In 1916, not long after graduating from Pasadena High School, Wilson Popenoe headed south to explore the highlands of Guatemala on horseback for avocados to bring back to growers in California.
He rode over three thousand miles, he tasted a thousand different avocados, and he ultimately selected two dozen varieties.
Number 17 he gave the name Nimlioh, as it meant “large avocado” in the local Kekchi language.
Here is my profile of the Nimlioh fruit:
Where can you buy Nimlioh avocados? Very few trees remain in California, and I don’t know anyone who sells the fruit of Nimlioh, but next season (summer 2024) I’ll try to make some available for those who want to try the variety.
Read more about Wilson Popenoe’s exploration for avocados in Guatemala here.
See more profiles of avocado varieties here.
All of my Yard Posts are here.
I make these profiles and posts for you. Thank you for supporting me.
Thank you for more history on the introduction of different avocados varieties into southern California. It is very interesting.
Thanks Greg for the most fascinating and valuable history in the collecting these wonderful varieties of avocados!
I bought a Nimlioh avocado tree a few years back at Atkin’s Nursery in Fallbrook. It is quite vigorous and has produced quite a few avocados while young.
Hi Greg,
Thanks for the information on U-Pick persimmons! My husband and I picked a bucket last Sunday and the persimmons are so sweet and crispy. Do you know whether or where U-Pick on avocados?
Ming
Great to hear, Ming! I don’t know of any u-pick avocados. I like the idea, but apparently it scares farmers. If I hear of anyone doing it I’ll let you know.
Thank you so much, Greg, for taking the time to answer my question! I love U-Pick any kind of fruits.
Ah, so interesting! If you happen to have any this year, Id love to purchase them from you!
Thank you
I see you will have these available this summer. Is that still happening? I’m interested in purchasing 1-2 grafted trees! I saw this exact same picture on Etsy. I’m wondering if that was your post?!
Hi Xavier,
I don’t sell avocado trees, but you can get Nimlioh trees from Subtropica or Atkins in Fallbrook. Possibly a few other nurseries sell them too. See this post for contacts of these places: https://gregalder.com/yardposts/where-to-buy-an-avocado-tree/
I would not buy a tree from anyone on Etsy. I’ve seen a lot of mislabeled avocado trees posted there. People selling on Etsy steal my photos to advertise their trees all the time, but neither they nor Etsy ever respond to my requests to remove them.
That’s irritating to me. But it should make you suspicious as a prospective buyer. Why would someone selling a Nimlioh tree not be able to take his own photo of a Nimlioh avocado? It’s possibly because he doesn’t even have a known Nimlioh tree (that has fruited) from which to take budwood to propagate Nimlioh trees to sell.