Ficus trees have had a significant influence on both cultural and religious practices and traditions. Their super sweet nature means they work particularly well as a simple fruit dessert all on their own. Get daily tips and expert advice to help you take your cooking skills to the next level. Fig Ripening Order & Short Season Tips, Fig Varieties by Flavor, Skin, and Pulp Color, O’Rourke and Improved Celeste: 2 Distinct Cultivars, The Many Names of the Mt Etna Fig Variety, The most early ripening, flavorful, and productive cultivars, Nordland, Palermo Red, Souadi, Mt Etna, Long Yellow. Common figs are parthenocarpic, meaning the fruits form without fertilization. The World's largest and most modern online fig variety identification resource page. Tips for Growing Figs in Cold Weather. They are also delicious sliced or chopped served on ice cream or plain, unsweetened yogurt. Marseilles is a reliable and shapely yellow honey fig. Though, Ficus Carica was native to the Middle East and West Asia, but now it is grown throughout the world. A few good quality breba cultivars include the Violette de Bordeauxs, the Kadotas, Desert King, the Marseilles, the Palermo Reds, Lattarula, Grantham’s Royal, and one of the best: San Miro Piro. G.E. The fruits of this … Brown Turkey figs work well in salads, where their lighter sweetness is a welcome contrast, or in desserts where an additional sweetener will be used. All figs have that nuttiness, of course, which is why they're so good with nuts, but this variety has a stronger sense of nut about them. The rubber plant, a popular house plant, the Bo tree (sacred to Buddhists), and the Banyan tree are also species of Ficus. The most early ripening, flavorful, and productive cultivars perform best. Fig trees are of the genus Ficus, in the mulberry family. A sweet, reddish very rare, cold hardy variety fig from Switzerland.Excellent for cold climate. Calimyrna figs are large compared to other figs, and have greenish, slightly golden skin. One of the best ways to find a variety suitable to your area is to visit a local nursery. Very sweet, good fresh, dried or preserved. When fully ripe, the skins become somewhat leathery and the inside is a deeper violet color. But if the parent fig tree had a variety name, its baby trees go out into… Along with exceptional, unique and advanced features for its members to keep track of their fig collection. You may also see them sold as "candy-striped figs," so named when their exteriors are pale green-and-white striped. Post it and let the fig community help you out. Red Leaf Fig (Ficus congesta) Ficus congesta is a smallish rainforest fig tree. The most early ripening, flavorful, and productive cultivars perform best. They will carry fig types suitable for your climate and can make recommendations based on local experience. Welcome to Fig Database! 22 Tasty Fig Recipes to Enjoy This Luscious Fruit, A Simple Guide to Tomato Varieties by Color. Type of Figs From Adriatic to Brown Turkeys. If you have a batch of particularly not-super-sweet Kadotas, hit them with just the barest amount of salt to bring out their sweetness—it's not for everyone, but for those who like a salty-sweet vibe, it's pretty darn good. If you can get your hands on sheep milk yogurt, all the better. The brown turkey fig tree is a variety of the common fig tree (Ficus carica) and is a deciduous plant that can be grown as a small tree or shrub. Pretty as they are on the outside, it's their bright pink to brilliant red insides that win all the attention and provide their extra-sweet-even-for-figs flavor. Adriatic figs are harvested in June and again in August. See these 10 Quick Fig Recipes to make the most of them. Look for twisted, muscular branches with trunk bark that contains large nodules. You may also see them sold as "candy-striped figs," so named when their exteriors are pale green-and-white striped. Good hardy variety for walls or forcing. Identify fig trees by looking at their fruit when mature. The figs on it are light … After three years it's only about 30cm high, yet it has one lonely fig on it. Fruit of this cultivar is medium to small in size and richly flavored. There are a good deal of fig species around the world, including the Brunswick fig (Ficus carica 'Brunswick'). of my garden to try to get its stalled state of growth reversed. Most of the popular practices link the Ficus tree back to one of its native lands, Asia. The rubber plant has a large, oval-shaped, dark-glossy green foliage and a tall structure that grows pretty well, vertically upwards to a height of 6-10 feet tall. . A medium to large, unidentified, yellowish-green fig widely grown in the Pacific Northwest. The cold-hardy varieties can withstand winters in Zones 6 and 7, but they will require some protection. Identify Specific Fig Varieties Identify the Black Jack fig tree by its dark-blue, bulbous fruits. Plant several selections of figs to enjoy a range of flavors for months. Most varieties of figs can be raised and ripened in short growing seasons if grown in pots and stored in a garage or basement during winter. Popular Fig Varieties List Fig fruit is in the mulberry family. Chicago – Chicago is the most reliable fig for zone 5 planting, as it will produce plenty of fruit during the growing season even if it freezes to the ground in the winter. Black Mission Fig Tree. They have a distinctive nutty flavor. I list them as green and yellow figs and dark figs, using bold type for the correct name, the one found in the scientific literature. Condit does not identify it as a distinct variety and considers it a synonym for Marseilles. Palito An outstanding large white flat fig from Portugal. .. Or, you can always use them to make fig jam. They have striking pink insides that are made more striking by the contrast with their exteriors. Because of their stunning interiors, Calimyras are a great option just to cut up and serve as-is. Botanical Name: Ficus elastica Other Names: Rubber Bush, Rubber Fig and Rubber Plant It is a delightful indoor houseplant, commonly grown in the Southeast Asian regions. Black Mission figs are extremely sweet (sometimes they even ooze a bit of syrup, which you should take as a very good sign when picking or buying them). Identifying Fig Varieties This listing of 50+ varieties includes most of the figs available in the trade. The taste is very sweet with a mild berry jam flavor. The Beall Fig produces a heavy crop of dark purple to maroon, pear shaped to flattened figs with an amber pulp with a moderately sweet to very sweet, rich flavor that are excellent for fresh eating. LSU Improved Celeste has light brown to violet skin, and caramel pink flesh. Marseilles- (Lattarula, Blanche, Italian Honey Fig) Large, almost round fruits, slightly ribbed; pale green to yellow, translucent flesh, rich and succulent. Despite their name, they aren't really black—more of an insanely deep blue-purple that is gorgeous in its own right. These 13 cultivars cover the flavor and color spectrum and can be prolific producers with great flavor in short growing seasons. Most Popular Fig Trees Need help identifying a fig variety? Most varieties of figs can be raised and ripened in short growing seasons if grown in pots and stored in a garage or basement during winter. Inside, they tend to be a paler pink than other figs. We provide Figdatabase.com to you for information in the field of figs. Because of their nutty side, they also make a pretty addition to relish trays, as well as cheese or charcuterie platters. ), but take very well to being heated up with something else and are good candidates for making jams and preserves. San Pedro varieties include King, Lampiera, and San Pedro figs. The Mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea) is classed as a perennial variety of ficus that has thick waxy delta-shaped leaves.This species of ficus shrub-like tree grows outdoors to a height of around 6.5 ft. (2 m). Violette de Bordeaux and Scott’s Black pack perhaps the most intense flavors of this group, and are also the latest ripening. Good hardy variety for walls or forcing. A customized, searchable database of edible fig varieties with advanced search, filtering, and ratings from and for fig collectors like yourself. Common fig produce small, insignificant flowers. Fig variety identification help 07-06-2017, 12:40 AM. Fresh figs are remarkably fragile (ripe ones often split open with juicy goodness even when left completely alone!). Figs were introduced into California when the San Diego Mission was established in 1769. A baker's dozen of optimal varieties could include: Mt Etna (by many names), Ronde de Bordeaux, Brooklyn White, Florea, Longue d'Aout/Nordland, Marseilles, Violette de Bordeaux (by… It produces edible sweet fruits, which are among the figs you might find at a grocery store or farmers market. Pajarera A very sweet, medium fig with great flavor, known as the bird fig. These types are typically grown so that they can be dried, and they have large, crunchy seeds. These pale green to pale yellow figs are sometimes called "white figs" for their light color, and in a bright sunshine they really can take on a white-ish hue. Efforts were made at various times to describe an accurate system for identifying varieties, with limited success. Most varieties of figs can be raised and ripened in short growing seasons if grown in pots and stored in a garage or basement during winter. I don't hold out much hope for it successfully ripening it. Common Fig Tree It is a deciduous, spreading, multi-trunk tree type, also known as Ficus Carica. In addition to main crop figs, which fruit on the season’s new growth, a limited number of breba crop, or first crop, figs can ripen up to a month before the earliest main crop figs on the buds of the previous year that did not produce figs. After a long winter or off-season, even in limited quantities, the relatively early arrival of breba figs are greatly appreciated. These three species produce fruit with different colors, however, which are yellow, red and brown respectively. A baker’s dozen of optimal varieties could include: Mt Etna (by many names), Ronde de Bordeaux, Brooklyn White, Florea, Longue d’Aout/Nordland, Marseilles, Violette de Bordeaux (by many names), and the LSU cultivars: Improved Celeste, O’Rourke, Tiger, Purple, Gold, and Scott’s Black. Kadota figs good raw. (If there is no name in bold type, the variety is not covered by Condit or later authors.) These pale green to pale yellow figs are sometimes called "white figs" for their light color, and in a bright sunshine they really can take on a white-ish hue. Fig Trees grew in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Inside they are beautifully pink. Their dark exteriors make any wilted or puckering from being less-than-fresh quite obvious, making it all the easier to find perfectly ripe specimens. Already have figs? Florea is very early ripening, as are Ronde de Bordeaux and Improved Celeste, which are two of the most prolific cultivars along with Mt Etna, O’Rourke, and Tiger. The Italian Everbearing fig tree also has bluish-purple fruits, but they’re lighter in color with reddish-pink flesh inside. Neri is headed for the 'Drastic Measures Dept.' They are not the best, sweetest figs raw, but they're fine, and if they're the only figs at hand they'll be fabulous! So good luck, beware and keep your eyes open for the five most common varieties of figs (listed here) at markets near you. Most fig trees will thrive unprotected in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-10. The first figs in the New World were planted in Mexico in 1560. Fig trees are easy to start from cuttings, so when people find a good one, they multiply it and give it out to friends and neighbors. If you need to jazz them up, serve them with a dollop of creme fraiche or mascarpone cheese. I think it is a sport of that variety distinguished by the heavier breba (early) crop. Their insane sweetness makes them perfect for serving plain or with yogurt or tangy fresh cheese (such as mascarpone, fresh ricotta, fromage blanc, or farmers cheese) for dessert. When you order this black mission fig tree you will actually receive four well … After you choose the cold-hardy variety you would like to plant, the next important factor is site selection. Figs cease to ripen once harvested so it … The photos show two that are moderately ripe. Or set them on a grill for a beyond-easy dessert. Celeste – Celeste figs, also called Sugar, Conant and Celestial figs, also have small to medium fruit. Its large fruits split … There are some 800 types of figs, genus Ficus, but the most popular fig varieties that we grow for the delicious fruits are all varieties of Ficus carica, the common fig tree. Ficus Identification. The King is a popular variety, with a pale green skin and rich maroon flesh. If all you have are brown turkeys and you want dessert, drizzle them with honey and run them under the broiler for a moment until the sizzle and bubble, or use them to make fig bread. I am seeking help identifying this variety of fig. An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients. Eat them fresh, or use them in preserves, jellies, desserts, and salads. Florida strangler fig, weeping fig and rusty fig each produce small fruit that generally have a diameter no larger than 1/2 inch. For that reason, local figs are often the only fresh figs a person can buy without edging into the world of wilted, semi-spoiled specimens, or, just as bad, fruit picked before it's ripe. Under optimal conditions, breba figs can often rival the quality of main crop figs though sometimes are inferior. It's why they are an exceptionally good option to add to salads (chop them up and toss them with the dressing before adding the greens or other ingredients) and to use on fig and arugula pizza. Kadota figs have light green skin with pale interiors that are less sweet than other figs. The Adriatic fig tree is native to the Mediterranean region. Neri is reported to produce one of the largest figs out there. It grows to heights of fifteen to thirty feet. Pick one of these fig fruit varieties to enjoy a range of flavors for months. Add a couple of odd, fun figs like the clownish looking Violet Sepor and the very bright tangerine-like Mary Lane, both very flavorful, and that’s a fabulous 15 figs. And yet, finding locally grown figs can be tricky outside of California, even though they can be grown anywhere with winter temperatures that don't drop below 20°F (learn more at All About Figs). Among the Smyrna figs, some of the most well known varieties are Calimyrnas, Marabouts, and Zidis. Ficus, also known as “fig,” is a group of more than 800 tropical and semitropical trees, shrubs and vines. Calimyrna. This was … Brown Turkey figs have brownish-dark purple skin, a milder flavor than other figs, and are noticeably less sweet than the similar-looking Black Mission figs. On a protected area, it can stand the temperature of -10°c to -14°c. There's something about figs - people just lose track of their variety names. LSU Gold is a big bright honey fig, and LSU purple is a productive dark fig that can taste like maple sugar candy when fully mature. Also try them whole or halved on cheese platters, chopped and put on crostini, or sliced and layered into fresh fruit tarts. The Mistletoe fig has a spreading nature and you can use it to provide plenty of ground cover. Adriatic Fig Tree. Often dried, this originally Turkish fig is outstanding as a fresh fruit. My tissue cultured G.E. The fruits start out green but mature to a deep purple with a soft, almost velvety exterior. There are four types of fig, but only common figs are recommended for Florida, as these trees do not require pollination for fruit production. One of the best varieties for drying and preserves. Later, many special varieties were received from Europe and the eastern United States where the fig reached Virginia in 1669. An excellent choice for the South as well as California. LSU Improved Celeste : Louisiana State University took the Celeste fig variety, which is known for it’s sweet flavor and improved the yield and fruit size. Adding Long Yellow for its big globe size and shape, its brightness and its light agave nectar flavor, plus Black Madeira for a premier intense flavor, and Paradiso (Ischia Green) for a striking green/red look and flavor intensity as well provides an excellent 18 varieties that show the tremendous diversity and bounty that figs can offer to dooryard growers, even in relatively short growing seasons. 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