Ugni

Profile

Family

Myrtaceae

Habit

Shrub

Height

1.8 m

Spread

2.5 m

Growth

medium

Lifespan

30 years

First yield

after 3 years

Hardiness

zone 8–12

Shade tolerance

light shade

Soil

Sand, Silt, Loam

Soil moisture

dry – very wet

pH

5.5 – 6.5

Synonyms

Eugenia ugni, Chilenische Guave

Flowering & harvest

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible: Fruit (raw or cooked), including jams, jellies, ice cream, coulis, desserts, and liqueur, yields around 6 tonnes per hectare, providing approximately 400 kcal per square meter. Fruits thrive best in full sun. Leaves can be used for making tea.

Other uses: Plant (patch hedge, roof garden); Plant them near patios or windows to appreciate the scent.

Growing

Thrives in various soil types, including dry conditions, and prefers moderately fertile, well-drained loam in a sunny location. Tolerant of maritime exposure and drought once established. A visually appealing plant, it is hardy in mild regions, enduring temperatures down to around -10°C when dormant. Vulnerable to late frosts on new spring growth. Historically cultivated for fruit in Cornwall, where it grows and fruits successfully, but now mainly grown for ornamental purposes. Highly deserving of commercial cultivation for its fruit. Flowers and fruits prolifically even at a young age. Plants in this genus show notable resistance to honey fungus.

Propagation

Soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours before planting them in a greenhouse during late winter. Transfer the seedlings to individual pots once they are large enough, and keep them in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them in their permanent spots in late spring or early summer, after the last frosts. Take cuttings of semi-hardwood, 7 - 10cm long with a heel, in July or August in a frame. Pot them in autumn and keep them in a cold frame over winter. Plant them out in late spring. High success rate. Take cuttings of mature wood from the current season's growth, 7 - 12cm with a heel, in November in a shaded, frost-free frame. Plant them out in late spring or early autumn. High success rate. Layering.

Notable

Eigenschaften: (See-)Wind+Trockenheit tolerant; Es verfügt über ein faseriges Wurzelsystem, das durch Hacken, Bodenbearbeitung oder Umpflanzen beschädigt werden kann.; Nichtinvasiv; Eignet sich gut als Kübelpflanze, die man bei drohender Kälte ins Haus bringen kann.; Junge Pflanzen haben Schwierigkeiten, mit Unkräutern und Gräsern zu konkurrieren. Es gibt verschiedene frostharte Sorten von -6°C bis -12°C;

Origin & habitat

Woodland borders and undergrowth.

Alpine regions on rocky, well-drained soils, occasionally also on marshy soils.

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