Types of Guava Trees

The guava tree is a fruit-bearing tree that grows in subtropical regions of Central America, Florida and islands in the Caribbean Sea. Although many guava trees appear like small shrubs, they can reach heights of 40 feet when they fully mature. The fruit of guava trees typically ripen in the summer and fall months. Depending on the variety, the flesh guava fruits have a wide range of colors, including red, pink and white.

Cattely Guava
After they are planted, it takes cattely guava trees approximately three years before they fully mature. When they are mature, cattely guava trees reach a height of up to 40 feet. The bark on guava trees is thin and has a copper coloring. These trees originate in eastern Brazil, but are also cultivated in the Caribbean Islands, Florida and Bermuda. Cattely guava trees are evergreen and when their leaves are crushed or split, they release a sweet fragrance. The leaves have an oval shape and grow to 6 inches in length. These trees also grow white flowers that are 1-inch wide and have five petals. The fruit on cattely guavas has a reddish or purple color when it ripens and its flesh is white.

Costa Rican
Originating in Costa Rica, the Costa Rican guava grows up from 20 to 35 feet when it matures, a process that takes approximately two to three years. Costa Rican guava trees have red-brown bark with grayish patches on its trunk. This evergreen tree has leaves that grow up to 4 inches and have a elliptical shape. The fruit of Costa Rican guava trees is green when it starts to grow, but turns into a pale yellow color when it ripens. The flesh of Costa Rican guavas is white and has an acidic taste. This guava variety also grows naturally in Colombia and southern Mexico, but it is also cultivated in Ecuador, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Red Indian
The Red Indian guava tree was created in the 1940s as a result of experimentation in Dade County, Florida. The fruit on this tree is known for the strong scent it emits when it is split open. Red Indian guavas grow from 2 to 4 inches when they fully ripen, which occurs during the late summer and early autumn. These guavas are usually harvested in the fall and early winter. The skin on this fruit is a reddish color and it has a pinkish flesh. The trees reach heights of up to 30 to 40 feet when it matures. The trees take nearly three years to mature. Red Indian guava trees have thin, brownish bark and its evergreen leaves grow to 4 inches long.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/list_7571953_types-guava-trees.html