Description
Cherry guava fruit is very similar to the normal guava (scientific name P. guava) but usually considered to be more attractive but smaller in size. The plant prefers acid soils and is not sensitive to soil structure. It can grow on shallow or infertile soils.
Psidium cattleianum, commonly known as strawberry guava, Cattley guava or cherry guava, is a small tree in the Myrtaceae (myrtle) family. The species is named in honor of English horticulturist William Cattley. The plant is native to south-east Brazil, but has been naturalized in Florida, Hawai’i, tropical Polynesia, Norfolk Island and Mauritius.
Its genus name Psidium comes from the Latin psidion, or “armlet.” The red-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. cattleyanum, is commonly known as purple guava, red cattley guava, red strawberry guava and red cherry guava. The yellow-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. littorale is variously known as yellow cattley guava, yellow strawberry guava, yellow cherry guava, lemon guava and in Hawaii as waiawī. Although P. cattleyanum has select economic uses, it is considered the most invasive plant in Hawaii.
