Ugni molinae
Environmental Weed (2024)
Common names
Chilean guava
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Red/Pink
Detailed description
Aromatic bushy shrub, 1-2 m high, often suckering profusely. Shoots often reddish when young, later deep brown, densely clothed in short hairs at first. Small ovate leaves shining green with reddish margins. Small pale pink flowers hang down singly or in small clusters. The globular fruit are obviously stalked and reach 14 mm diameter, becoming dark purplish red when ripe, the flesh is white and sweet.
Similar taxa
Could be confused with native shrubs, especially those in the Myrtaceae (e.g. Neomyrtus and Lophomyrtus). Pendant flowers and fruit are distinctive.
Habitat
Terrestrial. Thrives in low shrubland and fernland on peaty soils on the Chathams.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Ecology
Flowering
November, December, January, February, March, April.
Year naturalised
1959
Origin
Chile
Reason for introduction
Horticultural
Tolerances
Tolerates wet soils with high acidity, tolerant of cold temps and frosts, re-sprouts after damage (incl fire).
Life cycle and dispersal
Perennial
Propagation technique
Reproduces from fruit. Many seeds contained in each fruit. Viability unknown. Bird dispersed fruits
Other information
Myrtle Rust
This taxon is confimed to be prone to Myrtle Rust (Austropuccinia psidii), an invasive fungus which threatens native myrtle species. Learn more myrtlerust.org.nz
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of 386 environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.