Ugni molinae ‘Flambeau’

The Chilean guava, Ugni molinae, is a popular fruit in markets in Chile but little-known here. The plant is a rounded to columnar, evergreen shrub with, in the case of ‘Flambeau’, small blue-green leaves with creamy white edges and pink-flushed new growth. The fragrant late spring flowers are pendulous bells in pale pink and white with pinkish red sepals. The fruit, which forms in summer and fall, is ruby red with a kind of strawberry and pine flavour in the most delicious sort of way. Plant in a protected situation in coastal BC. In colder climates grow in a greenhouse or sunny, cool room in the winter.