22 Different Guava Tree Varieties

Native to tropical America, guava trees are grown in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. In the appropriate conditions, these trees are super easy to grow and produce a bountiful harvest. They are grown for shade, their gorgeous foliage and blooms, and, of course, delectable tropical fruits.

These trees are well suited for zones 9B through 11. However, it is essential to protect young trees against frost, as temperatures below 30 degrees F (-1 degrees C) may damage young plants. A guava tree will reach a height of about 20 feet (6 meters). So, make sure you have enough space to allow your guava tree to flourish. Your guava will thrive in full sun and mild temperatures. However, it can survive in drought situations.

Another reason why you may want to consider growing a guava tree in your garden is that these trees are not particularly picky when it comes to the soil. They are well adapted to a wide range of soils, producing ample fruits in a variety of soils, except for saline soils or those with low drainage capacity and high clay content.  

Regardless of the tree variety, most guavas appear to be the same from the outside. The subtropical fruit is usually small (weighing around 2 ounces), pear-shaped, or round with a rough peel that is edible when ripe. Inside, it is studded with edible seeds, which are normally grouped around the center. However, you may also find seedless guavas. Its flesh can range from pink to red, white, or yellow.

If you have the correct temperature and garden space, all you need to do is learn about the various guava tree species before choosing the perfect tree for your home. Read on to learn about some of the best guava varieties that you can consider.

1. Round Guava

• Psidium guajava L.
• Harvest time: Summer to Fall and Late Winter to Spring
• Tree height: 20 feet 

The common guava, also known as Yellow guava, Lemon guava, or Pear-shaped guava is a small, evergreen tree that prefers warmer climates and easily succumbs to frost. It features a mottled greenish bark and long serrated leaves. It produces round, oval, or pear-shaped fruits that are technically berries with soft flesh.   

2. Cattley/Strawberry Guava

• Psidium cattleianum
• Harvest time: Spring
• Tree height: 6 to 14 feet

The cattley guava is far more frost-resistant than the normal round guava. It comes in two varieties: one with bright yellow skin and the other with purplish-red skin. The plant is a big shrub with ovate, glossy green leaves and white flowers. The fruits are spherical and contain many hard seeds. The delicate pulp tastes like strawberries.

3. Cás/Wild Guava

• Psidium friedrichsthalianum 
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree Height: 20 feet

Wild guava is a small-sized tree or shrub with narrow and slender branchlets and a smooth brown to dark brown bark. Foliage is smooth, dark green, and oblong with a noticeable midrib, pointed apex, and narrow base. The tree produces tiny, sulfur-yellow fruits that are ideal for preparing delicious jam and jelly.

4. Guisaro/Brazilian Guava

• Psidium guineense
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree Height: 3 to 10 feet

Also known as the Sour guava, Brazilian guava is a slow-growing shrub. It has a grayish bark and cylindrical or slightly flattened branchlets. Leaves are stiff and ovate with a narrow base. White flowers appear individually or in clusters of three on the leaf axils. The fruit is yellow and spherical, containing a large number of tiny, hard seeds.

5. Feijoa/Pineapple Guava

• Feijoa sellowiana
• Harvest time: Fall
• Tree Height: 3 to 23 feet

Native to Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia, Pineapple guava is widely grown as an ornamental tree. It is a small, evergreen shrub that produces juicy fruits about the size of a chicken egg. The tree is versatile and easy to grow with an upright branching form and lovely edible flowers.

6. Cherry Guava

• Psidium cattleianum
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 3 to 12 ft 

Cherry guava is a compact, evergreen tree with smooth, rounded branches adorned with smooth, leathery leaves. The fruit is a beautiful wine red in color. The skin is very delicate and the flesh is considered to be the juiciest and finest flavor among all guava varieties.

7. Mountain Guava

• Psidium amplexicaul 
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 8 to 20 feet

Mountain guava is often called the wild relative of Round guava. Native to the Caribbean, it is found in the moist limestone forests and numerous islands, including the Virgin Islands. The tree is characterized by its thick and almost round leaves. The fruit is round and delicious. White and green flowers bloom during the summertime.  

8. Mexican Cream

• Psidium guajava ‘Mexican cream’
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 8 to 30 feet

Mexican Cream Guava is a high-yielding tree native to Mexico. It produces bite-sized fruit that can be eaten right from the tree or canned and preserved. The smooth, round fruits grow in clusters and have a pale yellow exterior with a scarlet blush. Mexican Cream Guavas feature a rich, fragrant, creamy white flesh.

9. White Indian

• Psidium guajava ‘white Indian’
• Harvest time: Winter, spring
• Tree height: 20 to 22 feet

The White Indian Guava tree, like the Red Indian Guava tree, is native to Florida. These trees produce relatively smaller fruits, measuring 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The fruit contains a significant amount of seeds. The tree is more cold-hardy than most other varieties, so if you live in a frost-prone area, White Indian may be the ideal choice for you.

10. Detwiler

• Psidium guajava ‘Detwiler
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 6 to 14 feet

An evergreen shrub, Detwiler guava trees were first cultivated in Southern California. They are best described as a transitional fruit between the white and red guavas, as their texture, flavor, and size fall somewhere in between the red and white varieties. They are often used as a shelterbelt in gardens.

11. Sweet White Indonesian

• Psidium guajava ‘sweet white Indonesian’
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 6 to 14 feet

The evergreen shrub, Indonesian white guava is a heavy producer. It produces huge, spherical fruits. The fruit’s outer layer is smooth, featuring a yellowish-green color. The fleshy interior is pinkish-white and creamy. The trunk of the tree is encircled by a copper-colored bark that flakes off.

12. Red Indian

• Psidium guajava ‘red Indian’
• Harvest time: Winter, spring
• Tree height: 8 to 12 feet

Native to Florida, the Red Indian guava tree produces medium to large-sized fruit with a strong, fragrant fragrance. The fruit features delicious, red flesh and yellow, pink-flushed skin. The Red Indian guava has a large number of seeds. However, they are all quite small.

13. Homestead Guava 

• Psidium guajava ‘homestead’
• Harvest time: Summer 
• Tree height: 10 feet 

Homestead guava is a hybrid between the ‘Ruby’ and ‘Supreme’ cultivars. It was produced for the first time by G. D. Ruehle in 1945 at the Tropical Research and Education Center in Homestead. The fruit is huge and has thick flesh with few seeds. The pulp is scarlet and sweet, with a flavor and texture that is second to none.  

14. Costa Rican Guava

• Psidium freidlichiana 
• Harvest time: Fall
• Tree height: 3 to 12 feet

The Costa Rican Guava, commonly known as Cas, is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree. The foliage is lime green with red veins. Despite its resemblance to the ordinary Guava, Costa Rican Guava has a distinct flavor profile. Fruits can be rather sour; therefore they’re normally used in juices and preserves rather than eaten fresh.

15. Pyramidal Shaped Guava

• Psidium pumilum
• Harvest time: Winter, spring
• Tree height: 3 to 12 feet

As the name suggests, the pyramidal-shaped guava tree is shaped like a pyramid. The leaves are tiny and light-colored with about 13–17 pairs of main veins. The tree blooms twice a year, resulting in plenty of fruit. It takes about 130 days for the fruits to reach full maturity.

16. Banarasi

• Psidium guajava ‘banarasi surkha ‘
• Harvest time: Winter, spring
• Tree height: 10 to 18 feet

Banarsi is an important guava variety grown in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states in India. It is a small tree with a broad crown. The fruit is round and light yellow and complements the medium green foliage.  

17. Chittidar

• Psidium guajava ‘chittidar’
• Harvest time: Fall
• Tree height: 6 to 12 feet

Chittidar is another popular variety grown mainly in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is a dwarf variety with spreading branches and a round crown. The fruit is round with white flesh. It is characterized by red dots on the skin.  

18. Harijha

• Psidium guajava ‘Harijha’ 
• Harvest time: Winter, spring
• Tree height: 6 to 14 feet

The Harijha guava is a small-sized tree. It is sparsely branched, featuring brilliant green foliage. It produces medium-sized fruit that is round and greenish-yellow in color. It boasts a distinctly sweet taste, making the Harijha variety ideal for raw consumption.  

19. Arka Mridula

• Psidium guajava ‘arka mridula’ 
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 12 feet

Arka Mridula is a dwarf cultivar with dense leaves and a compact, spherical crown. However, it produces large, white-fleshed fruits. The tree is a selection of Allahabad Safeda open-pollinated seedlings. Plants are semi-vigorous and spread out in nature.

20. Hong Kong Pink Guava

• Psidium guajava ‘hong kong pink’
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 3 to 12 feet  

The Hong Kong Guava tree has a spreading growth tendency. It is a high-yielding tree that produces huge, spherical fruits that can weigh anywhere from 6 to 8 ounces. The fruit is smooth pink on the outside with only a few seeds inside. It has a mild and pleasant flavor.

21. Pink Acid 

• “Speer” x “Stone Acid” cross from Florida
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 3 to 12 feet   

Pink acid is a hybrid between the Speer and Stone Acid variety. It is a small-sized tree or shrub that is typically employed in cultivar breeding programs in Hawaii. The fruit has dark pink flesh and few seeds. The flavor is agreeable for eating fresh.  

22. Beaumont Guava

• Psidium guajava ‘Beaumont
• Harvest time: Winter, summer, fall
• Tree height: 3 to 12 feet   

The Beaumont guava tree is heavy-bearing. It is hardy up to 26°F. The fruit is pulpy and delicious, with moderate acidity. It has a characteristic musky scent of papaya, passion fruit, melon, and mint as tropical undertones. The flesh may be white or pink while the skin is green.