Acca sellowiana (syn. Feijoa sellowiana) - Pineapple guava

About eight species of Acca are native to South America. Pineapple guava is native to the southern end of the continent. It is a large evergreen shrub or small tree capable of growing to twenty feet tall. Undersides of the leathery leaves are white. Both the petals of the purple flowers and the ripe, green fruits are edible. It is a drought tolerant landscape plant for Florida.

Commercial fruit production exists in the U.S. but is limited. Several cultivated varieties exist but they are uncommon in Florida. For fruit production, two plants are needed for cross-pollination. This is complicated by the fact that Acca is grown from cuttings for the nursery trade. Plants grown from cuttings from the same parent plant will not provide good cross-pollination. Some reports state that birds are the principal pollinators in the wild. Bees are pollinators in north Florida.

Pineapple guava is easy to grow in north Florida. Give it a sunny location and a well-drained soil. Usually, it is seen as a shrub but it can be trained as an attractive small tree suitable for smaller properties.