Myrtaceae
Psidium guajava
Guava · Mpera
Small/Medium Tree
75 small available right now.
About
Guava is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, typically growing 3-10 metres tall, with a shallow, extensive root system. Its bark is smooth, pale to reddish-brown, and peels off in thin flakes. The leaves are opposite, dull, oval to oblong, up to 15 cm long, with prominent veins and are aromatic when crushed. Fragrant white flowers, about 2.5 cm across with many stamens, appear singly or in small clusters. The fruit is a round to ovoid berry, 3-10 cm long, with a yellow to orange skin and sweet, juicy, aromatic flesh that can be white, pink, yellow, or red, containing numerous hard seeds.
Where it works in Kilifi
This hardy tree thrives in full sun and adapts to most light, well-drained soils, including those with a wide pH range. It can be planted as a specimen, for shade, or in a live fence, ideally spaced 8-12 feet apart. Due to its vigorous growth and invasive potential in disturbed areas, careful placement and management are recommended.
Growing notes
Guava exhibits a moderate to rapid growth rate; seedlings can fruit in 2-4 years, with full bearing by 5-8 years. Once established, it is drought-tolerant but benefits from consistent moisture, especially during flowering and fruiting, requiring regular watering in dry periods. Young plants are sensitive to frost, though mature trees can withstand light frost. It is recognised as an invasive species in many tropical regions, capable of forming dense thickets and regenerating from suckers, making control challenging.
Sources
Researched with web grounding from: worldagroforestry.org, wikipedia.org, gcq.ac.in, nih.gov, ox.ac.uk, levypreserve.org. Please verify with local knowledge before relying on these notes.