Botanical Name: Persea americana
Common Name: Avocado Type of Plant: dicot: tree Character evergreen Habit of Growth: Overall Shape a mostly erect, single-trunk, wide-spreading tree, with vigorous growth to produce a large dense oval-rounded canopy; bark is gray, rough, wood brittle; young stems are green Height 25-40' (60') Spread 2/3 to equal Growth Rate rapid Environment: Exposure outdoors full sun preferred (for best fruit production) Soil well draining loam (decomposed granite soils are best) Hardiness tender (zones 19, 21, 23, 24); requires mild coastal habitats Morphology: Leaves pinnate, alternate, elliptic-oval or oblong; 4-10" (12") long, dark green and glossy above, paler beneath;slightly aromatic when crushed Flowers greenish, small, in terminal compact panicles, Feb.-June Fruit a drupe: large, fleshy, pear-shaped or oval, 4-6" long Propagation: seed Usage: mostly as a fruit tree; as an ornamental, is best used as a large shade tree; hard to grow other plant materials under the canopy because of the dense shade and messy drop of leaves Landscape Care: Watering regular, especially in summer; not drought tolerant tree (can survive severe water stress but looks very unthrifty) Fertilizing balanced; in early spring, mid summer and fall Pruning for fruit production, very little needed; thin out; head Pests/Diseases Phytophthora root rot (avocado root rot) Special Conditions/Other Origin: Central America/Mexico Family: Lauraceae Notes: |
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