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6 Best Avocado Tree Varieties to Grow in Texas

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Home » Texas » 6 Best Avocado Tree Varieties to Grow in Texas

Avocados have become a super popular fruit (yes, they’re a fruit!) in recent years and luckily for Texas growers, they can be grown very easily in Texas!

You may have never thought about growing your own avocado tree, but imagine picking an avocado fresh off the tree! Why wouldn’t you grow one?

All kinds of avocados are either Mexican, Guatemalan, or Indian. But, many are hybrids between different species or different types. Southern Texas has a similar climate to Mexico and Guatemala, so many of those types grow very well in Texas.

Although, most types of avocados can grow in Texas- so you have options! The following varieties of avocado grow in zones 9 through 11, and Texas encompasses 6 through 11.

While there are hundreds of varieties of avocados, here are the top six best types to grow in Texas!

6 Best Kinds of Avocado Trees for Texas

1. Hass Avocado (Persea americana ‘Hass’)

Hass avocado (Persea americana) tree, early fruit and mature fruit
Image by Fern Berg for Tree Vitalize

You’ve probably heard of Hass Avocados because they’re the most popular variety that’s sold in grocery stores. But, you can bet that they’re much better right off the tree!

These trees grow very well in southern TX and can be planted in the ground in your garden or for landscaping. Anywhere north of central TX, you’ll need to bring the plant in for the winter.

Thankfully, avocado trees grow very well in containers and can be grown in a pot then brought inside when temperatures drop. This is ideal for northern TX. although, they will be smaller when grown in a container.

Avocado trees continue to fruit all year long when they’re growing in ideal conditions. If they don’t fruit year-round, they’ll fruit spring through summer, peaking in the warmer months.

  • Growing Zones: 9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in spring through fall

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Fast-Growing-Trees, Nature Hills or Starkbro’s

2. Choquette Avocado (Persea americana ‘Choquette’)

Choquette Avocado
Image via Daleys Fruit

The Choquette Avocado is a cultivar bred in southern Florida, made from West Indian and Guatemalan avocado trees. These trees were bred specifically to have higher quality fruits.

Choquette avocados are pretty large, typically one to two pounds when ripe. They also have very smooth skin that peels very easily. The skin is super glossy and almost looks oily.

The flesh in these avocados is juicier, with more water than many other varieties. Some people think this is an advantage and prefer this texture, while others like a creamier avocado flesh.

Choquette Avocado trees are known to be disease resistant. For this reason, they’re preferred by gardeners with lots of vegetables or fruit trees that can spread diseases amongst each other.

  • Growing Zones: 9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in summer

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Fast-Growing-Trees or Starkbro’s

3. Lula (Persea americana ‘Lula’)

Lula Avocado Tree and Fruit
Images via Everglades Farm

The Lula Avocado tree is another cultivar from southern Florida that was planted in 1915. It grew from a planted seed that is believed to come from a hybrid of a Mexican and Guatemalan avocado.

Lula avocados have smooth, glossy green skin with a shiny finish. They’re pear-shaped with a narrow top and typically weigh about a pound.

They also have more water than oil in the flesh, resulting in a thinner flesh like the Choquette avocados. Lula Avocado trees have been observed to be more susceptible to fungal infections than other varieties.

However, Lula Avocado trees are a more cold hardy variety- a better choice of tree for northern TX. These trees will fruit all year long if the climate is moderate, but they have a peak season in the summer with more fruit production.

  • Growing Zones: 9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in spring through fall

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Fast-Growing-Trees

4. Reed (Persea americana ‘Reed’)

Reed Avocado (Persea americana) tree and flowers
Image by Fern Berg for Tree Vitalize

Reed avocados are one of the biggest varieties of avocados- most of them are about the size of a softball! A great pick for anyone who LOVES avocados and wants a consistent supply.

Reed avocados have slightly pebbled skin, rougher than Choquette and Lula, like Hass avocados. Reed avocados stay green through maturity and never turn brown.

Their flesh is pale to golden yellow and has a smooth, buttery texture. These avocados are said to have a rich and nutty flavor, but it’s light and not a very strong flavor.

These trees primarily fruit in the summer and through the fall, but can continue into the winter with mild temperatures. Or, you can grow in a pot and bring your tree inside for the winter for a longer season!

They’re sensitive to temperatures 32 F and below, so Reed Avocado trees are more ideal for those in southern TX.

  • Growing Zones: 9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-30 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in summer through fall

5. Maluma (Persea americana ‘Maluma’)

Maluma Avocados
Image via Avocado.org.au

The Maluma is an avocado tree that was discovered growing in South Africa in the 1990s but is now grown in many parts of the world.

It’s most likely a cross between Mexican and Guatemalan trees, but no one is sure since it wasn’t bred.

These fruits ripen to dark purple and almost look black. Maluma avocados are very similar to Hass avocados, both in taste and look.

The main difference between Maluma and Hass avocados is that the Maluma tree is more compact.

This is an advantage for growers with a smaller space, or for those who might struggle pruning and harvesting from a large tree.

Maluma trees are known to grow slowly, but nonetheless produce lots of fruits. Fast growing trees don’t necessarily mean more fruits!

  • Growing Zones: 9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in spring through fall

6. Sharwil (Persea americana ‘Sharwil’)

The Sharwil avocado tree was first bred in Australia but grows in many tropical places. It’s one of the main avocados varieties grown in Hawaii!

Sharwil avocados trees have darker green leaves and avocados with rough, green skin. These trees fruit in March and continue through November, up to frost temperatures.

The flesh is golden yellow and is very creamy, rich with oil. These avocados are said to have a strong, bold flavor. Plus, the pit of Sharwil avocados is pretty small- meaning more avocado.

Sharwil avocado trees aren’t highly cold hardy, but they can handle cold temperatures down to 28 F.

These trees are fast growers, reaching their mature height quickly and producing lots of fruits!

  • Other Common Names: Kona Sharwil
  • Growing Zones:9-11
  • Average Size at Maturity: 15-20 ft tall by 5-8 ft wide
  • Season: Fruits in spring through fall

Comparing Texas Avocado Tree Varieties

VarietyDescriptionGrowing ZonesAverage Size at MaturitySeason
Hass AvocadoA semi-dwarf variety that fruits from spring to fall and requires cross-pollination.9-1115-20 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSpring through Fall
Choquette AvocadoBred in southern Florida, known for large fruits with smooth, glossy skin and juicier flesh.9-1115-20 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSummer
Lula AvocadoFeatures smooth, glossy green skin, pear-shaped with water-rich flesh. More cold hardy.9-1115-20 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSpring through Fall
Reed AvocadoKnown for large softball-sized fruits with rougher skin that remains green.9-1115-30 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSummer through Fall
Maluma AvocadoSimilar to Hass in appearance and taste, with compact growth.9-1115-20 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSpring through Fall
Sharwil AvocadoSmall pit, strong flavor, fast-growing, tolerates down to 28 F.9-1115-20 ft tall, 5-8 ft wideSpring through Fall

Imagine Homegrown Guacamole

Texas growers, especially those in central and southern TX, are lucky to be living in the ideal climate for avocado trees.

Avocados can only grow in the southern U.S. and we’re in one of the few states that can do it!

You may have never thought about growing your own avocados at home, but why not?!

Avocado trees are low-maintenance evergreen trees and all of the varieties listed here are self-fertile, so you only need one.

You can plant one in your yard and have a full-grown, abundant avocado tree that will also provide shade.

Or, you can plant one in a pot to grow on the patio, keeping it smaller and more manageable.

However is best for you, the end result will be a beautiful tree that produces fresh avocados!

If they’re a fruit you already love and buy from the store, why not start to grow them at home!

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Peyton Warmack-Chipman

Environmental Politics & Permaculture Enthusiast

Peyton considers trees not just as plants that provide shade or yummy fruits, but as necessary for a healthy life and community. Peyton has done most of her research on environmental politics, but recently has shifted her focus towards actual agricultural practices, learning about ideas like agroforestry, food forests, and permaculture gardening. She's most often in the kitchen whipping something up, but otherwise can be found on long bike rides or doing research.

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