Feijoa Acca sellowiana
Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Myrtaceae family, native to Southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and northern Argentina. It grows 3–5 m (10–16 ft) tall and 3–4 m (10–13 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -9 °C (16 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan Feijoa in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Feijoa at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Myrtaceae |
| Mature height | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–4 m (10–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -9 °C (16 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: fruit, flower petals |
| Native to | Southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and northern Argentina |
| Common in gardens of | 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Is Feijoa toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Feijoa
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Guava: Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) infects guava, feijoa, Surinam cherry and many other Myrtaceae; it spreads by airborne spores between them. Evidence B
See Feijoa in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (2 plants)
Questions about Feijoa
- How far apart should I plant Feijoa?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–4 m (10–13 ft).
- Does Feijoa need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Feijoa need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Feijoa?
- It tolerates about -9 °C (16 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- When does Feijoa flower?
- From about May for 3–5 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Feijoa poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Feijoa?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Feijoa. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Hardy to about −9 °C when established (RHS H4); fruit can be lost to frost. Planting two cultivars improves fruit set. Flower petals are eaten and attract birds that pollinate.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Lemon myrtle Backhousia citriodora
- Guava Psidium guajava
- Surinam cherry (pitanga) Eugenia uniflora
- Cider gum (eucalyptus) Eucalyptus gunnii
- Lilly pilly Syzygium smithii
- Crimson bottlebrush Melaleuca citrina
- Mānuka (tea tree) Leptospermum scoparium
- Pōhutukawa (NZ Christmas tree) Metrosideros excelsa