Plants vs Zombies 2 - Epic Quest - Core Plant Showcase - Chili Bean - November 2022

This Penny's quest focuses on the GEM plant Lava Guava and was offered between between November 9, 2022 and November 16, 2022 by clearing six (6) levels using plants which cost a large amount of Sun.

Lava Guava is a member of the Pepper-Mint family.
Costs 75 Sun. (50 Sun at level 6)
When a zombie gets close, Lava Guava will explode and do 200 damage to all zombies in a 3x3 area around it. (+25 per level)
Lava Guava will leave a pool of lava on the same square which will deal 200 damage (+25 per level) to any zombie which walks on it.
This lava pool will last for 12 seconds.

Commentary:
What we have here is essentially a Primal Potato Mine but with no arming time. So let's use this as our baseline.
Primal Potato Mine does 1,800 damage while Lava Guava does 200.
Primal Potato Mine costs 50 Sun. Lava Guava costs 75.
After Primal Potato Mine's explosion, the tile can immediately be utilized. Lava Guava leaves a pool which prevents planting of any plants.

Bottom Line:
So essentially you are playing more for less damage than a Potato Mine. For double the cost, you can have a Cherry Bomb.
Lava Guava isn't totally inferior though. This plant will force a Gargantuar to smash the pool left behind all the while damaging said giant zombie. This is a nice stall for the jolly zombie and prevents him from throwing that bratty imp.
However, not being able to utilizing the tile afterwards is a pretty big drawback. The pool will damage any zombies not defeated by the explosion. Zombies tend not to avoid the lava explosion and walk into the lava.

+Timestamps
00:00 Level 1
01:21 Level 2
04:40 Level 3
08:38 Level 4
11:55 Level 5
15:14 Level 6