Avocado
Persea americana
Also known as: Guatemalan Avocado
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Lauraceae
- Genus:
- Persea
- Species:
- Persea americana
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- green, yellow, yellow-green
- Food Forest:
- Plant contains edible parts
Native Range
United States: Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Palau, Virgin Islands
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Abbot's Bagworm Moth (Oiketicus abbotii), Amatana Leafroller Moth (Argyrotaenia amatana), avocado spanworm moth (Epimecis detexta), Caloptilia burserella, Caloptilia perseae, Caloptilia violacella, corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita), Giant leopard moth (Hypercompe scribonia), Glover's Bagworm Moth (Cryptothelea gloverii), Io moth (Automeris io), Jocara perseella, Mexican leafroller (Amorbia emigratella), Omnivorous Leafroller (Platynota stultana), Omnivorous Leafroller (Platynota rostrana), Omnivorous Looper (Sabulodes aegrotata), orange tortrix moth (Argyrotaenia citrana), Red-humped caterpillar moth (Schizura concinna), Sabulodes caberata, Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Soybean Looper (Pseudoplusia includens), Stored Grain Moth (Aglossa caprealis), Synanthedon resplendens, Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia), Western amorbia moth (Amorbia cuneanum), Palamedes Swallowtail (Papilio palamedes), Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Weevils: Polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus), Polyphagous shot hole borer (Euwallacea fornicatus) Butterflies:Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), Malachite (Siproeta stelenes), West Coast Lady (Vanessa annabella)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers fertile soils with good organic content