Feijoa (or Acca) sellowiana
Origin: South America (via Auburn, Alabama)
Improvement status: Unknown
Seeds per packet: ~20
Life cycle: Perennial
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Feijoa (also known as pineapple guava) is a South American evergreen in the myrtle family. It has spectacular red and white flowers (petals sweet and tasty!) and delicious green fruit, similar in look and texture to guava, but with a unique flavor all its own — guava is in there, and maybe pineapple, but so is wintergreen. Feijoa has been popular for over a century in the warmer parts of the Caucasus region, where it can be found as juice, compote, etc. It is also grown as an edible ornamental in Italy and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Feijoa is only just beginning to become popular in the United States, but it is quite easy to grow and relatively cold-hardy for a tropical fruit!
Our Alabama-grown seed comes to us from the good folks at Sheffield's Seeds in Locke, NY.
GROWING TIPS: Soak seeds for 24 hrs then nick with a knife before attempting to sprout. Grow in a sunny or partially shaded spot. Grows best in Zones 8-11, but should be able to handle most Zone 7 locales these days as well. Can be container-grown and brought inside during winter as a houseplant.
