Psidium cattleianum

Common Name: strawberry guava

Family: Myrtaceae

Common Synonyms: Psidium littorale

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Shrub, Tree

Origin: South America

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: 1880s

IFAS Assessment:

• North: CAUTION
• Central: CAUTION
• South: INVASIVE

Description

Is a shrub or small tree that grows up to 8 m high, has gray to reddish-brown bark, and is pubescent. The leaves are opposite. One flower is formed at the leaf axil.

Habitat

Disturbed sites, forests and open woodlands, naturalized across peninsular Florida.

Comments

Also serves as a host for the naturalized Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa. Has high salt tolerance. Has high fruit set and seed dispersal.

Control Methods

• Manual: NA
• Chemical: Basal bark or cut stump: 10% Triclopyr ester 61.6% L.
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

IFAS. 2011. Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/WG/WG20900.pdf Accessed June 13 2017.

Langeland, K.A., H.M. Cherry, C.M. McCormick, K.C. Burks. 2008. Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas-Second Edition. IFAS Publication SP 257. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Wunderlin, Richard P., and Bruce F. Hansen. Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida. 3rd ed. Gainesville, FL: U of Florida, 2011.