When we picked our trees we used this guide, look 3/4 of the way down the document. For us the most important characteristic was when the fruit ripened.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg213

CB

I planted a Brogdon here in Seminole (Pinellas), and am glad I did. Once you get past the fruit being almost black in color when ripe instead of the supermarket green, I think you will find them to be good table fruit, tasty, with a fine texture. And hardy. Mine has weathered the freezes of the last few years with no problem.

My choice of a Brogdon was just lucky; I knew little about avocados other than I liked them. When it first started fruiting I missed it entirely; the dark fruit "hides" in the tree. Best of luck.

I like Choquette, it is self-pollinating and can stand temps. down to 28... also it is large and delish.... sally

I have heard Choquette called a lot of things - delicious isn't one of them. It is bland even by watercado standards. Consider Day, Wurtz, Brogdon & Oro Negro.

Choquette is an avocado, that gets better with age. I have one, and at the beginning, they didn't taste good. As it got older, they taste very good. Brogdon is very good, but a hassle to peel. The skin is very thin, you can't let it drop either because it gets damaged. Once it starts turning color, you can take it from the tree. I have this one too. The Hass I never cared for, and I don't have it planted either. The Russell is great, and it's one that I regret not planting. I had a plant, and gave it to a friend. Doni are okay, but I think they pick them too early. Doni taste better when they get bigger. I have a total of 4 avocado trees, Brogdon, Catalina, Choquette, and Doni. Catalina is really really good, but it doesn't produce as much as you would want. You can use this viewer, to check on some avocados, http://www.tropicalfruitnursery.com/variety-viewer-variety-avocado-reference-1

I LOVE avocados and could eat them daily. I have two producing Brogdon avocado trees and unfortunately really, really dislike their flavor. There is something different about them from any other avocado I've ever eaten. The flavor is actually nauseating.

You can't go wrong with the Brogdon. Grows fast, put out lots of fruit, delicious!

Where do you live that your Lowes is supplying such rare varieties of avocado?

I just purchased a Brogdon tree from Home Depot in Gainesville Florida. I also have a Lela and Fantastic avocado tree growing in my yard.