How to Grow Feijoa

Feijoa sellowiana · Zones 8-11

Feijoa is a perennial grown for its fruit. It's hardy across USDA zones 8 through 11. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees, even though the fruit is the prize.

Zones

8-11

pH Range

5-8.3

Sun

Full Sun

Days to Maturity

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What Feijoa is

Feijoa grows as a perennial.

How to grow Feijoa

Feijoa grows in USDA zones 8 through 11. Feijoa does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.

USDA Zones

8-11

USDA PHZM 2023

Soil pH

5 - 8.3

USDA PLANTS Database

Sun

Full Sun

Growable Ground plant catalog

Drainage

well (dry spells)

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost Tolerance

53.6°F

The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.

Growable Ground plant catalog

Frost-Free Days

120+

The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.

Growable Ground plant catalog

  1. Start the season right

    Plant feijoa in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.

  2. Match the soil

    Feijoa prefers pH 5 to 8.3 (FAO ECOCROP). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.

  3. Water steadily

    Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.

  4. Harvest at maturity

    Pick when the fruit is full-colored and parts easily from the stem. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.

Good to know

Good news for pet owners — feijoa isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)

Feijoa offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.

Before you harvest feijoa, know your soil

Anything you grow to eat takes up what's in the ground it grows in, so it's worth knowing what's documented near you before you plant feijoa for food. Our free screen reads 9 federal source types across roughly 1.8M indexed sites and shows which sit near your address and which way they drain. It's a screening estimate from public records and proximity — not a soil test — so a nearby record means a soil test is worth it, not that your soil is unsafe.

Where Feijoa thrives

Feijoa is hardy across USDA zones 8 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.

Zones 8–11 highlighted on the USDA national hardiness zone map

Zones 8–11·Where Feijoa growsOpen map →

On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Feijoa can grow in these states:

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See if Feijoa will thrive on your land

Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether feijoa actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow Feijoa in my zone?

Feijoa grows in USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.

When should you plant Feijoa?

Most growers plant feijoa after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.

How much sun does Feijoa need?

Feijoa needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.

What soil does Feijoa need?

Feijoa prefers soil pH 5 to 8.3, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.

Does Feijoa attract pollinators?

Yes — feijoa's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees.

Is Feijoa safe for pets?

Feijoa is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)