How to grow Guava in Australia
Guava (Psidium guajava) is a fast, shallow-rooted tropical shrub or small tree with round or pear-shaped, strongly fragrant fruit, white or pink inside and full of small seeds. It grows in both humid and dry warm climates, crops quickly from a grafted tree and lives for decades. It cannot take frost, and in coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales it has become an environmental weed, so manage the fruit with care.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Guava in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to March | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | October to January | Marginal tropical; tolerates Sydney but frost-sensitive seedlings need protection. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | Not suited | Frost-sensitive; Melbourne winter kills young plants. Unsuitable unless in heated greenhouse or protected microclimate. |
| Adelaide & SA | September and October | Plant Sep to Oct after frost in a warm sheltered spot. Water deeply through summer; young trees need frost cloth in the Hills. |
| Perth & WA | September to November | Plant Sep to Nov in a warm sheltered spot. Mulch the sand heavily and water deeply through summer. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Subtropical fruit killed by hard frost. Not viable outdoors. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Guava unsuitable for Canberra: tropical; frost-intolerant despite extended tropical season. Use fig or cherry instead. |
| North Queensland | September to March | Wet season. Guava is tropical staple fruit; fruits year-round in north. Thrives in humidity. |
| Darwin & Top End | September to March | Wet season. Guava is tropical staple fruit; fruits year-round in north. Thrives in humidity. |
Not to be confused with: Feijoa, sometimes called pineapple guava, a cool-climate shrub from a different genus, and cherry or strawberry guava (Psidium cattleyanum), a smaller relative.
Where to plant
Guava grows in both humid and dry tropical and subtropical climates, in soils from heavy clay to light sand, and tolerates a wide pH range of about 4.5 to 8.2. It cannot tolerate frost. Plant it in full sun in a warm, frost-free spot, sheltered from strong wind. Most of its feeding roots are in the top 25 cm of soil, so mulch well and keep the root zone free of competition.
Guava is widely naturalised in coastal Queensland and northern New South Wales and is regarded as an environmental weed in both states, because birds and animals spread the seed from fallen fruit into bushland. It is not a declared weed, but pick up fallen fruit, keep trees away from bushland, and prune after harvest so the tree stays small and easy to manage.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: plant from September to March in a warm, sheltered, frost-free spot.
- North Queensland and Darwin: plant in the wet season, September to March. Around Darwin there can be two fruiting periods, October to November and February to April.
- Sydney: marginal. Plant from October to January in a warm, sheltered spot, and protect young plants from frost.
- Perth and Adelaide: plant in spring (September to November in Perth, September to October in Adelaide) in a warm, sheltered spot. Mulch heavily and water deeply through summer; young trees need frost cloth in the Adelaide Hills.
- Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart: our calendar marks these as unsuitable, as frost kills guava.
Choosing a variety
Buy a grafted tree of a named variety. Grafted guavas grow quickly and can fruit in their first year, while seedlings take 3 to 4 years and give unpredictable fruit, as guavas cross easily. Some varieties have crisp, apple-like flesh and others soft, white or pink, very fragrant flesh. For the Darwin region, the City of Darwin recommends Northern Gold; Thai White is another variety grown there. Seedless varieties exist but generally lack flavour.
How to plant
- Plant in the warm months so the tree establishes before any cool weather.
- Water the tree in its pot, then plant it at the same depth, with any graft union above the soil.
- Water in deeply and mulch widely, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.
- Space trees 4 to 6 m apart, or closer if you will prune them hard to keep them small.
- Train young trees to a single, upright stem with a bushy canopy by light pruning.
Watering and feeding
Guava is drought tolerant once established, but in dry areas or the tropical dry season, water regularly while the fruit develops, or the fruit stays small. Young trees need regular water until established. Rain while the fruit is ripening can spoil its quality.
Feed with a complete fertiliser every two months in the first year and every three months in the second year, then a few times through each growing season after that. Mulch to hold moisture over the shallow roots.
Pruning and care through the year
- Guava fruits on new growth, so prune after each harvest. Shorten branches and thin crowded growth to encourage new fruiting shoots and keep the tree to a height you can pick.
- Remove water shoots and suckers from the base.
- Prune off low branches that rest on the ground, which can rot and let disease in.
- Pick up fallen fruit, which feeds fruit fly and spreads seed.
Harvesting
Ripe guavas change colour, usually to pale green or yellow, and give off a strong, characteristic fragrance. For the best flavour, let them ripen on the tree and pick by hand. Fruit that ripens during rain can be poor in quality.
Eat ripe guavas within a few days. They are eaten fresh, stewed, or made into jam, jelly and juice.
Growing in pots
Dwarf guava varieties can be grown in a large pot at least 50 cm wide with a free-draining potting mix. Water regularly in the warm months, feed every couple of months, and prune after fruiting to keep the tree compact. In cool areas a pot can be moved under shelter in winter.
Using it
Eat guavas fresh, skin and all, or scoop out the flesh. They make excellent jam, jelly, paste and juice, and can be stewed for pies. The many small seeds are usually strained out for jelly.
Pests and diseases
Fruit fly is the main problem in most areas. In the Top End, several beetles and moths also attack guava.
Pests to watch for
- Fruit fly Small puncture marks in ripening fruit, which then rots inside. Pick fruit as it ripens, collect fallen fruit and use bags, netting or traps.
- Caterpillars Case moths on the leaves, and in the Top End a ringbarking grub that bores into the trunk and hides the hole under chewed bark.
Diseases to watch for
- Anthracnose Dark, sunken spots on ripening fruit, which rot, in warm, wet weather. Pick fruit promptly and prune for air flow.
Common questions
How long does a guava tree take to fruit?
A grafted tree can fruit in its first year. Trees grown from seed take 3 to 4 years and the fruit can vary, as guavas cross easily.
How do I know when a guava is ripe?
The skin changes colour, usually to pale green or yellow, and the fruit gives off a strong, sweet fragrance. Let it ripen on the tree for the best flavour.
Is guava a weed in Australia?
It is regarded as an environmental weed in New South Wales and Queensland, where it is naturalised along the coast, but it is not a declared weed. Pick up fallen fruit, keep it away from bushland and keep the tree pruned.
When should I prune a guava tree?
After harvest. Guava fruits on new growth, so pruning after each crop encourages new fruiting shoots and keeps the tree small enough to pick.
Can I grow guava in Sydney or Perth?
In a warm, sheltered, frost-free spot, yes. Plant in late spring, protect young trees from frost, and in Perth mulch heavily and water deeply through summer.
Why are my guavas small?
Usually dry soil while the fruit is developing. Water regularly through fruit development, and prune after harvest to encourage strong new fruiting growth.
Sources we checked: City of Darwin: Guava (community orchard fact sheet); Weeds of Australia (Lucid): Psidium guajava; Brisbane City Council Weed Identification Tool: Guava; Gardening Australia: Pruning guava trees.