Aguacate
Persea americana
Native Region
Central America and Mexico
Max Height
10-20 meters (33-66 feet)
Family
Lauraceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
0-2500m
Regions
- San José
- Alajuela
- Cartago
- Heredia
- Puntarenas
- Limón
- Guanacaste
Season
Flowering
Jan-Mar
Fruiting
Jun-Sep
Aguacate (Avocado)
Aguacate (Persea americana) has been cultivated for over 5,000 years in Central America. The name comes from the Nahuatl word "ahuacatl," and this nutritious fruit tree remains a cornerstone of Costa Rican cuisine and agriculture.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Persea americana
- Family
- Lauraceae (Laurel)
- Max Height
- 10-20 m (33-66 ft)
- Fruit Season
- June-September
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- Origin
- Mesoamerica
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
15000
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist's community science database. Browse all observations →↗
Taxonomy & Classification
Geographic Distribution
Geographic Distribution
Where to Find Aguacate in Costa Rica
Primary Habitats:
- Central Valley — Most cultivation areas
- Highland regions — Quality fruit production
- Home gardens — Throughout the country
- Commercial orchards — Alajuela and Cartago
Elevation: Sea level to 2,500 m (best production 800-2,000 m)
Habitat & Ecology
Ecological Role
Though primarily cultivated, wild avocados play important ecological roles:
- Food source for large mammals
- Historically dispersed by megafauna
- Related to native Lauraceae species
- Provides habitat for epiphytes
- Supports pollinators with flowers
Wildlife Associations
Animals that consume avocado:
- Quetzals — eat wild avocado relatives
- Bellbirds — related Lauraceae fruits
- Toucans — occasional fruit consumers
- Squirrels — seed predators
- Various bees — pollinators
The avocado's large seed was likely dispersed by now-extinct megafauna like giant ground sloths and gomphotheres. Today, humans are the primary dispersers of this "evolutionary anachronism."
Botanical Description
The avocado tree develops a dense, rounded crown with abundant foliage. Trees can grow quite large if unpruned, often requiring management in commercial orchards.
Uses & Applications
Avocados are exceptionally nutritious, containing healthy monounsaturated fats, potassium, fiber, vitamin E, B vitamins, and more. Costa Rican cuisine features aguacate in many traditional dishes.
Cultural Significance
History in Costa Rica
Traditional Uses:
- Food staple — Essential in Costa Rican diet
- Folk medicine — Seeds and leaves used traditionally
- Home gardens — Nearly every rural home has a tree
- Cultural identity — Part of traditional cuisine
- Economic development — Commercial production since 1900s
Growing Aguacate
From Seed:
- Clean seed and suspend in water with toothpicks
- Roots emerge in 2-6 weeks
- Transplant when 15-20 cm tall
- Note: Seedlings may not produce quality fruit
Grafting (Preferred):
- Ensures variety characteristics
- Faster fruiting (3-4 years vs 7-10)
- Better disease resistance
- Consistent fruit quality
External Resources
Community observations, photos, and distribution data
Global observations
Authoritative taxonomic information from Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
References
📚 Scientific References & Further Reading
Galindo-Tovar, M.E. et al. (2008). The Avocado (Persea americana, Lauraceae) Crop in Mesoamerica: 10,000 Years of History. Harvard Papers in Botany 13(2):325-334
Schaffer, B. et al. (2013). The Avocado: Botany, Production and Uses. CABI Publishing, 2nd Edition
The Aguacate (Persea americana) represents thousands of years of Mesoamerican agriculture and remains one of the region's greatest gifts to world cuisine. In Costa Rica, this versatile tree continues to thrive in home gardens and commercial orchards alike, providing nutritious fruit and connecting modern Costa Ricans to their ancient agricultural heritage.
🥑 ¡Pura Vida!
