15 Types of Avocado You Should Try

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: February to May
• Ripening: April through September

The Hass avocado is a large fruit that weighs 200 to 300 grams (8 to 10 ounces). With a buttery and nutty flavor, it has a spherical shape. Its vibrant green skin turns into a dark purplish-black as it matures. When ready to be enjoyed, the inner fruit's central portion becomes white-green.

It is the most commercially popular avocado globally due to its taste, size, long shelf life, high yield, and, in some regions, year-round availability. In the United States, it makes up over 80% of the avocado crop, 95% of California's crop, and is the most commonly grown avocado in New Zealand.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: March to May
• Ripening: the following May to September

The Gwen avocado is similar to the Hass avocado in terms of its appearance, fruit texture, and flavor (nutty and buttery), although it's a bit less creamy. It also features slightly smaller fruit, weighing 100–200 grams (3 1/2 to 7 oz), and has a thick, pebbled skin that turns deep green when ripe instead of black.

This avocado variety, developed by crossing 'Hass' and 'Thille' in 1982, yields more fruit and has a smaller growth habit than 'Hass' in California. Its compact size and prolific fruit production make it an excellent choice for urban backyard cultivation, and it can grow in large containers.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: March to May
• Ripening: October to December

The Lula avocado, originating in South Florida, is cherished by avocado enthusiasts for its extended harvesting period and its ability to withstand cold temperatures. It is known for its flavorful taste, high oil content, and relatively higher water content compared to many other avocado varieties.

It features a pear-shaped, glossy green skin. Even with the presence of newer avocado cultivars, Lula avocados remains a popular choice and is widely available. Additionally, it is frequently used as a rootstock for grafting other avocado trees.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: March to April
• Ripening: October to December

The Maluma avocado is a relatively new cultivar discovered in South Africa in the early 1990s as a chance seedling with unknown parentage. However, it appears to have characteristics from Guatemalan varieties and some Mexican genes.

Marketed simply under the name 'Maluma,' and sometimes 'Maluma Hass' due to its resemblance to the Hass variety, this avocado is a large fruit weighing around 150 to 400 grams. It is recognized for its dark purple-black skin when ripe and is often referred to as a black-skinned avocado.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: Spring to summer
• Ripening: The following summer

The Reed avocado, originating from a chance seedling, can be enjoyed exclusively in the summer. It has a milder flavor, is roughly the size of a green softball, and features a smooth texture along with a thick, glossy skin that maintains its green hue when fully ripe, setting it apart from other varieties.

Reed avocados fall into the Guatemalan type and can withstand temperatures as low as -1°C (30°F). They require less water compared to Hass avocados, which is especially advantageous in drought-ridden regions. Their low-maintenance characteristics and robust growth make them an ideal option for new avocado cultivators.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: March to May
• Ripening: October to January

A seedling from Miami, Florida, Choquette avocados produce large, delicious fruit in considerable quantities with good disease resistance. As a result, they have become a popular choice. Today, Choquette avocados are widely grown in South Florida for both commercial and home use.

Choquette avocados typically weigh between 850-1100 grams (30-40 oz) and have an oval shape. They feature a glossy, smooth, green skin and contain watery flesh that often oozes when the fruit is sliced. These avocados have an oil content of around 13%.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: March to May
• Ripening: November to April

Pinkerton avocados were initially cultivated on the Pinkerton Ranch in Saticoy, California, during the early 1970s. This variety is the result of a cross between 'Hass' and 'Rincon'. The fruit is large and oblong in shape, with a relatively small seed. As it ripens, the green skin darkens.

The thick flesh of Pinkerton avocados is smooth and creamy, with a pale green color. It offers a delicious flavor and is rich in oil content. They show a degree of cold tolerance, to -1°C (30°F), and reliably produce substantial harvests. As a hybrid Guatemalan type, they have excellent peeling qualities. The fruit typically ranges in size from 225 to 680 grams.

• Flower/Pollination: A-type
• Bloom Time: Winter through late spring
• Ripening: August to November

The Pryor avocado, sometimes called the "Fantastic," features thin, shiny skin that maintains its beautiful color as it ripens. While it's one of the smaller avocado varieties, it's also one of the most delicious, with a creamy flesh that boasts an excellent oil balance compared to other avocados.

Its well-balanced oil ratio makes it versatile, and suitable for various culinary applications. You can enjoy it raw, blend it into smoothies and other healthy drinks, and even use it as a frosting base for cakes and cupcakes. Moreover, it is popular for its exceptional cold hardiness. Once it's established, it can endure temperatures as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: May to November
• Ripening: November to April

The Fuerte avocado was introduced to the United States from Mexico in 1911 and is the second most popular commercial avocado variety worldwide, following the Hass. These avocados are prized for their rich, nutty flavor and typically weigh between 226 to 452 grams (8 to 16 oz).

They have relatively smooth, green skin, and when ripe, the skin peels off effortlessly to reveal greenish-yellow flesh. Many growers and consumers even regard the Fuerte avocado as the best tasting among commercial avocado varieties.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: Spring
• Ripening: November to January

Sharwil avocados are medium-sized, featuring a narrow pear-shaped appearance and weighing between 8 and 20 ounces. They are known for their rough, green skin, which maintains its green color throughout the ripening process. Inside, their creamy flesh contains one of the smallest avocado seeds among all avocado varieties.

They also have a high oil content, imparting a rich, nutty flavor. Although Sharwil avocado trees are smaller compared to other cultivars, they reliably produce large yields over an extended season. Sharwil avocados are typically relished raw, as they are not well-suited for prolonged cooking.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: Spring
• Ripening: October to February

The Zutano avocado looks like the Fuerte avocado, having a pear shape and shiny green skin that stays green when ripe. However, its flesh is not as creamy or flavorful. It contains less oil but more water, which gives it a slightly watery taste, and the flesh is pale green with a fibrous texture.

The Zutano avocado tree bears a heavy crop and is more cold-tolerant than some other cultivars. The fruit usually weighs around 225 to 450 grams (8 to 14 oz). Nevertheless, its mild flavor and problematic peeling process make it less popular than other avocado varieties.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: Mid-spring to early summer
• Ripening: August to November

The Brogden avocado, originating in Florida, is believed to have resulted from a potential cross between Mexican-type and West Indian-type avocado cultivars. It has a pear-like shape and typically weighs just under a pound. The flavor is characterized as rich and nutty, somewhat similar to the Hass variety.

They have thin skin that turns dark-purple, often described as black, when fully mature. While it is quite cold-resistant, its fruit production is considered average compared to many other avocado varieties.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: Midwinter until early spring.
• Ripening: The following December through February

Bacon avocados are oval-shaped and feature smooth, thin skin that is dark green with faint speckles. Their flesh is pale yellow-green and contains less oil compared to Hass avocados. Regardless, they are equally delicious, offering a buttery and creamy texture.

Bacon avocados are favored in regions with lower winter temperatures due to their high cold resistance. This variety is a hybrid of two Mexican avocado types and is exceptionally easy to peel. Its light, creamy flavor complements a wide range of dishes.

• Flower/Pollination: B-type
• Bloom Time: Spring to Summer
• Ripening: Winter to early spring

The Sir Prize avocado is an early-ripening Mexican hybrid closely resembling the Hass avocado. It is prized for its sizeable fruit and small seed, offering the highest flesh-to-seed ratio among commercial avocados. On average, these avocados weigh between ten to twenty ounces.

Both the Sir Prize and the Hass avocados have pear-shaped fruit with black skin when ripe. This can lead consumers to confuse the Sir Prize for a Hass or recognize it as a Hass-type avocado. However, the Sir Prize has thinner and smoother skin, more similar to the Fuerte avocado.

• Flower/Pollination: Both A-type and B-type
• Bloom Time: Later winter through spring
• Ripening: May to September

First discovered in California in 1935, the Wurtz avocado is the only dwarf avocado type in cultivation. It starts bearing fruit at a young age, making it an excellent choice for backyard trees and suitable for cultivation in large containers, like a half wine barrel, provided there are sufficient drainage holes.

When grown in a pot, the Wurtz avocado is likely to reach a maximum height of about 2.5 meters, while in the ground, it can grow to around 4 meters tall. The fruit has a moderate oil content, a creamy texture, and a mild flavor, making it suitable for a wide range of culinary applications.