Named varieties of avocado differ in winter-chill needs, ripening time, hardiness, and whether they set fruit on their own — pick one that fits your climate.
Hass · Hass Avocado
Partly self-fertileRipensSpring through summer (Apr-Sep in CA)Zones9-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard 15-30 ft (prune to keep smaller)
Pollinationflower type A (best yield with a type B nearby)
rich, nutty, high-oil; skin turns black when ripe — The industry standard for flavor, but tender (damaged below ~30F), so it needs a nearly frost-free spot.
Where to buy ‘Hass’verified
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Fuerte
Partly self-fertileRipensNov-Apr (winter-spring)Zones9-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard, large spreading 20-30 ft
Pollinationflower type B (classic pollinizer for Hass)
smooth, buttery, mild; green pear-shaped fruit — A hardier (to ~28F) green-skin classic and the traditional type-B partner planted alongside Hass.
Where to buy ‘Fuerte’
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Bacon
Partly self-fertileRipensNov-Mar (fall-winter)Zones8-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard, upright 15-25 ft
Pollinationflower type B (pairs with type A like Hass)
light, watery, mild flavor; thin green skin — One of the more cold-tolerant grafted varieties (to ~25-28F), making it a good pollinizer and backyard tree for cooler-winter areas.
Where to buy ‘Bacon’
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Zutano
Partly self-fertileRipensOct-Jan (fall-early winter)Zones8-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard, upright 15-25 ft
Pollinationflower type B (widely used to pollinize Hass)
light, watery, low-oil; thin green skin — Grown mostly as a reliable, cold-tolerant (to ~24-28F) type-B pollinizer rather than for its fairly bland fruit.
Where to buy ‘Zutano’
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Mexicola Grande · Mexicola
Partly self-fertileRipensAug-Oct (late summer-fall)Zones8-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard, vigorous 20-30 ft
Pollinationflower type A (fruits well alone; add a type B to boost set)
rich, nutty, anise-tinged; small fruit with thin black skin and large seed — A pure-Mexican variety hardy to about 18-20F, one of the best choices for pushing avocados into cooler climates.
Where to buy ‘Mexicola Grande’
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Lila · Opal
Partly self-fertileRipensAug-Oct (late summer-fall)Zones8-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizecompact standard, semi-dwarf 10-15 ft
Pollinationflower type A (self-fruitful; benefits from a type B)
rich, classic Mexican-avocado flavor; medium green-purple fruit — Among the most cold-hardy avocados (to roughly 15F) on a naturally compact tree, ideal for Gulf Coast and marginal yards.
Where to buy ‘Lila’
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Brogdon · Brogden
Partly self-fertileRipensJul-Sep (summer-early fall)Zones8-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard, upright and narrow 15-25 ft
Pollinationflower type B (pairs with cold-hardy type A varieties)
rich, nutty; distinctive thin purple-black skin — A cold-hardy (to ~18F) type-B tree that gives Gulf-South growers a pollinizer partner for Mexican type-A avocados.
Where to buy ‘Brogdon’
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Reed
Partly self-fertileRipensJul-Oct (summer-fall)Zones9-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizestandard but upright and columnar 15-20 ft
Pollinationflower type A (sets well alone; type B improves yield)
rich, buttery, high quality; large round green fruit — Its upright, space-saving habit and summer-ripening large fruit make it a favorite single-tree pick for warm-winter yards.
Where to buy ‘Reed’
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Wurtz · Little Cado, Minicado
Partly self-fertileRipensMay-Sep (spring-summer)Zones9-11Diseasesusceptible to Phytophthora root rotSizetrue dwarf, weeping 8-12 ft
Pollinationflower type A (self-fruitful; a type B boosts set)
good, mild-to-rich; medium green pear-shaped fruit — The only genuine dwarf avocado, well-suited to containers and small gardens, though frost-tender to about 30F.
Where to buy ‘Wurtz’
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Black Cherry
Mulberry
Persimmon
Orange