Psidium guajava (Guava Tree) – Sweet, Tropical Fruit for Australian Backyards
Bring a touch of the tropics to your home with the Guava Tree (Psidium guajava) — a hardy, fast-growing fruit tree loved for its sweet, aromatic fruit and year-round lush foliage. Perfect for Sydney and most coastal Australian climates, guavas are surprisingly easy to grow, highly productive, and make an excellent choice for edible gardens, suburban backyards, courtyards and even large pots.
Whether you're planting one for fresh fruit, homemade juices, smoothies, chutneys or simply as a beautiful evergreen feature, the Guava Tree rewards you with fragrance, flavour and resilience.
Why You’ll Love Psidium guajava
- Delicious, fragrant fruit – Sweet, aromatic guavas with soft, creamy flesh. Great for fresh eating, desserts and preserves.
- Fast-growing & productive – Fruits young and produces heavily once established.
- Evergreen foliage – A lush, tropical look all year round.
- Compact size – Typically 3–5m but easy to keep smaller with pruning.
- Heat and drought tolerant once established — excellent for Aussie summers.
- Perfect for pots – Performs well in large containers on balconies and patios.
- Self-fertile – You only need one tree for fruit.
Size & Habit
Guava trees grow as a rounded, bushy small tree or large shrub.
- Mature height: 3–5m (can be kept 1.5–2.5m with pruning)
- Mature width: 2–3m
- Growth rate: Fast
- Form: Evergreen, dense, attractive branching
Fruiting & Seasonality
- Flowers: Spring to early summer – small, white, highly ornamental
- Fruit: Late summer to autumn (varies with climate)
- Fruit flavour: Sweet, tropical, aromatic with soft edible seeds
- Fruit skin: Yellow to green when ripe
Guava trees often produce two smaller crops in warm coastal climates.
Best Growing Conditions (Australia)
- Sun: Full sun (at least 6 hours daily)
- Soil: Well-drained, slightly acidic to neutral
- Irrigation: Keep consistently moist while young; drought-tolerant once established
- Climate: Thrives in Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern NSW, Central Coast, Perth and warm inland zones
- Frost: Protect young plants; mature plants handle light frost
How to Plant & Care
- Planting: Dig twice the width of the pot, enrich with compost and slow-release fertiliser.
- Mulching: Mulch heavily to retain moisture and boost fruit size.
- Feeding: Apply organic fruit-tree fertiliser in spring and late summer.
- Pruning: Trim lightly after fruiting to maintain size and increase next year’s yield.
- Pots: Use a 40–60L pot with premium potting mix for excellent results.
Where Guava Trees Thrive
Guavas love warm, humid or subtropical conditions, making them a perfect choice for most Australian backyards, including:
- Sydney
- Brisbane & SE QLD
- Central Coast
- Newcastle
- Wollongong
- Perth
- Northern NSW
- Adelaide (warm positions)
In cooler areas (ACT, Melbourne), plant in a warm microclimate or keep in a pot.
Perfect For
- Home orchards
- Edible gardens
- Suburban backyards
- Tropical-inspired landscapes
- Balconies and large decorative pots
- Kids’ gardens (easy and rewarding)
Quick Tips
- Plant in full sun for maximum fruit sweetness.
- Mulch deeply to encourage larger fruit.
- Prune lightly every year to keep tidy and productive.
- Pick when slightly soft and fragrant.
Why Buy Your Guava Tree From The Australian Plant Shop?
- Premium, healthy stock sourced directly from trusted Australian growers.
- Fast-growing, fruit-ready trees — no weak or underdeveloped plants.
- Carefully handled and delivered
Light requirement: Full Sun
Water requirement: Medium
Watering frequency:
Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil
Skill level: Intermediate
Growth rate: Intermediate
Suitable for containers: Yes
More info:
External links to more info:
Drought tolerance: Medium
Frost tolerance: Low
Wind tolerance: Medium
Disease and pest susceptibility:
Mature height:
Mature width:
Suitable for shaping: Yes
Colour: Green
Variegation: No
Size: Small/medium
Seasonality: Evergreen
Flowering: Yes; profuse/bright display
Flower colour: White
Flower fragrant: Yes
Flowering season: Spring to Summer
Fruit: Yes
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