Bambina Pineapple Guava

The Bambina™ Pineapple Guava is part of the Downhome Harvest Edibles Collection from Southern Living! Most people don't have any idea of what a Pineapple Guava is. But that's kind of a shame! It's a delicious addition to any warm landscape, and chances are that you'll be the only one on the block with one.

This selection produces egg-shaped fruits that range from 1.5-3 inches long. They are a blueish green color, with a waxy outside and a light roughness. Upon cutting into the fruit, you'll find a sweet fragrance and creamy white center. The flavor is difficult to describe but is distinctly tropical in flavor. Most agree that the flavor is somewhere between a strawberry, pineapple, and guava. Additionally, this fruit turns ripe in late fall. This makes it one of the last harvests of the season, which is perfect for anyone looking to stretch out their fresh fruit season.

Besides tasty late-fall fruits, this selection features edible spring petals as well! These blooms are gorgeous. Dark red petals with white edges and thick red stamens with creamy golden tips. Truly tropical in appearance. Pick off the petals to your heart's content, they won't affect the fruit production. Furthermore, each petal is somewhat sweet, with a hint of cinnamon. They're a perfect addition to salads or tropical beverages for a fantastic flavor and color contrast.

Its foliage is a grayish green and grows with a naturally rounded growth habit. In addition, these leaves remain dense, compact, and evergreen all year long.

Unlike other Pineapple Guava plants, the Bambina is a dwarf and only reaches 3-4' H x 3-4' W. Therefore, use this fruiting shrub in a hedge, border, container, mass planting, or in a mixed garden bed. You'll appreciate its low-maintenance nature.

Bambina Pineapple Guava Care

Hardy from USDA Zones 8-10. Though it can be somewhat more cold tolerant when planted on the east or west side of a home, against the home's foundation.

Plant in Full Sun to encourage maximum foliage, bloom, and fruit production. At least 5-6 hours of direct sun daily.

Water 2-3 times a week during the first growing season. In the second growing season, provide supplementary water 1-2 times per week. Afterward, it's considered rather water-wise.

Fertilize with a balanced organic fertilizer several times throughout the growing season to promote maximum growth and fruit production.

How to Plant Bambina Pineapple Guava Plants

Dig a hole three times the width of your plant's rootball. The hole should be deep enough that the top of the plant’s root ball is even with or slightly above the ground around it. Mix your native soil with rich garden soil or compost to provide additional nutrients for your growing plant. If your soil is clay-rich, we recommend mixing pine bark in with your native soil at a ratio of about 1:1. This will help improve the drainage and breathability of the soil. Fill the hole back up with your soil mixture. Afterward, we also recommend applying 3-4 inches of mulch around the base of your plant to help it retain moisture.

Suggested Companion Plants for the Bambina Pineapple Guava

Putting together a fruit garden? Try other fruiting varieties from the Southern Living Plant Collection, such as the Little Miss Figgy Dwarf Fig, Prime-ark Freedom Thornless Blackberry, and Bless Your Heart Blueberry. All three of these varieties are naturally compact and produce delectable fruit. Furthermore, they produce fruit at different times, so you can keep your landscape laden with fruit nearly all growing season long.