Jambu Batu

Common name: Guava

Malay name: Jambu Batu

Scientific name: Psidium guajava L.

Conservation status: Cultivated, Naturalised, Introduced (Central America and northern South America)

Description

A tree that reaches up to 10 m tall. Tree bark is smooth and copper-coloured. Leaves are egg-shaped, fragrant and oppositely arranged. Flowers are white, with 4-5 petals. It produces round, egg-shaped or pear-shaped fruits with a crown-like structure. The fruits turn from green to yellow when ripe.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds, cuttings or grafting

Ecological function: The flowers of this tree attract pollinators. Its fruits are eaten by fruit-feeding animals. It is hardy and drought-tolerant. It provides shade. It is useful for vertical layering in home gardens and permaculture.

Pollinator: Insects, mainly honeybees

Soil: Sand, loam, clay, organic soils

Moisture: Moist, well-drained soils

Shade: No shade, light shade

Use: The ripe fruit is eaten raw or served as salad or dessert.