Avocado Persea americana
Avocado (Persea americana) is an evergreen perennial fruit plant in the Lauraceae family, native to Highlands of Mexico and Central America. It grows 5–10 m (16–33 ft) tall and 4–8 m (13–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
Plan Avocado in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Avocado at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Lauraceae |
| Mature height | 5–10 m (16–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 4–8 m (13–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Flowering | from about March for 4–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: fruit flesh |
| Native to | Highlands of Mexico and Central America |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇨🇱 Chile, 🇨🇴 Colombia |
Is Avocado toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: leaves, bark, skin, seed
Persin in leaves, bark, skin and seed causes mild stomach upset in cats and dogs and is severe in birds, rabbits and horses; the flesh is safe for people.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Avocado
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With the Lauraceae family: Laurel wilt (Raffaelea lauricola), carried by redbay ambrosia beetles, kills avocado and wild laurels such as redbay and sassafras in the south-eastern US. Evidence B
Questions about Avocado
- How far apart should I plant Avocado?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 4–8 m (13–26 ft).
- Does Avocado need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Avocado need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Avocado?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Avocado flower?
- From about March for 4–10 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Avocado poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Persin in leaves, bark, skin and seed causes mild stomach upset in cats and dogs and is severe in birds, rabbits and horses; the flesh is safe for people.
- What grows well with Avocado?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Avocado. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Grafted Hass-type tree; seedlings take 7+ years to fruit. Zones 9b–11; cold-hardy Mexican-race cultivars tolerate about −4 °C.
- Very sensitive to waterlogging (Phytophthora root rot); needs free-draining soil.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Bay laurel Laurus nobilis
- Camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora
- Northern spicebush Lindera benzoin
- Ceylon cinnamon Cinnamomum verum
- Cassia (Chinese cinnamon) Cinnamomum cassia
- Sassafras Sassafras albidum
- California bay (Oregon myrtle) Umbellularia californica
- Peumo (Chilean acorn tree) Cryptocarya alba