Chilean guava
Ugni molinae
Also called Ugni, Tazziberry and Strawberry myrtle
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitSmall, evergreen, and the berries taste of wild strawberry and bubblegum — Queen Victoria's favourite fruit, which is the only reason anyone in Britain grows it. It wants acid soil and shelter from cold wind.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Sun to part shade
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 1.5 m tall · 1.2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Chile and Argentina
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-22. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The newest leaves at the shoot tips go yellow between green veins while the old ones stay dark. It wants acid soil, like the blueberry above it — ericaceous compost and rainwater.Lime-induced chlorosis · disorder
- Small leaves crisping brown at the edges on the exposed side of the bush through winter. It is hardy enough; it is the cold wind it will not take.Wind burn · disorder