Purple, Brown, or Black Figs

This may be the heirloom fig Amato, sometimes incorrectly Amata, that was imported by Amato Tassa from Italy during his immigration from Italy. An article was written about his Mr. Tassa's 25' high fig tree in Washington, D.C. in the October 8, 1910 issue of the Washington Times as fresh ripened figs seem to be almost unknown from that area at that time. In Dr. Ira Condit's Figs: a Monograph he lists this variety as Royal with the synonyms: Obispo, Trojano di Napoli, Tassa Brown, and Geraci Black and suggests that it was imported several times and was given a variety of names. Dr. Condit states that it produces both a fair breba crop and a decent primary crop of medium to large, black, violet, to green, turbinate, or flattened and with little or no neck, with a modereately rich, sweet flavor and an amber to strawberry flesh. It has a medium to large eye and so may be best suited to drier climates. Amato's cold hardiness, as proven by its ability to apparently thrive and produce in the Washington, D.C. area, should make this a good fig to try in more northerly latitudes. These were kindly shared with us by Christine Jones. Item# 11450

The sweet dark figs of Mission are the number one favorite for drying. Mission is one of the most widely grown figs in California producing heavy crops of medium to large dark purplish-black pear-shaped fruit with a rich, sweet strawberry red pulp. Good fresh or preserved. Black Mission is self-pollinating and may produce a light breba crop. A good choice for the South as well. The small eye makes it resistant to spoiling. Item # 832.

 

Celeste is the standard by which all other figs are judged on sweetness and flavor. If you've ever eaten one you know why it is also called the Honey or Sugar fig. It produces small to medium sized pear shaped violet to light violet fruit with red pulp and white to amber flesh. Very reliable for the South and Southeastern US and excellent cold tolerance. Small productive and hardy trees for the home orchard. Item# 355  MORE IN PRODUCTION FOR FALL 2021

Chicago Hardy produces large crops of medium to small nearly black to brown or violet, pear shaped to turbinate figs with amber to strawberry flesh with a rich sweet flavor. Very similar to Brown Turkey. The eye is small minimizing spoilage. Hardy Chicago was found growing in the Chicago, Illinois area although it may have originated in Sicily, Italy. It has exceptional cold hardiness and is known to fruit in the same season even if frozen to the ground. Item# 9546.

Florea is an early ripening type said to be  a cold hardy fig,  a great choice for colder climates with short seasons. It is a brown to purple fig with an amber interior. Item# 12691

How can you improve on Celeste, the Honey fig? Well here you go, Improved Celeste produces good crops of very sweet, small to medium sized light violet to violet-brown fruit with reddish amber flesh. It may produce a light breba crop but the main crop produces a large yield of delicious fruit. The tightly closed eye makes it resistant to spoiling and so it is a good choice for the Southeast. Ripens with Celeste in June. A small productive and hardy tree. Item# 9033. MORE IN PRODUCTION FOR FALL 2021

Imagine Celeste on steroids as Mega Celeste produces medium to large figs with a flavor nearly as rich and sweet as its namesake. The large pear shaped to turbinate figs have a dark violet skin with white flesh and a dark purplish-red pulp. The eye is small but open and the figs are resistant to spoiling and splitting. Mega Celeste is known to produce a breba crop. This is a likely, but as of yet unconfirmed, unofficial LSU release from Dr. O'Rourke's breeding program. Item# 9918.