Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

Here's a young plant - about 2 feet high. The berries are red, about the size of a blueberry and have a similar taste but with a dash of cinnamon.

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

Like many native plants of south America, it is in the Myrtle family. Myrtles can be difficult to propagate by cutting but this spring I will try some under mist. Most of the plants I have encountered to date have been propagated by seed or air layering.

Very few plants are in the north America nursery trade. There are no cultivars but I have seen variation in berry size among individual plants. I am trying to obtain some more distinct individuals for a breeding program from a colleague who spends half the year in southern Chile.

The fruit is very good eaten out of hand. The size and texture is very similar to a thick-skinned blueberry, and as mentioned earlier the taste is similar also but with a dash of cinnamon flavor. They are a good candidate for baking and next year I'll have a large enough harvest for a pie. The thickness of the skin might be too much fiber for a smoothie. They are outstanding in muffins.

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

I purchased that shrub as a seedling two years ago from Ben Poirier, a well-known source of south American fruits in CRFG circles. At that time it was already two years old, but about 10 inches high with a few short side branches. After planting it in the current location, I pinched it back when it reached a foot in height and have also removed a few wayward side branches to get it into a more uniform shape. This is the first year it has flowered and fruited.

I'm not certain about the cold-hardiness of this plant. In Chile, it grows south of Santiago in regions where the winter temperatures occasionally dip into the low 20's F (about -5 C). They are slow growing at first, but with age reach a height in the wild of 10+ meters (30+ feet). They are generally free of insect pests here in the western U.S. -- not bothered by psyllids as are their cousins the Eugenias.

One reputable place to obtain this plant here in the U.S. is One Green World

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

Ugni molinae 'Flambeau' a variegated form of Chilean guava:

Re: Chilean Guava Berry - Ugni molinae
 

A friend talk to me about Chilean guava yesterday ..I was searching Google under "chilean guava berry" and there you are with the first answer Bananas/Richard to where to go get one.Thanks.