Campomanesia hirsuta
Guabiroba
Campomanesia hirsuta
Campomanesia hirsuta (Giant Guabiroba) is a fruit that has been greatly threatened by habitat loss and was lost to science since 1945. Through years of trial and tribulation, a group of renowned fruit enthusiasts reintroduced this plant to cultivation for the goal of restoration and to bring notoriety back to this treasured fruit.
Campomanesia hirsuta is a cold hardy relative of the Myrtaceae family and is believed to survive in climates down to 9b, although, there is no concrete evidence at this time. It is estimated to reach heights of 3-7m in it’s native range. It has a distribution within the mountains of Rio de Janeiro in the vicinity of Petropolis and Teresopolis (Gardner, 1843).
C. hirsuta was traditionally used in marmalades and in the 1800’s was well known to make one of the most delicious preserves. This fruit tree poses a major opportunity for the collector looking to experiment with very rarely seen cold hardy Myrtaceae.
Family: Myrtaceae
Name: Campomanesia hirsuta
Common Name / Native Name: Guabiroba-peluda-gigante
Range: Petropolis/Teresopolis, Brazil
Sun: Part Sun/Mixed Light
Height: ~12 feet
Width: ~10 feet
Foliage: Soft hirsute (fuzzy) leaves with beautiful light green foliage
Flower: Large beautiful fragrant white flowers
Fruit: A large green fruit that is supposedly one of the best Campomanesia spp.
Soil Type/ pH: Prefers acidity
USDA Climate Zones: Undetermined, likely 9b+
Cold Hardiness: Undetermined, but showing promise
Edibility: Delicious fruit, supposedly sour makes delicious preserves and ice cream.
Sources:
Frutas no Brasil Harri Lorenzi
Sitio e-jardim