Persea americana

RHS Plant Profile

avocado

RHS 1999

Other common names

aguacate, alligator pear, avocado pear, midshipman's butter, palta, vegetable marrow, West Indian avocado

Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants Shrubs

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A bushy evergreen shrub or small tree, with glossy, lance-shaped or elliptic leaves, rarely flowering in cultivation in temperate climates

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 2.5-4 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Lauraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Pets (rabbits): Leaves TOXIC if eaten Pets (incl. caged birds): Fruit harmful if eaten repeatedly - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Persea are evergreen shrubs or small trees with simple leaves and small greenish flowers, followed by pear-shaped, dark green fruits with edible flesh
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: C. America

How to Grow

Cultivation

In temperate climate grow under cover in containers at least 30cm (12in) in diameter using loam-based compost with added sharp sand. Maintain temperatures of 20-28°C (68-82°F) and high humidity. Apply balanced liquid feed every 2-3 weeks

Propagation

Propagate by seed. Soak undamaged seed in hot for 30 minutes at 40-52°C (104-125°F). Cut a thin slice from the pointed end of the seed. Sow individually in moist sandy compost with the cut end slightly above the soil surface and keep at 20-25°C (68-77°F). Cultivars are propagated by grafting

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Glasshouse whitefly, thrips and glasshouse red spider mite and mealybug may be a problem

Diseases

Can suffer from fungal leaf spots and Phytophthora root rot