe annual shearing if flowers and fruit are desired.

Wildlife Value

Flowers can attract pollinating insects, and ripe fruit may be taken by birds and other wildlife.

Cold and Heat Sensitivity

The plant handles Central Florida heat and has more cold tolerance than many tropical fruiting shrubs.

Safety, Roots, and Placement Warnings

Fruit and flower petals are edible when correctly identified, but do not consume plants treated with non-food pesticides.

Invasive Concerns

This South American species is nonnative.

Helpful Resources

See the NC State Extension profile for verified botanical, cultural, fruit, and placement information.