5 (More!) Tropical Avocado Varieties You’ve Never Heard Of

You’ve dipped into Choquettes, visited the Hall of fame, and witnessed the beauty of avocado Monroe—but did you know there are even more types of tropical avocado varieties out there?

It’s the subject so nice, we decided to write about it twice: Odd, exotic, or rare avocado breeds. So for anyone keeping score at home, that’s 10 total tropical avocados you should know about—or 10 more reasons you should nail your next round of pub trivia, as long as the trivia master is all about gardening.

Mexicola Avocado 

Avocados usually leave other fruits green with envy, but this odd variety has a dark side.

Mexicola avocados are small—typically growing around the size of a plumb—and sport a dark black skin. But don’t let their looks fool you: These avocados aren’t bad at all. 

In fact, they’re one of the most giving varieties of the natural treat, with skin and even leaves that are edible—and count as delicacies in some Mexican cultures. Aside from that, Mexicolas have a higher oil content than most, giving their fruit an almost buttery texture and taste. Yum!

Reed Avocado

Another avocado with a deceptive side, these are no reed-thin wonders.

In fact, Reed Avocados are particularly robust, responsible for the world’s largest example of the fruit, which came in at an impressive 5.5 pounds, stretched far wider than a grown person’s fully outstretched hand, and even snagged a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records.

Still, good things take time. Due to their impressive size, these avocados must mature for nearly a year on their tree before they’re ready for harvest.

Maluma Avocados 

One of the most mysterious avocados out there, this variety wasn’t even on the map until 1990, when it was first discovered in South Africa. 

The ultra-rare variety also sports one of the most beautiful coverings in the avocado world, growing a skin that registers as a lovely dark purple, albeit with a bumpy, lumpy texture that leaves a bit to be desired. And with a pit that makes up a majority of its 14-inch circumference, this probably isn’t the best variety to plan a menu around.

Still, the Maluma gets bonus points for a cryptic back story: Scientists still aren’t sure where this variety came from!

Pinkerton Avocados 

As the Mexicola and Maluma show, avocados can come in all colors. And, as the (colorfully-named!) Pinkerton can vouch, the fruit can also come in a variety of shapes.

This cultivar is particularly noteworthy for its odd elongated appearance, looking far less like the pear avocados are often compared to and much more like a zucchini. Still, this oddly-proportioned fruit is noteworthy in a number of other ways: The Pinkerton carries a high oil load, giving it a buttery texture and nutty taste. And the avocado is also known for its resistance to cold and frost, making it a great pick to grow in a variety of environments. 

Wurtz Avocados

Rounding out the shapes these fruits can come in is the Wurtz Avocado, which is the only dwarf variety of avocado currently out there.

While average avocado trees can surpass 80 feet, these grow on trees that barely reach 10—and the size of the fruit matches the size of the source, with these types of avocado only reaching 12 ounces on the high end. 

Still, Wurtz Avocados are noted for their delicious flavor and happy green appearance, and they’ve proven capable of withstanding temperatures as low as 32 degrees—exemplifying the Shakespearean quote “Though she be but little, she is fierce.”