AMERICAN GARDENER

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) belongs to the Rhamnaceae family, or buckthorn family, within the genus Ziziphus. It’s a deciduous shrub or small tree, typically thorny, and classified as a drupe-producing species. The fruit contains a single hard pit, akin to olives or dates, and the plant is closely related to species like Ziziphus mauritiana (Indian jujube). … Read more

Dates belong to the Arecaceae family, commonly known as the palm family, under the genus Phoenix. The species Phoenix dactylifera is the cultivated date palm, distinguished from wild relatives like Phoenix sylvestris. It’s a dioecious monocot, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate trees, requiring pollination (often manual) for fruit production. The fruit, a … Read more

Corn, scientifically known as Zea mays, belongs to the Poaceae family, commonly called the grass family, which includes wheat, rice, and barley. It’s classified under the subfamily Panicoideae and the tribe Andropogoneae, closely related to sorghum and sugarcane. As an annual monocot, it features a single seed leaf and a fibrous root system. The genus … Read more

Originating from Central and South America, they were domesticated thousands of years ago before spreading across the globe through exploration and trade. Today, they thrive in warm climates and are cultivated in countless regions of the world. They come in a variety of vibrant colors and are known for their crisp texture and mild, sweet … Read more

The Sharwil avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, a species within the Lauraceae family, which includes plants like cinnamon and laurel. Botanically, it’s classified as a berry, featuring a single large seed surrounded by fleshy pulp, though it’s commonly treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts. Sharwil is a hybrid of Guatemalan and Mexican … Read more

The Lamb Hass avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, part of the Lauraceae family, which includes species like bay laurel and cinnamon. Botanically, it’s a berry, characterized by its single large seed and fleshy pulp, though it’s typically used as a vegetable in culinary applications. Lamb Hass is a hybrid derived from the Hass … Read more

The Zutano avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, classified within the Lauraceae family alongside species like laurel and cinnamon. Botanically, it’s a berry, defined by its single large seed and fleshy pulp, though it’s typically used as a vegetable in culinary settings. Zutano is predominantly of Mexican ancestry (around 90%), with a minor Guatemalan … Read more

The Choquette avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, a species within the Lauraceae family, which also includes plants like cinnamon and bay laurel. Botanically, it’s classified as a berry, featuring a single large seed surrounded by fleshy pulp, though it’s commonly treated as a vegetable in culinary contexts. Choquette is a hybrid, primarily a … Read more

The Gwen avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, a species within the Lauraceae family, which also includes laurel, cinnamon, and bay trees. Botanically, it’s classified as a berry, characterized by its single large seed surrounded by fleshy pulp, though it’s typically used as a vegetable in culinary contexts. Gwen is a hybrid with predominantly … Read more

The Pinkerton avocado is a cultivar of Persea americana, belonging to the Lauraceae family, which includes aromatic species like cinnamon and laurel. Botanically classified as a berry due to its single-seeded, fleshy fruit, it’s a hybrid with a roughly equal mix of Guatemalan and Mexican ancestry. The Guatemalan influence (about 50-60%) contributes to its rich … Read more