I tried this plant along with the strawberry guava from Home Depot before and the frost killed it. You must protect them from frost..no more tropical plants for me. Good luck Laura. Nick

Thanks for the heads up Nick. I will save money for the funeral in January!

I have 2 of them that were planted last October one on the north side and one on the east side of the yard. I did cover them and they did well through the frost. The direct sun this summer when we had the 118 + temps kicked their butt a little so they dropped leaves, which I have read is normal. They are doing fine and have lots of new growth on them now. I just wish it didnt take so long for them to fruit but I will be patient.

Ok, well that gives me some hope. It hasn't been doing well in the full sun so I moved it to a more shady spot.

Once they get a good year in the ground they should be just fine with very little pampering; they can take the minor freezing temps we have in the valley and even the sunny summers. I have two and once I got the second one (of a different variety), I'm now getting fruit setting on!

Kevin

Keep in mind that you need a second pollinizer to get fruit set unless self fruitful variety: tasty showy flower pedals AND fruit. Evergreen hedge.

It is a cold tolerant "tropical" with buds surviving down to 16F, the plant down to about 10F (2F-12F depending upon circumstances). In fact it has a 50 chill hour requirement for fruiting. It can struggle with our heat especially its first year. Adapted to wide range of soils including highly alkaline.

I didn't know that about having 2 for fruit. I mostly bought it because the flowers looked beautiful.

I have 3 in the ground for over ten years that have never set fruit. They each get several hours of shade a day and still get burnt leaves every summer.

The hummingbirds and mockingbirds enjoy the flowers in late April.