Acca Sellowiana aka Feijoa Sellowiana (Fruit salad bush, Pineapple Guava or Guavasteen)

The foliage is a soft grey green with white undersides. Around the bright red stamens are four red flower petals with white undersides that curl to cover the red tops. You can either eat the sweet flavoured flowers or instead after a few months, greenish egg-shaped and sized fruit tasting of pineapple and spearmint.

Pruned as a tree, shrub or hedge, best in cities or coastal gardens. Full sun against a south or west facing wall to 2 x 2m. Well drained alkaline or neutral soil. Once established, drought and salt tolerant. Can be seen at Wisley.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.