Psidium guajava

Common Name: guava

Family: Myrtaceae

Common Synonyms: Guajava pyriformis, Myrtus guajava

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Shrub, Tree

Origin: Mexico, Central and South America

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: Naturalized by 1765

IFAS Assessment:

• North: OK
• Central: CAUTION
• South: CAUTION

Description

Is a shrub or tree that grows up to 9 m high, has greenish-brown bark, and is pubescent. The leaves are opposite and pubescent on the lower leaf surface. The veins are impressed above and conspicuously raised below. The flowers are white and form individually or in a small group on the leaf axil. The fruit is oval shaped, is yellow when mature, and has many seeds.

Habitat

Hammocks and pinelands, cypress stands, open woodlands and forests. Found in south and central Florida

Comments

Planted for edible fruit and as ornament. Also serves as a host for the naturalized Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa. 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.