It looks like you’re almost a full zone warmer than me. I’m 8a technically, but hesistate to grow anything that’s not rated hardy to at least zone 7 based on my experiences with some zone 8 plants not always overwintering reliably here.
The mother tree is growing at my friend’s sister’s house in Northern California. I’m not sure what the average winter lows are, but from what I understand the tree is very large and heavily productive. We know that it’s var. drymifolia based off its characteristics and that of its seedlings (thin skin, anise scented leaves, good hardiness), but we don’t know if it was originally a seedling or a grafted tree as it was already well established on the property before the current owner acquired it. The skin is very thin and I have eaten many of them without pealing or only partially peeled. The texture is soft, but not mushy so it makes good avocado salads when chopped up since the pieces hold their shape.
Here are the fruit from the mother tree:
I’d like to keep all the current seedlings until next spring just to make sure they’re all off to a good start, but we should keep in touch. Although I was planning to sell them, I’d be happy to let you come take some of them next year as a gift since you’re doing good work. Maybe just share back scion to me if any of the seedlings end up being outstanding enough to be worthy of cloning.