Chilean guava

• 5 Nov, 2024
• 4 likes

Known as the Chilean guava, strawberry myrtle, tazziberry (in Australia) and ugniberry (in New Zealand), one thing's for certain - whatever you call this shrub, it's bloomin' brilliant!
Compact and bushy in appearance, ugni molinae comprises waxy evergreen leaves, nodding, bell-shaped summer blooms (which have a lovely scent) and delicious crimson red berries in the autumn
First introduced to the UK in the middle of the 19th century, the fruit quickly became Queen Vic's fave, and really, who can blame her?
The round fruits are incredibly moreish, boasting a sweet taste not dissimilar to that of strawberries or pineapple (some gardeners even say the taste reminds them of cotton candy)
The plant's naturally small stature (growing to a height of between just 1 and 2 metres) makes it ideal for those gardens more limited on space - we think it would work particularly well in a sheltered courtyard garden in a large pot
Pick and eat the berries straight from the bush, bake them in muffins, cookies and friands, or make a delicious tazziberry-infused vodka, gin or tequila
Native to Patagonia, the juice of the berries was once used as a sort of natural energy drink to help fuel the expedtions of indigenous populations like the Mapuche and Selk'nam peoples