Pink Guava Zone 9a

[ShadowNight030]

I have this pink guava in zone 9a, central Louisiana. I bought it as a pretty small plant from a big box store a few years back. Well, it died back it’s first winter, but came back up very vigorously. Every winter it has done this. Can I ever expect fruit? It’s pretty tough, hardier than I expected. Every year it gets to about 5 feet. This photo is from December 2021, I had to cut it back to a few inches after a 22 degree night this past February; it’s already coming back really well. 

[Xenon]

Fruit is very common in warmer 9a and above. You would only need one mild-ish winter for fruit, above 24-25ish. 

 

[Xerarch]

I bought a small one at a big box store last year, kept it in a pot through the winter and planted it as soon as frost danger was over.  It appears to be starting to flower now, so looks like they will flower quite readily so I would agree with Xenon, just one mild winter/some protection and it should be a go.

[necturus]

May need a high 9B-low 10A winter for fruit. Mine got frozen back this winter. 

Additionally, when you finally get fruit, cover with a net. Birds/critters ate all my fruit in one night. I had hundreds.

[Xerarch]

22 minutes ago, necturus said:

May need a high 9B-low 10A winter for fruit. Mine got frozen back this winter. 

Additionally, when you finally get fruit, cover with a net. Birds/critters ate all my fruit in one night. I had hundreds.

[Xenon]

My guavas lost some twigs and defoliated at 25F but otherwise leafed out and are okay. People growing them closer to town that saw 27-28F did not get much damage at all other than leaf drop and minor tip damage. 

I prefer the "seedless" white guava but it's far from my favorite fruit. 

 

[ShadowNight030]

Well this is good news. I may try to protect it this next winter to encourage fruiting. What’s the lowest guava is considered root hardy? The only time I gave it assistance is the freeze of 2021, I had dug it up and potted it for the freeze. 

[Xenon]

3 minutes ago, ShadowNight030 said:

Well this is good news. I may try to protect it this next winter to encourage fruiting. What’s the lowest guava is considered root hardy? The only time I gave it assistance is the freeze of 2021, I had dug it up and potted it for the freeze. 

Guava is 100% root hardy in zone 9...even 12F Palmaggedon root hardy (but then again... jackfruit and other fairly tropical things are also root hardy for me). 

There are also lemon and cattley/strawberry guavas that are significantly more hardy than tropical guava. I don't think they get any wood damage until around 20F. 

[Xerarch]

39 minutes ago, Xenon said:

Guava is 100% root hardy in zone 9

Are guavas typically sold in S. Texas usually grafted? Of course if grafted that would diminish the appeal of being only root hardy in the worst cold.  I have 4 guavas in my garden that I have planted this year.  3 of them appear to not have a graft while the Ruby Supreme has a spot a foot off the ground where I can't exactly tell if it is a graft or if it was just one leader selected over the one next to it. 

[Xenon]

17 minutes ago, Xerarch said:

Are guavas typically sold in S. Texas usually grafted? Of course if grafted that would diminish the appeal of being only root hardy in the worst cold.  I have 4 guavas in my garden that I have planted this year.  3 of them appear to not have a graft while the Ruby Supreme has a spot a foot off the ground where I can't exactly tell if it is a graft or if it was just one leader selected over the one next to it. 

Guava is almost never grafted. Almost always air layers or seedlings. Same with longan and lychee (because you always need more tropical fruits).