Overview

Cultivate your own supply of delectable avocados right from your garden with the remarkable Mexicola avocado tree. This live, vigorous plant arrives as a grafted avocado plant, standing proudly at 1 to 2 feet tall, and is carefully shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, ensuring a healthy start in its new environment. The ‘Mexicola’ variety is particularly prized for its superior cold hardiness, making it a fantastic option for gardeners in regions where other avocado types might struggle. Its small to medium-sized, black-skinned fruit boasts a rich, nutty flavor and a high oil content, perfect for guacamole, salads, or enjoying fresh. Growing avocado at home has never been easier with this robust and productive tree.

The Mexicola avocado tree (Persea americana ‘Mexicola’) is a Mexican-type avocado, distinguished by its thin, edible skin and delicious, creamy flesh. This tree is not only a source of incredible fruit but also an attractive addition to any landscape, providing lush, evergreen foliage. Whether you’re an experienced horticulturist or just starting your journey into growing fruit trees, this grafted specimen offers a reliable path to fresh, homegrown avocados.

Key Benefits

The Mexicola avocado tree offers a multitude of benefits, making it a highly desirable addition to any garden or patio. Its unique characteristics contribute to both its ornamental value and its practical uses:

• Exceptional Cold Hardiness: Unlike many avocado varieties, the Mexicola avocado tree is renowned for its ability to withstand colder temperatures, often tolerating dips down to 20°F (-6°C) or even lower once established. This makes it a prime choice for gardeners in cooler climates who previously thought growing avocados was impossible.
• Delicious & Nutritious Fruit: Enjoy a bounty of small to medium-sized, black-skinned avocados with a rich, creamy texture and nutty flavor. These fruits are high in healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, offering a nutritious addition to your diet.
• Early Bearing: Grafted trees, like this grafted avocado plant, tend to produce fruit much sooner than trees grown from seed, often within 3-5 years. This means you won’t have to wait long to harvest your first crop.
• Attractive Evergreen Foliage: Beyond its fruit, the tree provides beautiful, dense, evergreen leaves that offer year-round visual appeal and can provide shade in sunny areas.
• Versatile Use: The fruit is perfect for making guacamole, adding to sandwiches, salads, or simply slicing and eating fresh. The thin skin is often edible, adding convenience.
• Supports Self-Sufficiency: Successfully growing avocado at home allows you to enjoy fresh, organic avocados, reducing reliance on store-bought produce and fostering a sense of accomplishment.
• Pollinator Friendly: Avocado blossoms attract bees and other pollinators to your garden, contributing to a healthy ecosystem.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Mexicola avocado tree is straightforward with the right knowledge. This hardy variety is relatively low-maintenance once established. For optimal growth and fruit production, ensure it receives full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade can prevent leaf scorch. When planting, choose a location with well-draining soil, as avocados are highly susceptible to root rot in waterlogged conditions. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0) is ideal.

Watering is crucial, especially during the first few years and during dry spells. Deep watering 2-3 times a week is generally recommended for young trees, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Mature trees may need less frequent but still deep watering. Fertilize your grafted avocado plant with a balanced citrus or avocado-specific fertilizer, following the product’s instructions, typically 3-4 times a year during the growing season. Protect young trees from strong winds and frost during their first few winters, even though this is a cold hardy avocado variety. Pruning should be minimal, primarily to remove dead or diseased branches and to shape the tree for better air circulation and light penetration.

Size & Details

This offering is for one Mexicola avocado tree, a healthy and vibrant grafted avocado plant, which measures approximately 1 to 2 feet in height from the base of the pot to the top of the foliage. It is shipped in a sturdy 6-inch nursery container, providing a well-established root system ready for transplanting. Mexicola avocado trees are known for their moderate growth rate, typically reaching a mature height of 15-25 feet, though they can be kept smaller with proper pruning. The fruit typically matures from late summer to early fall, offering a reliable harvest. Grafted trees accelerate the fruiting process, often producing fruit within 3-5 years of planting, significantly faster than seed-grown counterparts. This specific size is ideal for planting directly into the ground or potting up into a larger container for patio culture, especially for those interested in growing avocado at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This Mexicola avocado tree is 1 to 2 feet tall when shipped. Mature trees can reach 15-25 feet tall, but their size can be managed with pruning, making them suitable for various garden sizes.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The grafted avocado plant is shipped in a 6-inch nursery pot, providing a good foundation for its root system and making it ready for immediate transplanting.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While primarily an outdoor tree in suitable climates (USDA Zones 8-11), the Mexicola avocado tree can be grown in a large container and brought indoors during winter in colder regions.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For best growth and fruit production, this cold hardy avocado requires full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, once established, the Mexicola variety is considered relatively easy to care for, especially due to its excellent cold hardiness. Regular watering and appropriate fertilization are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Mexicola avocado tree will arrive as a live, healthy plant, carefully packaged in its 6-inch pot to ensure it reaches you in excellent condition, ready for planting.
• Q: Can I use the fruit for guacamole? A: Absolutely! The ‘Mexicola’ avocado is highly prized for its rich, nutty flavor and creamy texture, making it an excellent choice for delicious homemade guacamole.
• Q: How long until it produces fruit? A: As a grafted tree, you can typically expect your grafted avocado plant to start bearing fruit within 3-5 years after planting, much faster than trees grown from seed.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: The Mexicola is a cold hardy avocado, tolerant down to about 20°F (-6°C) once mature. It thrives in USDA Zones 8-11. In colder zones, it must be protected or grown in a container indoors during winter.
• Q: What’s the best way of growing avocado at home? A: For best results, plant in well-draining soil in a sunny location, water regularly, and protect from strong winds and extreme cold when young. Consistent care will lead to a thriving tree.