gatormom:
I've heard that grove owners,caretakers, etc., don't like guava trees near their groves because they attract whiteflies,another pest to citrus. I think I'd get'em outta there if I were you. Maybe someone not near groves would take them off your hands.
SJ

I love Strawberry Guava trees! I've had 2, one very beautiful, full, lush one that produced heavy crops. Most fruit were infested with fruit fly larvae, and I tried bagging the fruits, covering the entire tree, etc. We lost the tree after Frances and Jeanne killed it.

My other one is in a half whiskey barrel, is about 7' tall, and loaded with fruit. So far, no fruit have been ruined, and they taste great!

They are pretty, useful and easy to grow. I've never had any seedlings start, and my chickens are certainly spreading the seeds around the property, so I wonder how invasive they can really be? I suspect that the fact that the hens eat any dropped fruits has reduced the fruit fly population? They don't seem to be an issue any more.

I'll give mine up when they pry my cold, dead fingers off of it...

Lisa

The state is working on removing them from natural areas.

If you drive along Alligator Alley and Krome Avenue you will see them by the hundreds.

The good thing is they are edible!

They are considered invasive in climates with no hard freeze like South Florida . Considering that up here we lost all our commercial citrus in the 80's , it is just a matter of time before we get another killing freeze .
Any one know anything about the Fujio variety ?

Hi,gatormom!
I have a small orchard of about 10 Strawberry guava trees.
they have been in the ground for about 8 years. They have never sprouted on their own. (Not invasive) The tallest tree is 6 feet tall. I never have had any problem with white fly
larvae. Birds do love them. Frost hardy. Freeze temperatures
burn the leaves a little. BUT I live in a zone that has frost and freezing tempt.,south Marion county. I do love them and are yummy.
My wife,Sylvia, made seedless,Guava jam from ours a few days ago for a delicious "Brazo Gitano(Gypsy arm)
Similar to a jelly roll.
Felix

Mary--I feel that you are over reacting to an article that, for this area, appears to be very inaccurate. I have had my Strawberry Cattleya Guava for about seven years now and I enjoy it for it's attractive landscape quality. The fruit is a bonus and this year was an exceptionally good year.

As for being invasive, I have had only one seed sprout. Invasive---NOT!

I took a couple of pictures of my tree and fruit on 7-31-08.

happy_fl,

wow! I can't wait until my tree looks like that.
I have a little strawberry guava, only about 2 feet tall. It has stood up incredibly to our recent drought, and is putting on new growth at a good rate. I have heard horror stories of the invasiveness of this plant. Also, I've seen pictures of how it has taken over to form entire forests of strawberry guava in places where it is not native, like Hawaii. The main problem here in Florida, I suppose, would be birds carrying the seeds elsewhere. We wouldn't see the effects of the invasiveness in our own yards. Someone else would. All the same, I love this plant. :)

It is part of an informal, botanical-nerd collection I have going on... that is, plants of common families.
In this case, Myrtaceae. Others in this family that I have so far: Surinam Cherry, Common Myrtle, and Honey Eucalyptus.
I enjoy the Myrtaceae because of their drought tolerance, attractiveness, and usefulness.

Thank you for all the support and info . I will keep these two Strawberry guavas and see if I notice an increase in the citrus pest problems . I live near enough to an Apiary that honey bees visit my citrus . I did hear that they go nuts over guava blossoms . Hope that means lots of fruit production . I love the taste of guavas .
From what I've read , Cattleya guavas are a problem in south Florida and do spread by birds distributing the seeds far and wide . I hope that does not become a problem in Central Florida !

Mary--cattleya guavas don't taste like tropical guavas. I think that they taste much better--something to look forward to.