Acca sellowiana (O.Berg) Burret

A small spreading tree. It can grow to 3-5 m tall and spread to 5 m wide. The bark is pale grey. The branches are swollen at the nodes. The stems are thin, flexible and with white felted shoots. The leaves are 5-8 cm long with shiny bluish green on the upper surface and silver grey underneath. They are thick and leathery. The flowers are 2-3 cm across and purple and white. They are borne in one or two pairs at the base of the current years growth. The fruit is oblong and dull green with several small seeds inside. Fruit are 2-9 cm long. They can be round or pear shaped. The flesh is creamy white. The petals of the flowers are edible. The fruit is edible. There are usually 20-40 small seeds inside the fruit.

It is a warm temperate and subtropical plant. It suits cool places and can tolerate temperatures below freezing when the plant is in its dormant stage. It needs good drainage but can grow on fairly poor soils. Feijoas prefer cool winters and moderate summers (26° to 32°C), and are generally adapted to areas where temperatures stay above-9°C. They need 50 hours of chilling for good flower production. Fruit taste better in cooler than warmer climate. Plants can tolerate seaside locations. It does best in warm and subtropical zones. They are not well suited to tropical regions. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. In Hobart Botanical gardens. In Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

The fruit are used raw or cooked. They can be used for jellies and sauces. The flower petals can be eaten raw.

Trees can be grown from seed and transplanted. Seedling trees are not always true to type. Seed is extracted by squeezing fruit into water and letting it ferment for 4 days. Seeds are then strained out and dried. Seed can be stored dry for 12 months. Seeds germinate in 3 weeks. Grafting or cuttings can also be used with some difficulty. Young wood cuttings will root in 2 months with bottom heat and mist. Layering can also be used. Some kinds need to have cross pollination to produce fruit. It does not need any special pruning, although lateral branches can be removed to avoid overcrowding. A spacing of 2 metres is recommended.