Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

Date: 30 Sep 2023

Avocado Variety Guide: Snack or Guacamole?
Collector's inspiration

Avocado  Red  Russel

Photo above: It's NOT an egg plant! It's a Red Russell :)

A comprehensive guide to Avocado varieties by: flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

Many gardeners who are eager to purchase their first avocado tree often wonder which variety to choose. Most people are familiar with two primary classifications commonly found in grocery stores: Small & Black or Large & Green.

Frequently, we hear customers ask, "Do you have the one I like, the smaller fruit with bumpy skin? Not that big, tasteless, and watery one!" What they may not realize is that this basic (but practical!) classification doesn't encompass all the wonderful qualities avocados have to offer. There are numerous hybrids in cultivation, and once you plant your first tree and taste the REAL fruit (not from the grocery store), you'll be eager to explore other varieties. It's a guarantee! While it's true that avocado fruit can vary in "butter" content and how "watery" or "buttery" it is, most superior varieties are equally delicious. Or perhaps we should say they are so versatile and distinct in taste that you'll start building your collection of these trees, much like fruit enthusiasts do with mango varieties.

Every garden has unique requirements based on climate, temperature, and property size. These factors must be considered before planning your avocado garden. Additionally, many gardeners may wonder about Type A vs. Type B classifications and whether they need more than one tree to yield fruit. You'll find all this valuable information in our Avocado Variety Guide.

Cat  with  avocados

Basic classifications of avocados

1) By flowering pattern and pollination behavior: Type A and Type B

2) By origin: Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian (along with many hybrids)

3) By fruit appearance, texture and taste: Guacamole Avocado ("Smooth skin") and Snack Avocado ("California" or "Hass" type)

4) By growth habit: full size trees, free branching or upright, semi-dwarf low growing, and dwarf ("condo avocados")

5) By cold hardiness: Cold sensitive (requiring frost-free conditions), cold tolerant (able to withstand light frost), and cold hardy (capable of enduring some hard freezes once established)

6) By ripening season: Early or Spring (March-June), Mid or Summer (July-September), and Late or Fall-Winter (October-February).

Cat  with  Red  Russel  Avocado

Shop Avocado trees

Date: 17 Dec 2025

What is so unique about Wurtz avocado?

Wurtz Avocado, Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it's a true dwarf tree.

Wurtz Avocado, Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it's a true dwarf tree.

🌳 What is so unique about Wurtz avocado?



Avocados come from three main regions, and each group has its own special look, taste, and growing habits. The three types are Mexican, Guatemalan, and West Indian. Many of today’s popular varieties are hybrids, mixing traits from these types as we mentioned in earlier post.
  • Wurtz Avocado, also known as Little Cado or Mexicola Dwarf, is special because it’s a true dwarf tree. That means it stays small, making it perfect for small gardens, patios, or containers. You can even grow it indoors in a sunny spot!
  • Wurtz is actually a Guatemalan-type avocado, not exactly a Florida or California type. It has a slightly different growth habit and pollination pattern than those two groups.
  • The fruit is small to medium in size, with smooth green skin and a rich, buttery flavor. Its flesh is creamy and full of healthy oils, much like the California (Hass-type) avocados.
  • In short: Wurtz is a compact, easy-to-grow avocado tree that produces delicious, buttery fruit. It’s perfect for gardeners who want a real avocado tree without needing a big yard.


✔️ Check out
Avocado Variety Guide interactive chart. Sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

🛒  Plant Avocado Wurtz
Explore Avocado varieties and Dwarf Avocado

📖 Our Book: Avocado Variety Guide, Snack or Guacamole?

📚 Learn more:

Plant Facts

Persea americana, Persea gratissima
Avocado, Alligator Pear, Aguacate, Abacate
USDA Zone: 9-11
Large tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunRegular waterEdible plantSubtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short time
  • · Avocado Variety Guide
  • · Posts about #Avocado
  • · Avocado tree (Persea americana) in Plant Encyclopedia

    🎥 What is a Dwarf Condo Avocado that fruits at 3 ft tall? 📱

    #Food_Forest #Avocado

    🟢 Join 👉 TopTropicals
  • Date: 30 Oct 2022

    What is the best Avocado variety?

    Grow Your Own Food

    Avocado  fruit  varieties  on  a  plate

    Q: Most trees in my yard were destroyed by hurricane Ian and now I have to start my landscape from scratch. So I decided to plant something useful. Avocado is my favorite. In the stores I see two kinds, large green or small black, but I was told there are many varieties. When I googled the best variety of avocado I found your website. You have quite a selection! Now I don't know which variety to chose. Can you please help? I have room for several trees.

    A: Indeed there are many varieties of Avocado (we grow over 50 kinds). Some avocado lovers try to get as many varieties as they can fit in their yards because every variety has its unique flavor and texture.
    2 main Avocado kinds that we usually see in grocery stores are -
    1) smaller black fruit with rich, buttery texture - Mexican and Guatemalan hybrids
    2) green avocado, some can be as large as a small melon, but they have light texture - West Indian types
    There are many hybrids. How to pick the right variety for your yard?

    Check out our Avocado variety page and scroll down to see a chart that shows characteristics of fruit, tree size, cold hardiness, and chose the right variety that fits your needs.

    Below are just a few picks from our horticulturist - our favorite varieties that we enjoy and highly recommend to others.

    Best tasting large green Avocado hybrids:

    Bernecker, Beta, Doni, Catalina, Pollock.

    Best tasting black or dark green, buttery Avocado hybrids:

    Winter Mexican, Brogdon, Black Prince, Day, Fantastic, Florida Hass, Marcus Pumpkin, Mexicola Grande, Nishikawa, Waldin

    Dwarf trees (black fruit):

    Wurtz, Fuerte.

    For local customers: see large 15-gal size Avocado trees, delivery and installation available!

    Today all avocados are 13% off instantly with no min. order, take advantage of this quick sale and get all varieties you want!

    Large  avocado  trees  in  15  gal  containers

    Shop Avocado Trees

    Date: 29 Oct 2025

    Grow your own brain food: Avocado and Cocoa

    Avocado and Cocoa recipes

    Avocado and Cocoa recipes

    Chocolate tree fruit (Cocoa, Cacao beans) - Theobroma cacao

    Chocolate tree fruit (Cocoa, Cacao beans) - Theobroma cacao

    Avocado fruit

    Avocado fruit

    ☕️ Grow your own brain food: Avocado and Cocoa

    • Avocado and cocoa aren't just a delicious combo - they’re also great for your brain. Studies show that Avocado's healthy fats improve blood flow and memory, while Cocoa’s flavonoids boost attention, mood, and overall cognitive performance. Together, they help protect brain cells from inflammation and aging.
    • Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fats and lutein, nutrients that support sharp thinking and long-term brain health. Cocoa, meanwhile, enhances circulation in the brain and has been linked to lower risk of stroke and dementia. So, growing your own avocado and cacao trees means growing your own natural brain boosters right in your garden.
    • Try blending the two in simple treats like avocado chocolate mousse or a smoothie with banana and almond milk - creamy, rich, and packed with brain-loving nutrients.


    🍽 Delicious Avocado-Chocolate recipes:

    • 🍵 Avocado Chocolate Mousse


      To make this, simply blend ripe avocado, unsweetened cocoa powder, honey (or maple syrup), and a splash of vanilla for a rich, creamy mousse that feels indulgent yet guilt-free.
    • 🍵 Avocado Chocolate Smoothie


      This is perfect for breakfast and to make it, combine avocado, cocoa powder, banana, almond milk, and a touch of nut butter for a thick, chocolatey breakfast smoothie.
    • 🍵 Avocado Brownies


      This one is for the sweet tooth lovers, use mashed avocado in regular brownie batter, add cocoa powder, and bake for fudgy, nutrient-dense brownies.
    • 🍵 Chocolate Avocado Pudding Pops


      To make this bite-size snack, blend avocado, cocoa powder, dates (or honey), and coconut milk, then freeze in molds for refreshing delights.


    🛒 Plant your own Chocolate tree (Cocoa, Cacao), and Avocado tree for long lasting brain power

    📚 Learn more:
    #Food_Forest #Remedies #Discover #Recipes

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    Date: 8 Jul 2024

    What is the best Avocado variety? Five most popular Avocado varieties

    Avocado Brogdon

    Avocado Brogdon

    Avocado Hass

    Avocado Hass

    Avocado Fuerte

    Avocado Fuerte

    Avocado Oro Negro

    Avocado Oro Negro

    Avocado Winter Mexican

    Avocado Winter Mexican

    Five most popular Avocado varieties



    "What is the best variety of Avocado?"
    "Do you have the one with small black fruit and bumpy skin?"

    "I have avocado with very large green fruit, what variety is it?"

    These are frequently asked questions we get from our customers. This basic "classification" by black/green doesn't encompass all the wonderful qualities avocados have to offer. There are numerous hybrids in cultivation, and once you plant your first tree and taste the REAL fruit (not from the grocery store), you'll be eager to explore other varieties. While it's true that avocado fruit can vary in "butter" content, most superior varieties are equally delicious.

    ✅ We will guide you through Avocado varieties like we did with Mango varieties in earlier posts. First comes first -

    🏆 The most popular Avocado varieties:



    1. Brogdon - red-purple pear-shaped fruit, 7-15 oz. Skin is very thin, yellow buttery flesh. Fruit ripens in late summer-fall. Very cold hardy.

    2. Hass - probably the most popular, but this tree prefers drier climate (Florida is humid, so we plant adaptable Florida Hass here). The fruit is dark-colored with a rough and bumpy skin, turns black when ripe.

    3. Fuerte - a dwarf and a very cold hardy variety. Everybody's favorite "Condo Avocado": perfect for container culture and small yards. The mature tree in the ground is under 15 ft; 6-7 ft in containers.

    4. Oro Negro - Oro Negro means "black gold" in Spanish, which is an incredibly appropriate name for this fruit. This Monroe hybrid (with big size fruit) is crossed with a Mexican type which would explain the black skin. The flesh is rich and buttery with a creamy texture.

    5. Winter Mexican - one of most cold hardy varieties, Guatemalan x Mexican origin. Mature trees may withstand temperatures in the mid 20s. Oblong fruit, 12-18 oz, thick green skin. Very vigorous tree, bears heavily and regularly in December-January.

    📚 Learn more: Avocado Variety Guide - check this out for interactive chart of Avocado varieties and sort them by flower type A or B, tree habit, fruit shape and quality, cold hardiness, origin, season and more!

    🛒 Shop Avocado Trees

    #Food_Forest

    🏵 TopTropicals