How to Grow Lehua Haole
Lehua Haole
Psidium cattleianum
shrubLehua haole, also known as strawberry guava, is a tropical evergreen shrub native to Brazil that produces small, sweet, edible fruits with deep red to burgundy skin. The plant grows 6-15 feet tall with glossy green leaves and white flowers, thriving in warm climates. It is widely cultivated in Hawaii and other tropical regions for its ornamental appeal and prolific fruit production.
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Example Lehua Haole timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Lehua Haole
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Lehua Haole
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Lehua Haole dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 10b-12; frost-sensitive, requires protection below 32°F
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Establishment
3-6 monthsYoung transplants with tender green foliage adapting to landscape. Root system developing.
Water regularly to keep soil moist. Provide afternoon shade in intense heat. Stake if necessary for wind protection. Avoid heavy fertilizer until roots are established.
Vegetative Growth
12-24 monthsPlant grows taller and fuller with increasingly dense foliage. Glossy green leaves 2-4 inches long covering branches.
Continue consistent watering. Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around base. Light pruning to shape. Begin balanced fertilization monthly during growing season.
Flowering
6-12 weeks per flowering cycleSmall white flowers (about 0.5 inch diameter) appear in leaf axils, typically in spring and early summer.
Maintain consistent watering and moisture. Reduce nitrogen-heavy fertilizer; shift to balanced or fruit-promoting formula. Do not overprune as this removes flowering wood.
Fruiting
8-12 weeksGreen fruits develop, gradually turning deep red or burgundy as they mature. Fruits are roughly 1-1.5 inches in diameter with thin, soft skin.
Maintain steady water supply to prevent splitting and fruit drop. Continue balanced fertilization. Thin fruit if desired for larger individual fruits. Harvest fruits as they fully color.
Mature/Bearing
Ongoing throughout plant lifeEstablished plant (3+ years) producing abundant flowers and fruit throughout warmer months with continuous foliage.
Prune selectively to maintain shape and airflow. Annual fertilization in spring and midsummer. Monitor for pests and disease. Reduce watering slightly during winter dormancy if in cooler microclimates.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove fallen fruits regularly, use fine netting over fruit clusters, employ vinegar traps, maintain clean ground underneath plant
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Spray horticultural oil in dormant season, use neem oil on affected foliage, remove heavily infested branches
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Increase humidity through misting, spray with water to dislodge, use neem oil or miticide if severe
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Remove with water spray or soft brush, apply neem oil or horticultural oil, use insecticidal soap
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Yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil, encourage natural predators like ladybugs
Uses
Fresh eating and preserves
CulinaryThe ripe fruits are sweet and somewhat tart with a pleasant strawberry-like flavor, eaten fresh or used to make jams, jellies, compotes, and sauces. The fruit has large seeds that must be consumed or strained out. [source]
Tropical beverages and smoothies
CulinaryFruits are commonly blended into smoothies, juices, and tropical beverages in Hawaii and Brazil, providing natural sweetness and distinctive flavor. [source]
Traditional folk medicine
MedicinalIn traditional Hawaiian and Brazilian medicine, leaves and fruit are used as herbal remedies for diarrhea, digestive upset, and fever. Leaves contain tannins with astringent properties. [source]
Ornamental landscaping
OrnamentalThe dense glossy foliage, delicate white flowers, and attractive burgundy fruits make lehua haole a visually appealing tropical ornamental shrub suitable for hedges, foundation plantings, and specimen use. [source]
Wildlife food source
WildlifeThe prolific fruit production provides important food for native Hawaiian birds, wild pigs, and other wildlife; however, it is considered invasive in some Hawaiian ecosystems. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest fruits when fully colored deep red to burgundy and slightly soft to gentle pressure, typically 8-12 weeks after flowering. Pick fruit in the morning when it's coolest. Fruits continue to soften off the plant, so can be picked slightly early if desired. Plant often produces multiple crops per year in ideal conditions. Wear gloves as some people experience mild skin irritation from prolonged contact with foliage.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Lehua haole translates to 'foreign lehua' in Hawaiian, as it is not native to the islands but has become naturalized and widespread throughout Hawaiian forests.
- 🌱 A single mature plant can produce hundreds of fruits per season, making it exceptionally prolific and sometimes considered invasive in Hawaii's native forest ecosystems.
- 🌱 The fruit is sometimes called 'strawberry guava' due to its strawberry-like aroma and flavor, though it is botanically distinct from true strawberries and related to common guava (Psidium guajava).
Gardening Terms
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