Myrtus ugni Elite

Ugni molinae 'Elite' (synonym Myrtus ugni 'Elite') is a variety of Chilean Guava that is appreciated for its abundant and delicious fruiting with a flavour of wild strawberries, its beautiful glossy and aromatic foliage, its spring flowering with white-pink bells, and its compact growth, which is well-suited for small gardens and container cultivation. Its small red berries, harvested in September, were reportedly a favourite of Queen Victoria, but it remains widely underutilised in our gardens, perhaps due to its lack of hardiness in favourable climates. It is a small evergreen shrub native to South America that prefers the coolness and mildness of oceanic climates. It thrives in moist but well-drained soil with no excess of limestone, in full sun or partial shade.

Ugni molinae, also known as Eugenia ugni, is a small shrub that reaches a height of 2m (7ft) in its natural environment, but rarely exceeds 1.5m (5ft) in all directions in our climates. It belongs to the Myrtaceae family and is found in the wild in Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, on the moist slopes of the Andes and near watercourses. In Europe, the finest specimens grow in Irish gardens.

The 'Elite' cultivar is more productive than the typical species. Its growth is slow, and its habit is naturally upright, dense, ramified, and bushy. It reaches about 1.25m (4ft) in height and 1m (3ft) in spread at maturity. The evergreen leaves are shiny, ovate, leathery, and emit a fragrance of strawberry and spice when crushed. They measure no more than 1.5cm (1in) long and 1cm (1in) wide, starting with a purple colour and turning dark green. The bush is self-fertile and highly attractive to bees. It blooms generously in June. The small, spherical, fragrant, white-pink flowers, have 4 to 5 petals and are about 1cm (1in) wide. They appear in the axils of the leaves, on the current year's shoots, and are followed by the formation of small, round, fleshy, edible, and aromatic fruits, which are initially dark red, before lightening at maturity from September to November. Their flavour is reminiscent of wild strawberries, guava, and kiwi, with a resinous and spicy note. They can be eaten raw, made into jam, or used in pastries. They are also used to make a Chilean liqueur called Murtado.

Hardy to about -8°C (17.6°F), Ugni molinae 'Elite' is a charming and delicious plant for cold climates. In a greenhouse or conservatory, it will create an extremely decorative quartet with an orange tree, a Yuzu, and a mimosa, evoking landscapes with exotic charm and fragrance. In mild climates, it can be used as a low hedge - it tolerates pruning well - or in a border, or even in a well-sheltered orchard, among blueberries, Feijoa, goumi, ragouminier, Pawpaw, and May berries.