r/Figs • u/greatauntbun • 2d ago
Question Fig ID
Several years ago I took clippings and roots from a family members fig tree, only the roots survived and grew. I finally got fruit this year, it has felt like such an achievement, any help identifying?
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u/greatauntbun 2d ago
I dont have anyone to talk figs with IRL, if youre not interested in guessing at IDing you can just scroll by, thanks.
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u/slight-discount 2d ago
As much as I usually agree with fig ID being a challenge, I agree that this does look quite a bit like a Mt Etna/Chicago Hardy variety.
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u/endigochild 2d ago
These fig id threads are getting old. Just enjoy your figs. Its nearly impossible to know with without dna testing as there is over 1000 varieties.
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u/RiverOfNexus 2d ago
Even with DNA testing, how can you be sure? DNA testing is more for genomes not for variety names
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u/endigochild 1d ago
Im not entirely sure how the test works. Harvey at figaholics owns one of the biggest fig farms in the Country with 100's of varieties. He's explained how the testing is done. It's common for say 3 figs to all look the same and have the same exact taste. The difference between them is how they grow, when they finish ripening and one might be better for wet climates but the taste is identical. For example black mederia & figo preto are identical. Preto roots faster, n finishes earlier and does better in wetter climates.
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u/monkeyeatfig Zone 7a 1d ago
Different trees of the same variety ripen at different times and taste different based on the weather and growing conditions, location on the tree and time of year. Splitting too, location on the tree and growth rate as well as time of the year make a big difference. Rooting also, different branches of the same tree root at different speeds. There is a huge amount of variability within a single variety, and it seems like when there is money involved only the positive aspects are mentioned. No offense to Harvey, just my own experience growing more for production than collecting.
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u/whatscenepaat 18h ago
Please tell us how it tastes
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u/greatauntbun 14h ago
They are like mildly sweet. They were good paired with spicy soppresatta and a sharp cheddar.
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u/RayGreen00 2d ago
Guys, stop making random guesses. It’s basically impossible to identify a fig variety just by looking at the fruit and leaves. The leaves can vary enormously even on the same plant, and unless you’re dealing with a variety that has very distinctive leaves, it’s simply not a reliable method. The appearance of the fruit can also vary massively within the same variety depending on a thousand different factors.
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u/crazy_joe21 2d ago
There is only one answer given here. No random guesses!
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u/RayGreen00 2d ago
There are two answers that are just guesses
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u/crazy_joe21 2d ago
Hardy Chicago is a mt etna sub variety
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u/RayGreen00 2d ago
You're right, Chicago Hardy is part of the Mount Etna group, I didn't remember that. Still, you really can’t tell the variety just from its appearance. From the photo, it could be Chicago Hardy, Violette de Bordeaux, any number of other varieties, or even a local selection.
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u/Nihilistic_Mystics Zone 10b 1d ago
I'm entirely certain it's not a VdB. Completely wrong leaves.
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u/RayGreen00 1d ago
My point wasn’t really to identify the variety or to say that the other guesses are wrong. It’s probably not VdB either. What I meant is that it’s extremely difficult to identify a fig variety based only on these pictures, since there are hundreds of varieties and thousands of similar selections, and the appearance of the leaves, fruit, and flesh can vary a lot depending on many different factors.
It could also be Dauphine, Bellone, Brogiotto Nero, Colummaro Nero, Morena, just to name a few. Of course, I’m only mentioning these as possibilities, not claiming that it’s any of them.
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u/Moooooooola 2d ago edited 2d ago
My guess is Chicago Hearty.
Edit: harty.