A Closer Look at the Holiday Avocado tree

With insights from Julie Frink

Some avocado varieties get all the attention, while others quietly shine for those who take the time to understand them. The Holiday avocado is one of those hidden gems.

We’re especially grateful to Julie Frink, one of the most respected and knowledgeable voices in the avocado world, for sharing her thoughts and firsthand experience with this unique variety. Julie has spent decades observing avocado trees in real conditions, and her perspective brings valuable clarity.

Why the Holiday Avocado Is Special

As Julie puts it:

“It is, at maturity, possibly the prettiest avocado. The tree is short and compact.”

This naturally smaller, graceful tree makes the Holiday an excellent choice for home growers.

The Most Common Mistake: Picking Too Early

One of the challenges with the Holiday avocado may be timing. According to Julie:

“Most pick it too early, before it is at its prime. It needs about 18 months on the tree since it is Guatemalan and most pick it too soon because it is large.”

Because the fruit reaches an impressive size early on, it’s easy to assume it’s ready. But the Holiday needs a longer hang time to develop its true quality.

Julie adds:

“It is a great variety but most people just don’t understand that it needs a long period of time to ripen”

A Tree for Knowledgeable Growers

The Holiday avocado has a fascinating history and Julie recalls harvesting fruit directly from the original mother tree:

“It was originally XX3 and I picked two grocery bags of beautiful fruit while sitting on the ground once from the mother tree.”

“The Holiday needs to be grown by people who know not to pick it before it is mature and how long it takes to get there.”

"and lots of leaf mulch around the trunk."

Julie also points out a practical concern:

“As a front yard tree the fruit will get taken too early by people and animal thieves.”

Because the fruit looks ready long before it actually is, Holiday avocados are especially vulnerable to early harvesting, intentional or not.

What the Tree Looks Like Right Now

Below, we’re sharing a current photo of our Holiday avocado tree showing its lush leaves and the cauliflower-like flower buds.

Pre-order your Holiday avocado tree today and experience this beautiful, unique variety in your own backyard! Click here to pre-order now!