Why Are My Feijoa Leaves Curling?

Aphids

Aphids are the most common cause of distorted, curled new growth on feijoa in the UK. They colonise the young, opening shoots in spring and early summer, feeding on the sap before the leaf tissue has fully expanded and hardened. Because the leaf is still growing at this point, the feeding disrupts its normal development: the affected leaves curl under and inward as they expand, a symptom that persists even after the aphids are gone because the leaf tissue was deformed during its formative stage. Mature feijoa leaves are tougher and less palatable to aphids; the problem is concentrated on the new flushes of growth.

What to do

• Pinch off the most heavily infested shoot tips. Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to the new growth, covering the undersides of the young leaves where aphids cluster. Encourage natural predators by avoiding broad-spectrum insecticides. Already-deformed leaves will not straighten but the plant will produce new, healthy growth once the aphid population is controlled.

Drought stress

Feijoa is a tough, drought-tolerant plant once established in open ground, but it will show leaf curl in prolonged dry spells or when grown in a container where the root volume is restricted. Drought-stressed feijoa leaves curl upward and inward along their length (rather than the downward curl caused by aphids); the plant may also drop some of its older leaves in extended drought. Container-grown feijoas are significantly more vulnerable to drought stress than those in the ground because the limited compost volume dries out quickly in warm weather.

What to do

• Water established garden feijoas thoroughly during extended dry spells (once or twice a week in drought conditions). Container-grown plants may need watering every 1 to 3 days in hot weather; check by pushing a finger into the compost rather than relying on the appearance of the surface. Apply a deep mulch of bark or compost around the base of garden-grown plants to retain soil moisture. Plants in the ground typically recover quickly once watered.

Scale insects

Soft scale (Coccus hesperidum) and occasionally other scale species colonise the stems and leaf undersides of feijoa, particularly on plants grown under glass or in sheltered positions where natural predators are limited. Scale feeding causes yellowing, leaf curl, and the production of sticky honeydew that supports sooty mould. Scale is more of a problem on container-grown or greenhouse-kept feijoas than on those in the open garden where natural enemies (parasitoid wasps, predatory beetles) help keep populations in check.

What to do

• Scrape scale off stems and leaf undersides with a soft toothbrush. Apply insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil spray to the affected areas. For glasshouse plants, introduce the parasitoid wasp Metaphycus helvolus for biological control. Wipe sooty mould from leaves with a damp cloth once scale populations are reduced.

Wind scorch

Feijoa is tolerant of coastal exposure and wind, which is one of the reasons it is widely planted in exposed coastal gardens in the south and west of the UK. However, particularly cold or desiccating winds can cause the leaf margins to brown, dry, and curl, particularly on the youngest growth and on the windward side of exposed plants. Wind scorch appears as brown, dry leaf margins (rather than the soft, water-soaked appearance of disease) and the affected tissue curls upward and inward as it dries.

What to do

• Site feijoa in a position with at least some wind shelter if cold or drying winds are a regular problem. Established plants develop a denser habit and greater wind tolerance over time. Avoid fertilising with high-nitrogen feeds in late summer, which can push soft new growth that is especially vulnerable to wind damage and cold in autumn.

Frequently asked questions

Why are my feijoa leaves curling?

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana, also called pineapple guava or guavasteen) leaves curl most commonly because of aphid infestation on the new growth, drought stress, scale insects, or wind scorch. Aphids colonise the young shoots of feijoa in spring and early summer, clustering on the undersides of newly opening leaves and feeding on the sap; the affected leaves curl under and inward as they develop because the aphids disrupt the normal expansion of the leaf tissue before it hardens. Drought stress causes the mature leaves to curl upward and inward along their length to reduce moisture loss. Scale insects colonise the stems and leaf undersides, causing leaf curl, yellowing, and sticky honeydew. Wind scorch on exposed garden feijoas causes the leaf margins to brown and curl, particularly on the windward side of the plant.

Can I grow feijoa in the UK?

Yes, feijoa (Acca sellowiana) is one of the hardiest subtropical fruiting plants available and can be grown outdoors in most of the UK with a sheltered, sunny position. It tolerates temperatures down to about -12°C once established, which puts it within range for most UK gardens. Feijoa is an evergreen shrub reaching 2 to 4 metres, with attractive grey-green foliage and striking white-and-red flowers in summer; the petals are edible. The fruit requires a warm summer to ripen in the UK and is most reliably produced in the south and west of England and Wales; a sheltered south-facing wall maximises fruit production. Two different cultivars should be grown for cross-pollination, though some are partially self-fertile.

How do I control aphids on feijoa?

Aphids on feijoa in the UK are most active on the new growth flushes in spring and early summer and can be controlled by a combination of physical, biological, and chemical methods. Physically, pinch off or prune away the most heavily infested shoot tips and squeeze clusters of aphids between your fingers. Encourage natural predators: ladybirds, lacewing larvae, parasitoid wasps, and hoverfly larvae all feed on aphids and typically reduce numbers within a few weeks if not disrupted by broad-spectrum insecticides. For faster control, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil to the affected shoot tips, covering the undersides of the leaves. Avoid high-nitrogen feeding in spring, which promotes the lush, soft growth that aphids favour.

Does feijoa fruit in the UK?

Feijoa can fruit in the UK, though reliable crops are more achievable in the south and west of England, the west of Wales, and other mild-climate areas. The plant flowers in June and July and the fruit needs roughly 5 to 7 months of warmth to ripen after fertilisation, meaning fruit typically ripens in October to November. In a warm year and a sheltered, sunny position, feijoa can produce a reasonable crop; in a cool summer the fruit may drop before ripening or fail to develop adequate sweetness. Growing two different cultivars improves cross-pollination and fruit set; good UK options include 'Unique', 'Mammoth', and 'Apollo'. In the north of the UK, fruiting is unlikely outdoors but can be achieved in a heated greenhouse.