Apollo Feijoa

Apollo Feijoa (Acca sellowiana 'Apollo') is an evergreen fruiting shrub that grows to about 3m high and 2.5m wide, with silver-backed leaves and large oval fruit that ripen in the second half of the season. It is the feijoa for gardeners who want a decent crop of big, juicy fruit and a handsome hedge-sized plant in the same position, and the flowers are edible too.

Why you'll love it

• Large oval fruit. Apollo carries bigger fruit than many older feijoas, picked mid to late season once they drop or release with a gentle lift.
• Considered self-fertile. A single plant can set fruit on its own, though crops are heavier when another feijoa variety flowers nearby.
• Edible flowers. The thick white and crimson petals are sweet and can be eaten fresh in spring, and the bright red stamens draw in birds.
• Handsome all year. Dense grey-green foliage with a silvery underside looks good as a hedge or backdrop even when there is no fruit.
• Tough once settled. It tolerates moderate frost, wind and dry spells, and copes with a wide range of soils.

Where it works best

Productive hedge. Plant 2m apart for a loose fruiting screen about 2.5 to 3m tall, or prune lightly after fruiting to hold it tighter.

Edible garden. It slots in at the back of a fruit and vegetable bed, where the evergreen foliage gives shelter and the crop is easy to reach.

Large pots. With a big container and regular feeding it will grow as a smaller, patio-sized fruit tree, though crops are lighter than in the ground.

Growing Apollo Feijoa in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the best crop, with part shade accepted. Feijoas are happiest in subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. They are less reliable in the humid tropics.

Soil. Well-drained soil enriched with compost suits it. It tolerates poor and slightly alkaline ground, but heavy wet clay holds it back.

Water and feed. Water deeply and regularly while it establishes and through flowering and fruit set. Feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser and mulch to keep the shallow roots cool.

Pruning. Prune after harvest to shape and open the canopy. Fruit drops when ripe, so pick it up from the ground often, and where fruit fly is active consider netting or bagging the crop.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Apollo Feijoa in 300mm pots, one plant per pot. These are grafted or named-variety plants, which generally crop sooner than feijoas grown from seed. Plant out soon after arrival, water well and expect a settling-in season of leaf growth before fruit. Our growers do not hold every size all year, so a size can show as on backorder at times. An order for a backorder size is confirmed with you before anything ships.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse more fruit trees
• Edible plants for the home garden
• Fruit trees for every season: planting tips

Common questions

Do I need two feijoas?

Apollo is considered self-fertile, so one plant will fruit. Planting a second variety such as Unique nearby usually lifts the size of the crop.

When will it fruit?

Fruit ripens mid to late season, after the early varieties. Named, grafted plants crop sooner than seedlings, but give it a full season or two to settle in first.

Does it need frost protection?

Established plants handle moderate frost. Protect young plants under cloth in their first winter if your frosts are heavy.