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🥑 ‘Mexicola Winter’ Avocado (Persea americana) — Cold-Hardy, Edible-Skin Legend 🌿
Meet one of the toughest and tastiest Mexican-race avocados ever cultivated! The ‘Mexicola Winter’ (often sold as “Winter Mexican”) brings rich, nutty flavor, cold resistance down to the upper teens (°F), and ornamental beauty that shines in any edible landscape.
This cultivar offers thin, glossy black skin you can eat, anise-scented leaves, and creamy, buttery flesh with high oil content. It’s a strong, upright grower that thrives in both warm and cool subtropical zones — making it one of the most versatile avocados for the home orchard or container gardener.
SHIPS AS A 3-GALLON PLANT
🌟 Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Persea americana (Mexican race) ‘Mexicola Winter’ |
| Common Name | Winter Mexican Avocado |
| Plant Type | Evergreen fruit tree (grafted cultivar) |
| Sale Size | 3-Gallon container |
| Mature Height & Width | 20–25 ft tall × 10–15 ft wide (can be maintained to ~12 ft with pruning) |
| USDA Zones | 8b–11 |
| Sun Requirements | Full sun (6–8+ hours daily) |
| Cold Hardiness | Tolerant to ~18°F when mature; among the most cold-hardy avocados |
| Growth Habit | Upright and vigorous, with glossy, anise-scented evergreen leaves |
| Spacing Requirements | 18–25 ft from other trees or structures |
| Flower Type | Type A (self-fertile, increased yield with a nearby Type B) |
🍐 Fruit & Harvest Details
- Size & Appearance: Medium-sized, round to pear-shaped fruit (6–10 oz) with black, glossy, thin skin — smooth and easy to peel (or eat!).
- Flavor: High oil content gives a creamy, rich, nutty taste with mild sweetness and no bitterness.
- Texture: Smooth, buttery flesh perfect for slicing or mashing.
- Season:
- Florida: November–January
- Texas & Gulf: Late fall to winter (Oct–Dec)
- California: November–March (depending on microclimate)
- Yield: Consistent annual producer once mature; fruits ripen late, making it an excellent choice for extending the avocado season.
🌿 Why Grow ‘Mexicola Winter’?
- Cold-Hardy Hero: Handles temperatures down to the upper teens (°F) when established.
- Edible-Skin Fruit: The thin, glossy skin is fully edible and packed with antioxidants.
- Year-End Harvest: Produces when most avocados are out of season, ensuring fresh fruit in winter.
- Ornamental Value: Dense evergreen canopy and anise-scented leaves make this a striking addition to any edible landscape.
- High Oil & Flavor: Loved by chefs for its rich, nutty, buttery texture and flavor.
- Versatile Grower: Performs beautifully both in-ground (in warm zones) and in large containers in cooler climates.
📍 Where to Plant
- Sun: Full sun exposure is best for fruiting and healthy growth.
- Soil: Well-drained, rich soil is essential — avocado roots dislike soggy conditions.
- Mound Planting: If soil is heavy or slow-draining, plant on a 2–3 ft mound to improve aeration.
- Avoid: Low spots that collect frost or standing water.
🌱 GreenDreams “High & Tight” Planting Method
1️⃣ Dig: A hole only slightly wider than the container and at the same depth.
2️⃣ Set: Place the root flare at or slightly above the soil surface (never bury the trunk).
3️⃣ Backfill: Use native soil mixed with compost; pack tightly to remove air pockets.
4️⃣ Water Deeply: Saturate to settle soil around the roots.
5️⃣ Top Dress: Add compost, azomite, and biochar; then mulch 2–4” deep — but keep mulch away from the trunk.
▶️ Planting Tutorial: GreenDreams “High & Tight” Method Video
Why It Works: Avocados require oxygen-rich root zones. Planting high prevents root rot and improves establishment.
💧 Watering, Feeding & Care
- Watering:
- First week: daily
- First month: every 2–3 days
- Long-term: weekly deep watering or as needed in drought
- Feeding:
- Use organic tropical fruit fertilizer 3–4× per year.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers that push excessive vegetative growth.
- Mulching: Maintain mulch around the drip line to conserve moisture and feed soil life.
- Winter Protection: Water well before cold fronts; use frost cloth on young trees.
✂️ Pruning
- Timing: After harvest or in late winter.
- Goal: Maintain ~12–15 ft for manageable harvesting.
- Method: Selective thinning rather than topping — improves light penetration and airflow.
🪴 Container Growing
- Best For: Growers outside Zone 9 who experience regular freezes.
- Container Size: Start in 15–25 gallons with excellent drainage (pine bark, compost, and coarse sand).
- Placement: Full sun outdoors in summer; protect or overwinter indoors in bright light.
- Maintenance: Prune annually and refresh soil every 2–3 years.
🌼 Companion & Support Guild Plants
Nitrogen Builders: Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), Perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata), Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea)
Pollinator Magnets: Firebush (Hamelia patens), Porterweed (Stachytarpheta jamaicensis), African blue basil
Aesthetic Companions: Turmeric (Curcuma longa), Gingers, and Fakahatchee grass (Tripsacum dactyloides)
🧑🍳 Culinary Uses
- Fresh: Sliced in salads, sandwiches, or avocado toast.
- Guacamole: Naturally creamy texture with high oil content.
- Baked Goods: Substitute for butter in healthy recipes.
- Skin-On Snacking: The edible skin adds a nutty, earthy crunch — a signature trait of Mexican-race avocados.
Origin Story
The ‘Mexicola Winter’ traces its roots to early 20th-century California and Mexico, derived from the cold-hardy Mexican-race lineage. Its genetic heritage gives it the distinctive anise aroma and resilience that define all Mexican types. This selection became popular for its late-season ripening and rich flavor — earning it the nickname “Winter Avocado.”
🔍 Troubleshooting Guide
| ⚠️ Issue | 🧠 Likely Cause | ✅ Solution |
|---|---|---|
| 🍋 Yellowing Leaves | 💦 Overwatering / poor drainage | 🌿 Allow soil to dry slightly between deep waterings; ensure excellent drainage. |
| 🍃 Leaf Drop | ❄️ Cold exposure or wind stress | 🌿 Water before cold events; cover with frost cloth; protect with mulch. |
| 🪲 Speckled or Bronze Leaves | 🐛 Lace bugs or mites | 🌿 Use organic insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects. |
| 🧫 Root Rot | 💧 Standing water or buried trunk | 🌿 Replant “high & tight”; keep mulch off trunk base. |
| 🍈 Poor Fruit Set | 🌸 Incomplete pollination | 🌿 Add a Type-B avocado nearby to increase yield; ensure full sun and healthy tree vigor. |
⚠️ Cautions
- Do not bury the trunk; this causes crown rot.
- Protect young trees from frost until well established.
- Avoid overwatering; avocado roots need oxygen.
- Handle fruit gently — thin skin can bruise easily.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
- Gardeners in Zones 8b–11
- Growers seeking winter-season fruit
- Anyone who loves rich, nutty avocados with edible skin
- Home orchardists who appreciate resilient, cold-hardy trees
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Poorly drained soils or heavy clay
- Areas with recurring frost below 18°F
- Indoor growers without bright light access
🚚 Shipping & Handling
- Best Shipping Regions: Florida, Southeast, and Texas.
- Nationwide Shipping: Available — plants may require recovery time after transit.
- Schedule: Ships Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida.
- Weather Advisory: Buyer discretion during temperature extremes; GreenDreams is not responsible for damage caused by heat or frost during shipping.
🚜 Local Pickup
GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
🌾 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
🕘 Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM
🌿 Stop by our regenerative nursery to see what’s fresh and thriving this week! 🌸
🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services
At GreenDreams, we do more than grow plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.
- 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
- 🚜 Installation & project management
- 🚚 Bulk delivery of compost, mulch, biochar, and soils
- 🌾 Wholesale & regenerative agriculture solutions
Let our team help you create your thriving edible paradise — starting with ‘Mexicola Winter’ Avocado! 🌿
🌿 Choose the Right Avocado for Your Climate, Taste & Space
From the cold-hardy ‘Brogdon’ to the tropical giants like ‘Monroe’ and ‘Choquette’, GreenDreams offers cultivars for every grower.
Use the chart below to find your perfect match — based on cold tolerance, flavor, harvest season, and growth habit.
| 🌳 Cultivar | 🔤 Type | ❄️ Cold Tolerance | 🍽️ Flavor / Texture | 🗓️ Harvest Window (FL) | 📏 Growth Habit | 🌟 Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🟣 Brogdon | Type B | 🧊 22°F | 🥑 Nutty, creamy | Jul–Sep | 🌳 20–25 ft | Purple skin, cold-hardy Florida heirloom |
| 🌿 Day | Type A | ❄️ 24°F | 🧈 Mild, buttery | Jul–Aug | 🌿 12–18 ft | Compact, early harvest, great for containers |
| ⚫ Mexicola | Type A | 🧊 18°F | 🌰 High-oil, edible skin | Aug–Sep | 🌳 10–15 ft | Most cold-hardy; edible black skin |
| 🟢 Lula | Type A | ❄️ 26°F | 🧈 Buttery, high-oil | Nov–Jan | 🌳 25–30 ft | Late-season, great pollinator |
| 💚 Monroe | Type B | ❄️ 26°F | 🥑 Creamy, mild | Nov–Feb | 🌲 30+ ft | Vigorous, late harvest, heavy yield |
| 💧 Choquette | Type A | ❄️ 28°F | 🥗 Mild, smooth | Oct–Dec | 🌲 30+ ft | Huge fruit, great for slicing & salads |
| 🖤 Florida Hass | Type A | ❄️ 25°F | 🥑 Classic Hass flavor | Sep–Nov | 🌳 Medium | “Hass look,” adapted for Florida |
| 🌱 Wurtz (Little Cado) | Type A | ❄️ 26°F | 🧈 Creamy, mild | May–Sep | 🌿 8–10 ft | Dwarf size, perfect for pots |
| 🟤 Joey | Type B | 🧊 15–18°F | 🌰 Rich, nutty | Aug–Oct | 🌳 Compact | Ultra-cold-hardy Texas selection |
| 🟡 Fantastic | Type A | 🧊 15°F | 🧈 Smooth, buttery | Jul–Aug | 🌿 Small | Coldest-hardy variety, reliable producer |
| 🟢 Brazos Belle | Type B | ❄️ 20°F | 🥑 Rich, nutty | Aug–Oct | 🌳 Medium | Cold-hardy Texas selection |
| 🌴 Kampong | Type A | ❄️ 28°F | 🍐 Mild, low-oil | Oct–Dec | 🌲 Vigorous | Rare tropical collector’s tree |
| 🌞 Catalina | Type A | ❄️ 26°F | 🧈 Buttery, light | Jul–Aug | 🌳 Medium | Early-season Cuban classic |
| 🌿 Donnie | Type A | ❄️ 28°F | 🥗 Mild, light | May–Jun | 🌲 Large | Very early fruiter, light flavor |
| 🟤 Bacon | Type B | ❄️ 24°F | 🥑 Mild, pleasant | Nov–Jan | 🌳 Medium | Excellent pollinator, winter fruit |
| 🎃 Marcus Pumpkin | Type B | ❄️ 24°F | 🧈 Creamy, mild | Nov–Feb | 🌳 Medium | Unique round fruit; showy shape |
| ⚫ Maria Black | Type A | ❄️ 25°F | 🥑 Creamy, rich | Aug–Oct | 🌳 Medium | Dark skin, balanced flavor |
| 🌿 Talpeno | Type B | 🧊 23°F | 🧈 Buttery, high-oil | Aug–Sep | 🌳 Medium | Cold-hardy hybrid, reliable yields |
| ❤️ Thompson Red | Type A | ❄️ 26°F | 🌰 Nutty, smooth | Sep–Nov | 🌳 Medium | Red blush skin, ornamental appeal |
| 💚 Victoria | Type A | ❄️ 24°F | 🧈 Smooth, buttery | Jul–Sep | 🌳 Medium | Heat-tolerant, compact, productive |
🌎 Regional Recommendations
🧊 Best for Cold Climates (Zones 8b–9a):
‘Brogdon’ • ‘Mexicola’ • ‘Day’ • ‘Fantastic’ • ‘Joey’ • ‘Brazos Belle’
🌞 Best for Warm & Tropical Zones (9b–11):
‘Lula’ • ‘Monroe’ • ‘Choquette’ • ‘Marcus Pumpkin’ • ‘Florida Hass’ • ‘Kampong’
🪴 Best for Containers & Small Spaces:
‘Wurtz (Little Cado)’ • ‘Day’ • ‘Mexicola’
🥑 Harvest Calendar by Season (Florida)
| 🗓️ Season | 🌾 Early | 🌿 Mid | 🍂 Late |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (May–Jun) | Donnie | – | – |
| Summer (Jul–Sep) | Day • Brogdon • Mexicola • Talpeno • Victoria | Florida Hass | – |
| Fall (Oct–Nov) | Maria Black • Choquette | Monroe | Thompson Red |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Lula • Marcus Pumpkin • Bacon | – | – |
🌱 Pollination Pairing Guide
| 🅰️ Type A Varieties | 🅱️ Type B Varieties | 🌼 Suggested Pairs |
|---|---|---|
| Day, Lula, Choquette, Florida Hass, Wurtz, Mexicola, Victoria, Florida Hass | Brogdon, Monroe, Bacon, Talpeno, Marcus Pumpkin, Joey, Brazos Belle | Brogdon × Day / Monroe × Lula / Talpeno × Florida Hass |
✅ Tip: Plant one Type A and one Type B avocado within 20–30 feet to boost pollination and overall fruit yield.
💚 Pro Tip from GreenDreams
Want fresh avocados year-round?
Plant a trio for staggered harvests:
🌱 Early: ‘Day’ or ‘Donnie’
🥑 Mid: ‘Brogdon’ or ‘Florida Hass’
🍂 Late: ‘Monroe’ or ‘Lula’
With smart selection, your backyard can supply creamy, Florida-grown avocados for 8+ months every year! 🌿
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
