Chilean Guava | Ugni molinae
Loved by Queen Victoria!
Grown by John
South Downs National Park
Pre-order for delivery Late October
Perfectly happy plants, or your money back
Specialist overnight plant delivery
The highlights
- Sweet with hints of strawberry and pineapple
- Great for small gardens
- Make flavoured vodka or delicious muffins
- Harvest from September to October
Description
- Known as the Chilean guava, strawberry myrtle, tazziberry (in Australia) and ugniberry (in New Zealand), one thing's for certain - whatever you call this shrub, it's bloomin' brilliant!
- Compact and bushy in appearance, ugni molinae comprises waxy evergreen leaves, nodding, bell-shaped summer blooms (which have a lovely scent) and delicious crimson red berries in the autumn
- First introduced to the UK in the middle of the 19th century, the fruit quickly became Queen Vic's fave, and really, who can blame her?
- The round fruits are incredibly moreish, boasting a sweet taste not dissimilar to that of strawberries or pineapple (some gardeners even say the taste reminds them of cotton candy)
- The plant's naturally small stature (growing to a height of between just 1 and 2 metres) makes it ideal for those gardens more limited on space - we think it would work particularly well in a sheltered courtyard garden in a large pot
- Pick and eat the berries straight from the bush, bake them in muffins, cookies and friands, or make a delicious tazziberry-infused vodka, gin or tequila
- Native to Patagonia, the juice of the berries was once used as a sort of natural energy drink to help fuel the expedtions of indigenous populations like the Mapuche and Selk'nam peoples
What To Expect
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How To Grow
Excellent pest and disease resistance
Not usually troubled by pests or disease.
Water regularly when establishing
Water your plant well during its first growing season, then, once established, ensure the soil doesn't dry out, aiming to keep it nice and moist (not wet).
Full sun to partial shade
Best fruit and flower production occurs in full sun, however this plant will still grow nicely in partial shade.
Any moist, well-drained soil
A shrub that grows best in well-drained soil that retains some moisture. If your soil is poor or heavy, then work in some organic compost.
Mulch in spring
Apply a layer of well-rotted manure mulch around the plant's base in the springtime.
Planting Calendar
- Best time to plant
- Harvest
- Flower
South Downs National Park
Meet John
110 years' expertise free with every plant
You simply can’t buy better fruit plants and here’s why. John grows them outdoors, just like his family has done since 1908, so they’re more than a match for the UK weather. John only has time for the top performing varieties, meaning that you can be assured of a successful (and blooming tasty) soft fruit crop.
What customers say about us
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Growing with Roots
Good to know
Our plants are grown in the UK
Specialist UK growers we know and trust grow your plants the traditional way, with organic fertiliser and biological pest control. They pick only the healthiest plants for you, professionally pruning them so that they’ll grow strong and well shaped.
Our plants are delivered overnight
Your plants are sent to you fresh from the field in our plastic free box that’s specially designed to hold them tight, then securely delivered by specialist plant couriers - straight from the grower to your garden within 24 hours.
We're here to help at every step
We want your plants to have a long and healthy life. Expect easy-to-follow grow guides and videos devised by our team of experts.
Perfect plants, guaranteed
We’re confident that you’ll be delighted with your new plants. Need help? Alice and her team are here to guarantee you’re perfectly happy.
Learn from our experts
10 Unusual Soft Fruits to Grow in the UK
Digging deep to answer your questions
How do I know I'm getting quality plants?
All of our plants are grown in specialist nurseries with the highest standards of plant care and sustainability. We guarantee you'll love them as much as we do! Don't just take our word for it - we've got thousands of great reviews on Trustpilot.
When will I get my plants?
The delivery timescale for each plant is on the web page (near the 'add to basket's button). You'll receive a dispatch email with an exact delivery date once your plants are on their way, so you can get the garden ready.
How will my plants be packed and delivered?
We send all of our orders through a courier network designed to handle plants. Specialist equipment ensures that no plants will be damaged during the packing process and every order is carefully finished and checked by plant-loving humans. Your plants will arrive in the most sustainable packaging possible with minimal to no plastic used.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver to anywhere in Mainland UK for our standard delivery cost. We are able to deliver most plants to Highlands and non UK mainland however this will be at an additional cost. This will be calculated at the checkout. Please note, deliveries to these locations will take longer. Unfortunately, we are not able to deliver to Northern Ireland at present.
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