Feijoa Mammouth

Acca sellowiana Mammouth is a variety of Brazilian Guava that produces large fruits with exotic flavours. It is a bush that thrives in mild climates with decorative evergreen foliage. The leaves are olive green on top and silver-grey on the underside. In May-June, flowers appear with edible petals. From mid-October, it produces a large fruit, 6 to 7 centimetres long, weighing 50 to 70 grams, ovoid in shape. The skin is smooth, thick, firm, and somewhat granulated, dark green turning light green when ripe. The creamy white flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet, with a fragrance reminiscent of pineapple, strawberry, and guava. It contains 20 to 40 small brown seeds. Resistant to diseases and pests, Acca sellowiana adapts well to hot and dry conditions, is easy to grow, and requires little maintenance.

The Mammouth variety, also known as Mammoth, originates from New Zealand. It forms a bushy, compact, rounded shrub reaching approximately 3 meters in height and 2 meters in diameter at maturity (around 7 to 10 years old). Growth is slow during the first years. Its evergreen foliage consists of tough, elliptical, opposite leaves, 3 to 6 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide, olive green on top and fuzzy silver-grey on the underside. The bush tolerates temperatures down to -15°C and regrows from the stump after complete freezing. It blooms on new shoots in May-June. The solitary flowers, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, have four waxy petals, white on the outside and pinkish-red on the inside, with numerous bright red stamens with yellow anthers. The petals have a sweet taste with a hint of cinnamon and are edible; they can be added to salads or used as a garnish.

Flowering is remarkably decorative and late, unaffected by spring frosts. The Mammouth variety is partially self-sterile: flowers cannot fully self-pollinate, so the presence of other Acca sellowiana varieties blooming at the same time is necessary. The Apollo, Coolidge, Gemini, Triumph, and Feijoa sellowiana type are suitable for cross-pollination. In very cold climates, the bush may struggle to flower and fruit.

Fruits of Acca sellowiana Mammouth ripen from mid-October. As they are quite soft, hand-picking before they fall is recommended. Shelf life is approximately 10 days refrigerated or 3 to 4 days at room temperature. They are best eaten when the flesh becomes slightly soft. Acca sellowiana is low in calories, rich in calcium, phosphorus, and potassium, and high in vitamin C. Raw fruit can be scooped with a spoon after halving. It can be used in fruit salads, sorbets, smoothies, chutneys, jams, compotes, jellies, pies, or paired with fish and seafood.

Acca sellowiana prefers a sunny, sheltered position with rich, well-drained soil. It adapts well to coastal conditions and tolerates salt spray. In colder regions, it can be successfully grown in containers on terraces, balconies, or patios.