How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Barbie Pink’ Guava Trees

If you want a tropical fruit tree that matures quickly and produces lots of sweet, juicy fruit, ‘Barbie Pink’ guava fits the bill. Maturing in as few as eight years, this fruit tree can live for 40 years or more. These long-lived trees are great for growing in the ground in warm climates, but they also thrive in containers.

Let’s learn how to grow these attractive, tasty fruits. 

What Is It?

Legend has it that guavas were once considered an inedible fruit. A kind young boy who wanted to feed a beggar prayed to the gods to make the fruit edible. The gods, impressed by his kindness, transformed the fruit into the sweet, tart, and tangy delicacy we know and love today.

‘Barbie Pink’ is a beautiful, evergreen variety of guava tree that produces sweet and tangy fruits with vibrant, pink flesh. It grows beautifully in warm climate gardens. In cooler climates, you can also keep this tree in a large container as a patio tree. It’s a low-maintenance, sturdy tree that will bear fruit early, and plentifully.

Cultivated for as long as 5,000 years, guavas were first domesticated in Peru. Impressed with the delicious fruits, explorers from Spain and Portugal brought the tree to the West Indies and Florida. They traveled across the ocean with their tropical treasure, which led to its introduction in Asia and India. 

Growing up in South Florida, I can scarcely remember a trip to Miami that didn’t include a Cuban coffee and a guava and cream cheese pastry. If you’ve never tasted one, they are as delicious as they sound and worth every calorie. 

Characteristics

This evergreen tree is popular in tropical climates as an attractive member of ornamental landscapes. However, delicious fruits are the main reason for planting them. Guava trees can grow up to 20 feet tall, but generally, we prune them to keep them compact and easier to harvest from. Prune them to 10-15 feet, and they will spread nearly as wide as they are tall. 

Light brown, mottled bark covers the sturdy trunk of this shrubby evergreen. The leaves are large, ovate, and deep, glossy green. In spring, attractive white blossoms have a scent similar to the fruits. 

The guavas mature from green to yellow when ripe, and have a strong, wonderful aroma. Inside is the prettiest pink flesh dotted with tender, edible seeds. The fruit is a rich source of nutrients, including fiber, potassium, folate, and B vitamins, but packs the greatest punch of vitamin C. The seeds are also fiber-rich and full of antioxidants, making them a digestive powerhouse. 

Native Area

Pink and red guavas are native predominantly to Mexico and tropical America. ‘Barbie Pink’ is a variety bred in Florida. These plants make the invasive list in South Florida but are perfectly fine to grow in Central Florida. Elsewhere, they are not invasive. Grow in Florida with care, and make sure to harvest the fruit. Do not allow it to re-seed. 

Planting

The ideal time to plant your guava is in summer. June or July are the best months. To grow it in a container, timing is not important, just make sure to bring it indoors for the winter.  Guava trees like loose soil in which to establish their roots. 

Growing from Seed

You can grow this tree from seeds, but it is not likely to breed true. Since ‘Barbie Pink’ is a hybrid guava, it’s best to propagate from cuttings. This will ensure a new plant that is identical to the parent. Grown from seeds, trees mature more slowly, taking up to eight years to produce fruit. Grown from cuttings, you can expect fruit in as little as one year, but more often, it will take two. 

How to Grow

This is an easy tree to grow and maintain. The growth rate is fast, and it bears fruit from a young age. They mature within eight to ten years, with a mature tree able to bear between 50-80 pounds of fruit per year!

Light

Guava trees need a lot of sunlight to grow vigorously and produce amply. Plant your tree in an area where it will receive at least six hours of sun daily. Eight to ten hours is the optimal amount of direct sun for your plant per day. Partial shade is also fine, but flowering and fruiting will be less so than if it is planted in full sun.

It can be a challenge to give a plant this much sunlight indoors. If you’re growing this as a container plant in a cooler climate, it’s best to leave it outdoors for the warm months. Only bring it indoors in the winter when temperatures drop. Even then, place it in the most well-lit space you have available. 

Water

For the first season, your guava will need ample watering to help it establish roots. Water your newly planted tree every other day for the first week and then twice a week for the first growing season. Water deeply, allowing the water to soak the ground. This promotes deep rooting. Allow the surface of the soil to dry between waterings to avoid overwatering. 

Once established, this plant is drought tolerant, but if you want fruit, it will need water in times of little rainfall. Overwatering can be detrimental, as it leads to root rot. Signs of overwatering include yellowing leaves and a musty smell. An under-watered tree may show distress with wilting leaves.

During times of drought, your plant may go dormant and show little growth and development. The fruit will still set, but develops slowly and may not mature to the full size. A mature tree will withstand drought far better than a young one with softwood.

Soil

Guavas can adapt to most soil types as long as they have proper drainage. They grow well in sandy, loamy, rocky, and muck-type soils. The acidity of the soil is more important than the composition because of the tree’s high iron needs. Ideally, a pH of 4.5-7 is best, however, it will grow in higher pH soils with supplemental chelated iron. 

They tend to have shallow roots, especially when you grow them by air layering. Loose soil and deep watering will help to drive the roots deeper, creating a better anchor for your guava. 

Temperature and Humidity

Warm weather is ideal for growing this evergreen. When the temperature drops below 60°F (16°C), you’re likely to see slowed growth. A young tree shouldn’t be exposed to temperatures much lower than freezing. At 27°F (-3°C), your young guava may die off. Once mature, they can withstand short periods of cold temperatures as low as 25°F (-4°C). 

A tree that dies back from cold stress may sprout again from the roots in the following season. It will take another two to three years from this time before it produces fruit. 

Humidity is another important factor and one that could inhibit growth if you’re growing in a container in a dry climate. A humidity level of 40-50% is essential for proper growth. Too much humidity can lead to fungal issues, though, so don’t overdo it if you are growing in a greenhouse. Mulching the soil around your tree can assist in maintaining humidity.

Fertilizing

Guava trees tolerate and thrive on considerable fertilizing applications. In their first year, fertilize once per month, beginning with a 1/4 pound application. Increase monthly giving by about one pound by month four. After the first year, fertilize three to four times yearly. The amount of fertilizer is proportionate to the size of the plant, but it is always under 20 pounds per year.   

In terms of formula, a balance of N-P-K is best with added magnesium (Mg). A formula of 6-6-6-2 or 10-10-10-4 will give optimal results. Do not feed these trees in winter during their dormancy period. 

Maintenance

Yearly mulching will help retain moisture and protect shallow roots. Pruning varies according to the age of your guava and should take place as follows:

Young Trees

Prune your young ‘Barbie Pink’ guava to one to two feet to encourage lateral branch growth. As branching occurs, select three or four later branches and allow them to grow to two or three feet long before tipping to induce branching again. Continue this process with new branches as they reach two to three feet long. Remove any water sprouts, which are branches that grow straight upwards. 

Mature and Fruit Bearing

Decide how large you want your ‘Barbie Pink’ guava to grow as it matures and prune accordingly. You should maintain a container tree between three and six feet tall. They will fruit at this size and be more manageable in terms of overwintering. Do this by continuing to tip and prune branches, making your cuts closer to the trunk for a smaller plant. 

Maintaining your tree at six to 12 feet tall is optimal for harvesting. While they will grow to nearly 20 feet if allowed, this can make it harder to pick the fruits. A ten-foot tree is ideal, as it will be less susceptible to toppling by strong winds. Prune away any branches that cross through the center of the tree and those that cross to improve airflow and integrity of branches. 

Propagation

Propagating ‘Barbie Pink’ guava from seeds is not ideal, as the offspring aren’t likely to breed true. The most common ways to propagate are by air layering and from cuttings, though grafting is also done. 

Cuttings

To propagate from cuttings, the best material to use is terminal branches that are recently mature. Take cuttings six to eight inches long with two or three leaves each. Optionally, dip the end of the cutting into rooting hormone for faster rooting.  

Use a sterile potting media to avoid bacterial growth and give your cuttings the best start. Keep the soil moist while your cutting is rooting, and place them in a warm, bright location, out of direct sunlight. Make sure the soil stays warm.

Air Layering

Air layering is a great way to propagate guavas, but understand that it will result in a tree with shallower roots. When transplanting a layered cutting into the ground, be sure to loosen the soil adequately and water deeply to encourage deeper rooting. 

Select a branch that looks like it would make a nice tree. Some newer branching is desirable. About 12-18 inches from the end of the branch, score all the way around the branch in two places, about an inch apart. Remove the bark from between these cuts. This is where the root will grow. 

Wrap the exposed stem with damp sphagnum or peat moss, and wrap it in plastic or use a layering ball to hold the medium in place. Check on your plant every few weeks, gently loosening the plastic to see that roots are forming. 

Once a substantial root ball exists, cut the branch from the parent tree just behind the rooted portion. You can plant your new guava directly in the ground, but it will have a stronger chance if you place it in a pot and allow it to grow a bit first.

Keep your new ‘Barbie Pink’ guava out of direct sun to allow it to adjust, and wait until new growth appears. Then, plant it in the area of your choosing. 

Harvesting and Storage

‘Barbie Pink’ guavas are best eaten when fully ripe. White guavas are sometimes harvested while still unripe and eaten with a mixture of salt, sugar, and chili spice. Since this variety is pink, wait to harvest until the fruits are mature. They will turn yellow and have a fruity aroma when ripe. They should soften slightly, as well, but don’t wait until they are mushy.

Guavas will continue to ripen after picking, so if you prefer to ripen them on the counter, this works, too. Pick by hand every few days. You can store ripe fruit in the refrigerator for a few days, or freeze up to a year. They also make delicious syrups, jams, and a paste that is excellent for filling pastries and cookies.

Common Problems

‘Barbie Pink’ guava trees do tend to have some issues with pests and diseases. People aren’t the only ones attracted to these sweet fruits, and their high moisture needs tend to be an issue when it comes to fungal diseases. 

Pests

There are quite a few insects that can do damage to your guava, including two that are specific to the plant. Those sweet, aromatic fruits are irresistible to fruit borers and other sweet-loving pests. Insect pests include red-banded thrips, fruit flies, whiteflies, guava moths, and scales.

Thrips, flies, and moths can be blasted off the plant with water. You can scout for eggs of moths, and remove them. Scales can be popped off the plant via a cotton swap soaked in 70% or less rubbing alcohol. The most important thing to do in combatting these insect infestations is to keep your plant healthy and strong with proper care. 

A strong plant is a healthy plant that is more capable of recovering from insect damage. But you also don’t want to sacrifice all your fruit to insects. I am a beekeeper with an extensive pollinator garden, and protecting pollinators is important to me. I use organza bags to cover my fruit and keep the pests away. This has been a very effective method for me. 

Diseases

Most of the diseases that these trees face are fungal diseases. Because they are tropical, guavas like a lot of moisture and humidity. Over-watering and high humidity often make plants more susceptible to diseases. Anthracnose, pestalotiopsis (or guava scab), stylar end rot, and wilt are all fungal problems. 

Remove damaged parts as they crop up. Do not eat fruit that has been damaged by anthracnose, and stylar end rot, and dispose of these in the trash. Smaller cases of scab won’t result in fruit loss.

Another issue that can lead to diseases of the roots is root injury. Because their roots are fairly shallow, it’s easy to run into them when digging in the surrounding area. Remember that their roots can grow past the drip line. Be cautious about digging around near your guava. 

Thinning out the interior of your tree’s crown will improve airflow and cut back on fungal issues as well as algal leaf spot. This is a vital part of pruning. Keep the area around your plant clear of any trimmings and plant debris. You can also treat preventively with a sulfur-based fungicide to ward off these issues. 

Iron Deficiency

Because they need a lot of iron, guavas tend to suffer from iron chlorosis when planted in calcareous soils. If the pH of the soil is too high, the iron won’t break down into a form that is usable to the plant. You may see young leaves turning pale with dark veining, smaller fruits, and brown leaf tips. 

The best solution is to amend the soil to make it more acidic. Otherwise, you can periodically add iron chelates to the soil. Make sure that you use iron chelates that are formulated for alkaline soil.