It is round in appearance and has a somewhat slow growth. All its branches are covered with whitish hairs to protect themselves from insects and the cold.

 

The leaves are leathery, opposite a dark green color on the upper side and white on the underside due to the hairs it has. It blooms throughout the year if the weather permits. Its flowers are about 3 cm in diameter with red petals, red stamens, protruding. When these mature, they form fleshy, ovoid fruits of 3-4 cm in diameter, dark green in color that have a large number of seeds inside.

It is a tree cultivated in tropical and subtropical zones for its edible fruit whose pulp, rich in vitamins B and C, is grainy, with seeds; its sweet and sour taste reminds of pineapple and guava. It can be consumed fresh, in compote, in the form of jam or jelly.

 

 

It can be kept in full sun or semi-shade and supports cold (-10 / -12ºC). In regions where winter is very harsh, it should be grown in large pots to protect them from the cold and wind.

 

The automation of the irrigation system is one of the best techniques to guarantee water to our plants. Depending on the type of space you have, you will need one type of automatic irrigation or another. Find your ideal automatic watering system and forget about your plants drying out due to lack of watering.

 

It withstands saline soils and marine atmospheres which makes it very suitable for the Mediterranean coast and coastal areas.

 

The soils must be well drained, although it needs a more or less weekly watering. It admits pruning and it is possible to give it the shape of a tree.

Its most common form of propagation is through seeds, but multiplication by cutting provides quick results. Also by layering in spring.

 

It is also used as an ornamental plant, for example the cultivar 'Variegata', which has cream-colored leaves. Its most common use is isolated, in groups or spots of free hedges. Despite being a plant with few requirements, it is not very present in parks and gardens.