Chilean Guava
Queen Victoria’s favorite fruit has many names: strawberry myrtle, Ugniberry, New Zealand cranberry, Tazziberry. Some call it just Ugni or Uñi. But it doesn’t really matter because this great drought tolerant shrub produces berries that are just delicious! Beautiful bell shaped white flowers convert to small red berries in autumn and are outstanding eaten raw. The leaves can also be used as tea and the seeds apparently as coffee substitute. Also try jam, jelly and muffins!
Chilean Guava
Ugni likes full sun and can cope very well with dry soils and thrives in sandy or clay soils, but doesn’t tolerate frost very well. The chilean native (as the name suggests) is a great alternative for a low bordering shrub in a dry garden as it needs minimal watering.
It is very easy to propagate either from seed (which they start producing after 2- 3 years) or from heel cuttings of fresh growth or by layering. Unfortunately, Ugni is rather slow growing, so it’s better to start with plants. Try it, and you never want to go back!
Read more about this in The Guardian
