Avocado
Persea americana · Evergreen, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Lauraceae
Tree Category
Fruit Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species / Generic variety (showing characteristic pyriform or oval fruit with pebbled, brownish-green skin)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, intolerant of heavy frosts or freezing temperatures.
About This Tree
An evergreen tree featuring a dense, rounded to spreading canopy, upright branches, and a moderate growth rate. Reaches medium to large heights with leathery leaves and produces large, highly nutritious fleshy single-seeded berries.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate arrangement, simple, elliptic to oblong shape, generally 4 to 8 inches long, with smooth margins and a leathery texture. Dark green above and paler beneath.
Bark Characteristics
Gray to brown bark, initially smooth on young branches, becoming rough, furrowed, and somewhat scaly or rigid on older trunks.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to tropical and subtropical Mexico and Central America, widely cultivated globally in frost-free Mediterranean and tropical climates.
Growing Season
Evergreen with continuous or episodic growth flushes. Flowers in spring, fruits mature over several months to over a year depending on the variety, and remains in foliage year-round.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun for optimal fruit production. Needs regular, moderate watering during establishment and dry periods, prefers well-drained soils and is sensitive to root rot from over-watering; low drought tolerance once fruit production is active.
Mature Size
Mature height of 30 to 60 feet with a comparable spread, moderate growth rate, and a productive lifespan of several decades.
Special Characteristics
Valued for its commercially important, nutrient-dense, edible fruit high in healthy monounsaturated fats. Wood is soft to moderately hard with limited timber utility.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides canopy cover and nesting sites for various birds. The flowers attract insect pollinators such as bees, and fallen fruit can be consumed by local mammals.