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Plant Profile: Myrtus ugni - Chilean Guava

Myrtus ugni

Myrtus ugni - Chilean Guava

Family: Myrtaceae

Common Name(s): Ugni molinae, Eugenia ugni, Chilean Guava

Native to: Chile

Flowering: Fruiting in Autumn, Flowering in Summer

Watering: Keep the soil moist during the dryer periods

Planting Aspect: Full sun to part shade

Preferred Climate: Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland


Description

Dense, evergreen, bushy shrub with small, glossy, dark green aromatic foliage tinged with a beautiful red growth when young. The plant becomes smothered with fluffy white flowers in summer and bears pea-sized purplish-red berry fruit that can also be made into jam. An ornamental plant that should be grown anywhere that the strawberry aroma from the fruit can be appreciated. Myrtus grows to a height of 1.8 metres or more but can also be grown as a low hedge or container specimen.


Cultivation

Plant Myrtus in a moist, lime free soil that is well draining and has sunny to partially shady aspect. However in hot climates it definitely requires partial shade. Good composting and mulching is very beneficial. Will withstand mild frosts and don’t mind being thirsty, although this would affect the fruit yield. Prune in winter to keep the plants compact and bushy. They are relatively unaffected by pests.

Revised: 5th Jan 2010 @ 1:32 PM
Keywords: myrtus ugni, chilean guava, myrtaceae, myrtus, ugni, chilean, plant, guava, nursery, fruit