9 of the Best Cold-Hardy Avocado Trees | Gardener's Path

Avocado trees (Persea americana) are notorious for being susceptible to cold. So what’s an avocado lover who gardens in a cooler area to do?

Don’t give up hope! The good news is that there are some cold-hardy cultivars available.

Of the three subspecies (more on this later) of avocado, the least commonly grown one – the Mexican variety – has a number of cultivars that can tolerate frosts.

Some even down to 15°F.

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It’s worth noting that since avocados are tropical trees, we are still talking about fairly warm parts of the country. The lowest area of hardiness where you can grow avocados is Zone 8.

If you live in Zone 7 or below, you would need a large greenhouse to successfully grow an avocado tree.

Having conducted lab research on avocado trees for 14 years, I am often asked what varieties will grow in colder areas, and I am delighted to provide this guide to answer that question.

Avocado trees fall into one of three possible subspecies: West Indian, Guatemalan, or Mexican.

Subspecies  are a broader classification than varieties or cultivars. They encompass plants (or animals) that have developed in response to their natural environment in isolation from other populations of the species.

Of the three, the West Indian type is the least tolerant to cooler climates, and the Mexican – and some Mexican hybrids – are the most cold hardy.

Let’s look at the avocados you are probably most familiar with first: Hass avocados. These are the ones that turn black when they are ripe, and are the most popular variety for making guacamole during the Super Bowl.

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