Guava
Psidium guajava
NEMBA: Category 2
English: Guava, Common Guava, Apple Guava
Afrikaans: Koejawel
Xhosa: Umgwuwe
Zulu: Ugwava
Historical scientific names: Psidium cujavillus, Psidium pomiferum
Psidium guajava, commonly known as Guava, is a small, evergreen or semi-deciduous tree or large shrub with a smooth, mottled reddish-brown bark that peels off in thin flakes. It has oval to oblong, slightly leathery, dark green leaves with distinct veins. Its flowers are small, white, and fragrant, appearing in the leaf axils. These develop into round, oval, or pear-shaped fruits, typically green when unripe and turning yellow when ripe, with a characteristic sweet, musky smell. Inside, the fruit contains many small, hard seeds embedded in pink or white pulp.
This plant is a major invasive species in South Africa, especially in warmer, higher rainfall areas, as its seeds are widely spread by birds and animals, forming dense thickets that out-compete indigenous plants.
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Origin:
Native to tropical America, specifically from Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean, down to northern South America (e.g., Brazil, Peru).
Distinguishing features:
Peeling, mottled bark: Smooth, mottled reddish-brown or greenish bark that peels off in thin, papery flakes, revealing a paler, newer layer underneath.
Distinctly veined leaves: Oval to oblong leaves with prominent, sunken veins on the upper surface, creating a somewhat crinkled appearance.
Fragrant white flowers: Small, white flowers with numerous stamens, usually solitary or in small clusters in leaf axils, with a sweet scent.
Characteristic fruit: Round, oval, or pear-shaped fruits, green ripening to yellow, with a distinct sweet, musky aroma and a crown-like calyx remnant at the apex.
Fleshy pulp with many hard seeds: The fruit contains a juicy pink or white pulp filled with numerous small, hard, kidney-shaped seeds.
Overall appearance:
A small, evergreen or semi-deciduous tree or large, spreading shrub with a relatively open crown. It is easily recognised by its flaking bark and distinctively veined, somewhat leathery leaves, along with its characteristic fruit.
Height:
Typically grows 3 to 10 metres tall, but can sometimes reach up to 13 metres.
Width:
Can spread 3 to 8 metres wide, forming a dense canopy.
Leaves:
Evergreen or semi-deciduous, opposite, simple, oval to oblong, 5 to 15 centimetres long and 3 to 7 centimetres wide. They are dark green and slightly glossy on the upper surface, often with prominent, sunken veins, giving them a somewhat wrinkled texture. The underside is paler and slightly hairy. They have a distinct, slightly pungent aroma when crushed.
Flowers:
Solitary or in clusters of 2-3 in the leaf axils. They are white, fragrant, about 2-3 centimetres in diameter, with four or five petals and numerous prominent white stamens.
Flowering season (South Africa):
Mainly flowers in spring to early summer (around September to November), but can flower sporadically throughout the year, especially after rainfall or under irrigation.
Fruits:
Round, oval, or pear-shaped berries, 4 to 12 centimetres in diameter. They are green when unripe, turning yellow when ripe, and have a thin skin. The flesh is usually pink or white, juicy, sweet, and aromatic, surrounding a central cavity filled with seeds. A persistent calyx (a small "crown") is visible at the apex of the fruit.
Seeds:
Numerous (from dozens to hundreds per fruit), small, hard, bony, kidney-shaped seeds, about 3-5 millimetres long. They are embedded in the fruit pulp.
Bark:
Smooth, thin, and mottled, often greenish-brown, reddish-brown, or greyish-white. It peels off in thin, irregular flakes, exposing a paler, new bark layer underneath, giving the trunk a somewhat patchy appearance.
Wood:
Hard, strong, and durable, often used for tool handles, small implements, and firewood.
Roots:
Develops a shallow but extensive and fibrous root system, which allows it to efficiently absorb surface moisture and nutrients. It also produces root suckers, contributing to its ability to form dense stands.
Soil type:
Highly adaptable, growing in a wide range of soil types, from sandy to heavy clays, and tolerating both acidic and alkaline conditions. It prefers well-drained soils but can tolerate some waterlogging.
Aspect:
Prefers full sun for optimal growth and fruit production, but can tolerate partial shade. It thrives in warm, subtropical to tropical climates and is sensitive to heavy frost, which can kill young plants or damage mature ones.
Edibility:
The fruits are highly edible and widely consumed fresh, in juices, jams, jellies, and desserts. They are a good source of Vitamin C.
Toxicity:
Generally considered non-toxic. The leaves are sometimes used in traditional medicine.
Uses:
Widely cultivated globally for its popular edible fruit. In South Africa, it was primarily planted for commercial fruit production and as a garden tree. Its wood is used for small implements. Its leaves are sometimes used in traditional medicine for digestive ailments.
Ecology:
As an alien invasive plant in South Africa, Psidium guajava is a major threat, particularly in warmer, higher rainfall areas such as coastal forests, woodlands, savannas, grasslands, and disturbed sites. It readily escapes cultivation due to its palatable fruit, which is highly attractive to birds and animals (e.g., baboons, monkeys), acting as efficient seed dispersers. It forms dense, impenetrable thickets, displacing indigenous vegetation, reducing biodiversity, and altering ecosystem structure. Its dense canopy shades out native understorey plants. It can also increase fire fuel loads in some areas, potentially altering fire regimes.
Distribution and habitat:
Widely cultivated across South Africa, especially in subtropical and tropical regions. It is extensively naturalised and highly invasive in the eastern and northern provinces. It is a significant problem in the Eastern Cape (particularly common in coastal bush, disturbed areas, and riparian zones around Kenton-on-Sea), KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and parts of North West and Gauteng. It invades coastal forests, woodlands, grasslands, savannas, riparian areas, and disturbed sites like roadsides and abandoned farmlands.
Derivation of name:
The genus name Psidium is derived from the Greek word 'psidion', meaning 'pomegranate', likely due to a superficial resemblance of the fruit or its texture.
The species epithet guajava is derived from 'guayabo', the local indigenous name for the tree in its native South America.
"Guava" is simply the anglicised form of this name.
Historical aspects:
Guava was introduced to South Africa centuries ago, likely by early European settlers, for its highly valued and nutritious fruit. Its ease of cultivation, rapid growth, and the popularity of its fruit led to its widespread planting in gardens and commercial orchards. However, its attractive fruits also made it highly desirable to fruit-eating birds and mammals, leading to efficient seed dispersal and its subsequent escape from cultivation. It has since become one of the most widespread and problematic invasive trees in South Africa, impacting a variety of natural ecosystems.
Interesting facts:
This tree has super stylish bark that peels off in flakes, almost like it's shedding its old skin to reveal a fresh, smoother layer underneath!
Don't crush its leaves unless you like a strong, slightly spicy smell – they have a very distinct aroma!
Guavas are absolute superstars for Vitamin C; one fruit can have much more Vitamin C than an orange!
Birds and monkeys absolutely adore guava fruits, which is great for them, but not so great for nature as they spread the seeds everywhere, turning the guava into a super invader!
Friendly alternatives:
Common name
Scientific Name
Plant type:
Semi-deciduous, evergreen, tree or shrub
Plant family:
Myrtaceae (Greek and Latin plant name) - Order: Myrtales