The D’Arturo avocado originated in the orchard of Arthur Dalby of Corralitos, in the hills outside the city of Watsonville, California. It is a chance seeding of Bacon, but don’t let that turn you off since it favors its pollen parent Hass enough to make it a delicious avocado. The tree is hardy and quick growing with unusually large leaves. This variety combines remarkable resistance to cold with early ripening, and consistent production of excellent quality fruit. We have seen it come through a 25°F frost with no damage to the foliage. This fruit can fill the gap in the springtime, when nothing else is ready, starting to ripen in April/May in Santa Cruz County. Medium to large in size, D’Arturo peels perfectly despite its unusually thin skin. It has a small to medium sized pit. The flesh is creamy and rich, and the tree is a precocious, heavy and consistent bearer. D’Arturo acts like an “A” type with an eagerness to set fruit despite Santa Cruz County’s cool spring temperatures, but recently a UC Berkeley researcher determined that the D’Arturo is actually a “B”. (J.Groh)
This little workhorse of a tree should be on the shortlist for any situation, but especially spots that are a little challenging: maybe too hot, or too cold for Hass to perform well in. Hardy, resilient, early season, and willing to set fruit under conditions only Zutano and Bacon could handle, D’Arturo is in a class above them in flavor, and easily earns its spot in any garden.

Sold out for 2026.

All trees are sold in a 5″x12″tree pot.