Overview

Embark on a delightful gardening journey with the lemon guava live plant, a fantastic addition for any enthusiast looking to cultivate their own tropical fruits. This robust plant, scientifically known as Psidium cattleyanum ‘Lucidum’, offers a truly unique and rewarding experience. Originating from Brazil, the lemon guava is cherished for its exceptionally flavorful, bright yellow fruits that boast a sweet-tart taste reminiscent of a blend between traditional guava and lemon. This particular specimen arrives as a healthy, thriving lemon guava live plant in a convenient half-gallon pot, making it an ideal choice for immediate planting in your garden or a larger container. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, growing a tropical fruit tree like the lemon guava is a fulfilling endeavor that promises fresh, exotic produce right at your fingertips.

The lemon guava live plant is not only prized for its delicious fruit but also for its attractive foliage and compact growth habit, making it a versatile choice for various landscape designs. It’s often referred to as a pineapple guava or strawberry guava due to its similar appearance and fruit characteristics, though it stands out with its distinct lemon-like flavor profile. This resilient plant is relatively easy to care for, thriving in warm climates and adapting well to container living in cooler regions, where it can be brought indoors during colder months. Imagine harvesting your own fragrant, juicy guavas, perfect for fresh eating, jams, jellies, or refreshing beverages. This half gallon guava plant is a great starting point for establishing your own edible landscape.

Key Benefits

Integrating a lemon guava live plant into your garden or patio offers a multitude of benefits, from its delectable fruit to its ornamental appeal. This tropical gem provides a continuous source of fresh, healthy produce and enhances your outdoor space:

• Delicious, Nutritious Fruit: Enjoy a consistent supply of sweet and tangy lemon guavas, packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants. The unique flavor makes it a favorite for fresh eating, desserts, and culinary experiments.
• Ornamental Appeal: Beyond its fruit, the lemon guava live plant features attractive, glossy green leaves and charming white flowers, adding visual interest to your garden or patio throughout the year.
• Adaptable Growth: This versatile tropical fruit tree can be grown in the ground in warm climates or successfully cultivated in containers, making it suitable for patios, balconies, and even indoor spaces during winter.
• Edible Landscaping Potential: Perfect for edible landscaping, the lemon guava contributes both beauty and bounty, allowing you to create a productive and aesthetically pleasing environment.
• Relatively Low Maintenance: Once established, the lemon guava live plant is known for its resilience and requires moderate care, making it a good choice for busy gardeners.
• Attracts Pollinators: Its fragrant flowers naturally attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, contributing to the health and biodiversity of your garden ecosystem.
• Unique Flavor Profile: Experience a distinct taste that combines the sweetness of guava with a refreshing lemon zest, offering a culinary experience unlike any other common fruit.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your lemon guava live plant is straightforward, and with the right conditions, it will flourish and produce abundant fruit. This tropical fruit tree thrives in warm, sunny environments. For optimal growth and fruit production, provide at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. If growing in a container, choose a large pot (at least 15-20 gallons once mature) with good drainage, allowing ample space for root development. Remember that a half gallon guava plant will need to be repotted as it grows.

Watering is crucial, especially for young plants and those grown in containers. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Reduce watering during cooler, dormant periods. The lemon guava live plant prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0-7.0). A good quality potting mix enriched with organic matter works best for container plants. Fertilize every 2-3 months during the growing season (spring through fall) with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer formulated for fruit trees. Pruning can be done to maintain size and shape, encourage branching, and remove any dead or diseased wood, typically after the fruiting season. To grow lemon guava successfully, protect it from frost if you live in a colder climate by bringing container plants indoors or providing frost protection for in-ground plants.

Common pests are generally not a major issue for the lemon guava live plant, but keep an eye out for aphids or scale insects. Address any infestations promptly with organic insecticidal soaps or neem oil. Ensure good air circulation around the plant to prevent fungal diseases. With proper care, your tropical fruit tree will reward you with delicious harvests for years to come. Understanding how to grow lemon guava involves patience and consistent attention to its needs, leading to a bountiful yield.

Size & Details

Your lemon guava live plant arrives in a half-gallon nursery pot, establishing a strong root system and ready for transplanting. At this stage, the plant typically stands about 12-18 inches tall, depending on growth rate and recent pruning. When mature, whether planted in the ground or a large container, this tropical fruit tree can reach heights of 10-15 feet with a similar spread, though it can be kept smaller with regular pruning, making it ideal for edible landscaping or patio growing. The growth rate is moderate, and you can expect your first fruits within 2-3 years under ideal conditions.

The plant will be shipped in its nursery container with appropriate packaging to ensure its safe arrival. The fruits are generally round to oval, about 1-2 inches in diameter, and ripen to a vibrant yellow color. They are typically ready for harvest from summer through fall, offering a long season of enjoyment. This half gallon guava is a great starter plant, allowing you to watch it mature and begin producing its unique, flavorful fruit.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: A mature lemon guava live plant can reach 10-15 feet tall and wide if planted in the ground. However, it can be maintained at a smaller size (4-8 feet) with regular pruning, especially when grown in a large container.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: This lemon guava live plant is shipped in a half-gallon nursery pot, providing a healthy root ball and a good head start for your gardening project. You’ll want to repot it into a larger container or plant it directly in the ground.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The lemon guava live plant is primarily an outdoor plant in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler climates, it can be grown outdoors in containers during warm months and brought indoors as a houseplant for winter protection.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: This tropical fruit tree thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and fruit production. Partial afternoon shade can be beneficial in extremely hot climates.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the lemon guava live plant is considered relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for both experienced and novice gardeners. Consistent watering, adequate sunlight, and occasional fertilization are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your lemon guava live plant will arrive as a healthy, live plant in its half-gallon pot, carefully packaged to minimize stress during transit, ready for planting or repotting upon arrival.
• Q: How long until it blooms and fruits? A: Under optimal conditions, a young lemon guava live plant can start blooming and producing fruit within 2-3 years. Fruit production typically occurs from summer through fall.
• Q: Can I use lemon guava in cooking? A: Absolutely! The unique sweet-tart flavor of lemon guava makes it excellent for fresh eating, fruit salads, making jams, jellies, sauces, and tropical beverages. It’s a versatile fruit for culinary creations.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature this plant can tolerate? A: The lemon guava live plant is sensitive to frost. It can tolerate temperatures down to about 25-30°F (-4 to -1°C) for short periods, but prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures will cause damage.
• Q: What soil type does it prefer? A: This plant prefers well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. A good quality sandy loam or a rich potting mix with plenty of organic matter is ideal for growing a healthy tropical fruit tree.