fruit shrub
Strawberry guava
Best kept contained or grown where it is not an ecological problem; invasive in parts of Hawaii and the Gulf coast.
Growing Profile
- Hardiness
- Zones 9b-11a
- Sun
- FullPartial
- Soil
- LoamSandy
- Water
- Medium
- Deer pressure
- Frequently damaged Use as a deer browsing cue, not a guarantee; heavy deer pressure can override resistance ratings.
- Black walnut
- Mixed or uncertain Use as a black walnut / juglone planning cue; tolerance varies by cultivar, soil, and distance from the tree.
- Planting depth
- Set the crown at soil level; burying the crown can rot the plant.
- Container min
- 2+ gal (good)
- Goals
- FruitCurb appeal & colorPrivacy & screening
Harvest & Use
- Window
- red guava fruit in summer to fall
- Yield return
- 0.8-2 lb/plant/year
- First output
- 0-1 yrs
- Best for
- FruitCurb appeal & colorPrivacy & screening
Harvest window: red guava fruit in summer to fall. Once established, the current pound-return model uses 0.8-2 lb/plant/year with a harvest window of 8-14 weeks.
Plant photos
What it looks like in the garden
Use these photos to compare the plant's leaves, stems, flowers, fruit, and overall habit before you buy or plant.
Photos show a representative plant in the garden. Fruit color, size, and growth habit can vary by cultivar, season, nursery stock, and site.
Photo sources: Forest and Kim Starr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 us)
Quantitative Profile
- Pound return
- 0.8-2 lb/plant/year
- 10-year return
- 7.6-19 lb/10 yrs
- Full output
- 1-2 yrs
- Mature size
- 0.5-1 ft H x 1-2 ft W
- Spacing
- 1-1.5 ft in-row x 3-4 ft rows
- Planting depth
- Set the crown at soil level; burying the crown can rot the plant.
- Container min
- 2+ gal (good)
- Productive life
- 3-5 yrs
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Reliability
- 3/5
- Data quality
- Low profile, Low yield confidence
Pound return is the stock-style yield metric. These are planning ranges for comparing plants, not guarantees. Cultivar, rootstock, climate, soil, pruning, pest pressure, and wildlife can move actual results.
Planting Checklist
8 itemsPlant by ZIP may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through checklist links.
- View
Right-size container with drainage
Containers / Before plantingUse a container large enough for mature roots, with open drainage holes to prevent root rot.
- View
Expanding container potting mix
Containers / Before plantingUse a lighter container medium instead of dense garden soil in pots and grow bags.
- View
Bird netting
Protection / Before ripeningProtect ripening berries, grapes, cherries, figs, and other bird-attractive fruit.
- View
Frost blanket
Protection / Cold nightsExtend the season or protect tender plants during cold snaps.
- View
Fruit tree and berry fertilizer
Nutrition / After establishmentSupport fruiting wood, bloom, and recovery after establishment once soil needs are known.
- View
Soil test kit or lab mailer
Site prep / Before plantingCheck pH and baseline nutrients before adding amendments, especially for fruiting crops, native beds, and acid-loving plants.
- View
Digging spade or shovel
Tools / Planting dayOpen planting holes, loosen compacted soil, and shape beds for larger transplants.
- View
Plant labels
Planning / Planting dayTrack cultivar, planting date, and variety when comparing harvests or pollination partners.
Yield curve
Estimated Pound Return
Projected annual yield ramp from establishment to full production, using the current sourced range for Strawberry guava.
- Year 1
- 0.4-1 lb First-year estimate from the sourced curve.
- Year 5
- 0.8-2 lb
- Year 10
- 0.8-2 lb
- 10-year total
- 7.6-19 lb/10 yrs
Shaded band shows the sourced low-to-high pound-yield range. The line tracks the midpoint for quick comparison.
Method: direct pound yield from crop metric source. Annual crops assume one comparable planting per year; perennial crops ramp from first bearing to full production.
Planting Strategy
- Planting depth: Set the crown at soil level; burying the crown can rot the plant.
- Container minimum: 2+ gal (good). Use 2+ gal per plant or a wider trough with crowns at soil level.
- Start with one plant when testing fit in a new bed or container.
- Plant more than one when harvest volume or pollination is the main goal.
- For screening, repeat compatible plants and confirm mature spacing before buying.
Risk Factors
- Match the site first: full, partial light, loam, sandy soil, and medium water.
- Use 1-1.5 ft in-row x 3-4 ft rows as the first spacing model; adjust for hedges, trellises, containers, or local guidance.
- Plan around mature size: 0.5-1 ft H x 1-2 ft W.
- For harvest planning, treat "red guava fruit in summer to fall" and 0.8-2 lb/plant/year as planning ranges, not guarantees.
- For screens and hedges, confirm mature size and spacing with the nursery label or local extension guidance.
Related Planning Guides
Comparable Plants
Sources & Methodology
This guide combines hardiness range, light, soil, water, harvest timing, traits, supplier links, plant relationships, and quantitative planning metrics. Pairings are screened for practical garden fit.
Quantitative values use extension and botanical-reference ranges where available. For less-studied cultivars, similar crops fill gaps conservatively. Ranges are intentionally broad so the profile stays useful without pretending to be exact.
Planning sources: University of Minnesota Extension - Growing Strawberries in the Home GardenUtah State Extension - How to Grow Strawberries in Your GardenUniversity of Maryland Extension - Planting a Tree or ShrubUniversity of Maryland Extension - Starting a Home Fruit GardenUniversity of Minnesota Extension - Growing Strawberries in the Home Garden
Supplier search: Amazon. Search links are not paid placements unless explicitly marked; affiliate listings may earn a commission. Last reviewed: 2026-05-31.