Cultivars & Rootstocks
General Avocado Information
Family: Lauraceae
Genus: Persea
Species: americana
- Hardy, evergreen perennial
- Native to Mexico and Central America
- Botanically a large berry with a single seed
Carmen®
CHARACTERISTICS: Also known as Mendez #1. Fruit of similar size and shape to the Hass.
FRUIT SIZE: Small to medium
SEED: Fairly large
SKIN: Medium thickness skin – flesh easily be scooped out. Green fruit that turns purplish-black when mature.
SEASON: Trees have ability to produce two significant crops in one year, with fruit available from November to April.
Gem®
CHARACTERISTICS: Oval / ellipsoid shape
FRUIT SIZE: Small-Medium
SEED: Medium-large
SKIN: Relatively thick green skin, which turns blackish-purple when ripe with prominent yellow speckles (lenticels).
SEASON: The fruit is available from spring onwards, up to November/December.
Hass
CHARACTERISTICS: Round or “egg” shape
FRUIT SIZE: Small to medium
SEED: Fairly large
SKIN: Medium-thick, dark green, rough, pebbly skin that changes colour to purple/blackish when ripe and ready to eat. Skin does not yield to pressure easily, once soft or shriveled, fruit is overripe.
SEASON: Mid to late April from Limpopo & Mpumalanga until October from KwaZulu-Natal. ‘Out of season’ fruit is available year round.
Lamb Hass®
CHARACTERISTICS: “Pear” shaped with flat top or flat ‘shoulders’.
FRUIT SIZE: Large
SEED: Small – medium
SKIN: Finely pebbled and slightly less rough and thicker than Hass. Becomes black when ripe.
SEASON: Matures in the later part of the year and can be hung late.
Lamb Hass
CHARACTERISTICS: Rough pebbly skin that turns dark on ripening. Smooth textured flesh.
FRUIT SIZE: Large
SEED: In proportion to fruit size – small seed
SKIN: Purple-black thick skin
SEASON: March – July
Fuerte
CHARACTERISTICS: “Pear” shaped, sometimes with a long, thinner neck.
SKIN: Smooth, thin skin that stays green coloured when ripe. Soft skin – sensitive to pressure.
FRUIT SIZE: Medium
SEED: Medium
SEASON: From late February from Limpopo & Mpumalanga until August from Kwazulu-Natal. ‘Out of season’ fruit is available year round.
Pinkerton
CHARACTERISTICS: This variety has a definite “neck” compared to the other varieties.
SKIN: Thick, rough, green coloured skin that stays green coloured when ripe. Thick skin does not yield to pressure easily.
FRUIT SIZE: Medium to large
SEED: Medium to small
SEASON: Short season. May/June from Limpopo & Mpumulanga, July from KwaZulu-Natal. Out of season fruit not easily available.
Ryan
CHARACTERISTICS: Late season, “egg” shaped fruit.
SKIN: Slightly rough, dark green skin that stays green coloured when ripe.
FRUIT SIZE: Large
SEED: Large
SEASON: Aug – Sept from Limpopo & Mpumalanga. October from KZN. Late season fruit readily available.
Edranol
CHARACTERISTICS: Oval or pear shaped
SKIN: Thick green coloured skin with small corky speckles (lenticels). Stays green coloured when ripe. Skin shrivels at stem end if picked when not fully mature.
FRUIT SIZE: Medium to large
SEED: Medium
SEASON: June/July from Limpopo & Mpumalanga until late September from KwaZulu-Natal. Out of season fruit is available late in the year.
Reed
CHARACTERISTICS: Very late season, large and round “canonball” shaped fruit.
SKIN: Rough dark green skin that stays green coloured when ripe. The thick skin does not yield to pressure easily.
FRUIT SIZE: Large to very large.
SEED: Large
SEASON: October/November through to January from Limpopo, Mpumalanga & KwaZulu-Natal.
Ettinger
CHARACTERISTICS: “Pear” shape
SKIN: Green, thin
FRUIT SIZE: Medium
SEED: Large
Gwen
CHARACTERISTICS: Plump oval shape
FRUIT SIZE: Medium – Large
SEED: Small – medium
SKIN: Pebbly, thick skin that goes dull green when ripe
SEASON: Mid to late April from Limpopo & Mpumalanga until October from KwaZulu-Natal. ‘Out of season’ fruit is available year round.
Bacon
CHARACTERISTICS: “Oviod”
SKIN: Green, medium-thin
FRUIT SIZE: Large
SEED: Large
Zutano
CHARACTERISTICS: “Pear” shaped
SKIN: Shiny, yellow-green. Moderately easy to peal.
FRUIT SIZE: Medium-large
SEED: Medium-large
SEASON: Early
Seedling
Duke
Edranol
Ettinger
Hass
Velvick
Zutano
Clonal
Bounty
Duke 7
Dusa
Leola
Zerala
Year / Cultivar Calendar
