Ten-year Fig Trial Results

The goal of this trial was to determine which fig trees would grow and produce fruit for the average backyard gardener in the Western Arkansas River Valley.

Credit to Charlie Little of Mansfield Arkansas and Figs 4 Fun for cuttings and information. LSU Fig Program, UC Davis Fig Data Base, Fig Bid, Brian Melton and the Fig Boss for fig information.

Note: The fig wasp is found only in California and Florida. The fig trees grown in all other states are typically common fig trees, which do not require the fig wasp for pollination.

The original 80 trees were started from donated cuttings in 2014, and they were over-wintered in The Learning Fields greenhouse. Forty of the rooted cuttings were planted in the ground for the trial in July 2015 and another 40 in June 2016. Trees that were gifted to the trial in the intervening years were planted as obtained.

The trees in this trial had full sun but also had full northern exposure.  A rare but major snow storm 2021 resulted in a low temp of -7 degrees Fahrenheit.  The average winter low 29 for our zone is 29 degrees.  All trees froze back to the ground in 2021, 2022 and 2026 requiring a full cut back.

New varieties of fig trees are still being added into the orchard. Removal of trees that failed to produce started 2026 and is ongoing.

Visitors to the orchard harvested the fruit before it had matured, or reached full ripeness, which eliminated the ability of gathering total weight data of the fruit for the trial. The trial switched in 2022 to focus on counting the number of fig fruits set per tree and viability of each tree.

This trial orchard is located at The Learning Fields at Chaffee Crossing, 7300 Gardener Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas. The gardens are open to the public. Cuttings from the trees are shared once a year or by request. Contact: susanrandolphark@gmail.com with questions, cutting request or information on fig tree swaps.

Notable findings after assessment of fig trees over the last 10 years.

I’ve been guilty of repeating what I have been told, which is in the second year expect 2-3 fruits then each consecutive year the amount of fruit will double. Many trees will follow that pattern but not all. Trees produce based on the environment they have been given, and different varieties require more time to mature.

Fig trees need full sun (direct sun 6-8 hours a day or more), and protection from the north by a structure or hill would be a real plus.

Monitor recently planted young trees closely and increase water as needed during high heat or drought. Mature trees should be watered deeply every 7-10 days during drought or extreme heat. The trial trees are on irrigation and during the heat of summer receive approximately 1-2 gallons of water twice a week. Over watering when the fruit has started to ripen can result in decreased fruit flavor.

The trees do best in fast draining soil. The trial orchard is in clay but the soil was amended with oyster shell under each tree. The trees planted on berms or mounds have done better than the ones planted on level ground.  

Fertilizer used: bone meal, blood meal, compost, chopped comfrey leaves and occasional Biotone fruit tree fertilizer. Fertilizer was applied after the trees started to leaf in the spring and when fruit sets.  

Proven Fig trees for the western Arkansas River Valley

Personal Favorites: LSU Champagne, Improved Celeste, Bensonhurst purple, Orangeburg Purple, and Orphan.

Sweet Diane, Mead, Beall, Chicago Hardy, Florea, Black Bethlehem, Stella, Italian Honey, Mary Lane, Any brown turkey, Sicilian White, Takoma Violet, Florea, Lemon, LSU Tiger, Conadria, Armenian, Gino’s, White Texas Everbearing, *Sister Madeline figs.

*Sister Madeline figs, which are: Green Greek, Yellow, and Dark. These trees were proven out at the St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith Arkansas. Sister Madeline produced enough figs to make fig jam to sell in their shop and to provide fresh fruit for the nuns. Fig sites around the country lists Sister Madeline’s Figs. Most include inaccurate information when describing Sister Madeline and the location of the trees. Sister Madeline has been a Benedictine nun at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith Arkansas for 70 years and still resides there. She was a beloved teacher of first and second grade children and past Chaplin at St. Edwards Hospital (Mercy).

Charlie Little noticed the fig trees and asked Sister Madeline for cuttings and the history of the trees. Sister Madeline planted the trees she brought up from her family’s orchard in southern Arkansas. Charlie’s cuttings from those trees have now traveled across the USA and to other countries.  The trees were recently removed from the Monastery due to concerns for damage to the building’s foundation. Sister Madeline is lovely person and she does visit The Learning Fields occasionally with her friends and family. Visit the gift shop at St. Scholastica and maybe you will be lucky enough to meet this wonderful lady.  

Trial Fig trees

Row 1

Rockaway Green year 2022 results pending maturity. Donated by Benton County Master Gardeners.  Adriatic fig green exterior skin and red pulp with strawberry and raspberry flavors.

UCR 153-7, planted 2019, UCR 153-7 is a tissue culture fig, Pedigree Monstreuse x Calimyrna x Kearney; Not recommended for a backyard fruit tree. First and only figs (3) produced 2025. Tissue culture fig trees are slow to mature but with time this might turn out to be good tree.

Florea. Planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022= 66. 2023=52. 2024=65. 2025=55

Among the hardiest varieties known, surviving temperatures as low as -4F in NJ. Introduced by fig guru Herman2, it was brought to America from Serbia where it was grown in his father's garden. An early variety and a strong producer. Fruiting covers the whole season from early August until cold. The taste of the fruit changes significantly during the season. At the beginning of the season the taste of fruit is "fig" + "caramel". At the end of the season, the taste of the fruit acquires a nuance of berries. When dried, the taste of berries is more pronounced.

Beers Black Planted 2019. No figs produced until 2024 =5. 2025= 15. If you have limited space and patience to allow maturity this maybe a good choice. Dwarf in size, very vigorous with an upright growing habit and has an above average resistance to leaf diseases. Figs are medium sized with a reddish-pink center and a violet exterior skin. The deep red flesh is sweet and has a distinct flavor. It has a medium sized eye and is excellent either fresh or dried. Fairly hardy and well adapted to the South and Southwest. Beer's Black is one of the best figs for eating and making preserves. Does well in a container or planted directly into the ground.

The origins of Beer's Black are a mystery.

(Fake) Marseilles planted 2020. Purchased at the Mobile Botanical Garden Plant Sale. Mislabeled turned out to be Tena. Tena didn’t produce figs until 2024=10, 2025=13. Not recommended. Fruit are large and sweet but not as complex tasting as other figs.  Good workhorse fig for drying and jams but not for fresh eating.

Hardy Chicago planted 2015. Purple or black skin. Red interior. Figs produced: 2022=40, 2023=32, 2024=44, 2025=43. Please note 2024 it set 44 fruits but dropped all fruit in August before ripe but produced well the other years. Origin: Unknown but seems likely Italy, but it is widespread throughout Europe. Complex Berry, very jammy texture. Size: Small-Medium. Ripening period: Early.

Red Sicilian planted 2023. Figs produced: 2024=0, 2025=5. Still a young tree but should improve as it matures. Reported to originated in the village of Villafrati, Sicily. Skin dark red to purple. Interior red. Produces early in the season and considered cold hardy. 

Black Bethlehem planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=15, 2023=20, 2024=28, 2025=32.

The original tree was discovered growing in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, which is zone 6b. The mother tree is never protected but rarely dies back and fruits well every year. It is a very cold hardy fig. The fruit ripens early to mid-season and is small to medium in size. It is a dark fig with a dark interior. It is thought to have originated in Greece.

Dominick’s planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=10, 2023=8, 2024=11, 2025=0. Would not recommend if it is the only fig tree due to low production. Produces a small to medium sized purple fig with red interior that is delicious to eat and has a seed crunch to it. It has a very strong berry taste.  

 Lemon Planted 2019. Figs produced: 2022=18, 2023=10, 2024=12, 2025=21. Tree slow to mature but shows promise. Fig variety that was found growing on the banks of a levee near Del Rio, Texas. Trialed in Fredericksburg Tx. It has yellow skin with a creamy, smooth flesh with a closed eye. ' Lemon' has a unique flavor with mild citrus notes. It is somewhat cold tender, but produces moderate crops on new growth in years winter freezes kill it to the ground. Research of other fig sites lists Lemon as a very old southern favorite with no mention of Texas.  

Sister Madeline’s Yellow Italian planted 2016. Figs produced: 2022=3, 2023=5, 2024=7, 2025=5. Exterior green/yellow. Interior pink and juicy.  Production and growth of the tree are likely reduced due to planting on north end of the orchard and lack of protect from the north.  Sister’s tree at St. Scholastica was planted on the south side of the building which blocked the cold weather from the north. Based on successful production at St. Scholastica this tree is recommended if it can be planted with a southern exposure, with a structure protecting from the north. Will continue to add data as the tree matures.

Attilio Purple planted 2016. No fruit. Not recommended for Arkansas.

Mount Etna type figs, generally being a much darker purple color than most. Raspberry flavored?

Takoma Violet Figs produced: 2022= 59, 2023=57, 2024=46, 2025=44.

Compact tree for small spaces. Probably Mt. Etna from Italy. Dark purple with red interior, medium to small fig with a light berry taste, winter hardy. Closed eye. Resistant to splitting.

LSU Black Planted 2016. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022 =0, 2023=3, 2024=2, 2025=5. Origin: Louisiana. Small eye. Main Flavor Group: Dark Berry - From mildly to very sweet, with distinct berry notes complemented by a touch of acidity. Fruits often feature subtle complexity, with additional layers of flavor that enhance their rich and balanced profile.

Sumacki Planted 2016. Not recommended due to lack of production. Documentation from other sources report fruit as yellow/green exterior skin with deep red pulp. Tight eye. Sugar flavor with slight tang. Originally from Syria but reported to do well in colder climates.  

Little Ruby planted 2019. Figs produced: 2022=20, 2023=3, 2024=5, 2025=0

A true dwarf fig, great for growing in patio pots. 3-6 feet at maturity. Small fruit ripens in late July – early October. The taste is described as “sugary-sweet” and the flesh is “jammy”. The skin of this fig is a yellow-green color and the inside is ruby red. Removed from the trial due to fire ants.

ROW 2

LSU Tiger. Planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=70, 2023=62, 2024=67, 2025=63. Bred by Charlie Johnson. Dark fig, relatively bright and slightly striped, sizable, productive, sugar fig like Celeste but is enhanced with flavor notes of concord grape and blueberry. Thick skin. Does well in areas that are hot and humid.

UNK Orangeburg Purple planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=60, 2023=64, 2024=61, 2025=56. Cold hardy. After note of Plum flavor. Excellent tree in The Learning Fields trial.

 Flanders planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=2, 2023=10, 2024=21, 2025=16.

It was bred and released by Condit in 1975. The flavor is best in climates with heat. Doesn't perform as well in cooler climates. This is one that must be dead ripe to over ripe in order to really experience any flavor. The flavor of the fruit definitely deepens as the tree matures to after notes of tropical fruit flavor.

Sweet Diane. Planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=60, 2023=50, 2024=52, 2025=48. The fruit can vary in flavor, with some tasting of strawberries, while other a flavor of blended Concord Grape and Caramel. Figs are small about the size of a 25 cent-piece. No splitting or souring.  The figs take on a dusty, light pastel purple coloring as they ripen. Small eye and mild seed crunch.

Conadria planted 2015.  Figs produced: 2022=25, 2023=21, 2024=30, 2025=22. Excellent sugar fig that was bred by Ira Condit and released 1955.  Excellent for drying but isn’t used for fresh eating. Flesh is a strawberry red with a green skin. Hardy to between 0° & 5°F and prefers dry environment. Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting. Size at Maturity: 8-12 ft in height, smaller with pruning.

Paradiso JM Planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=25, 2023=22, 2024=24, 2025=16.

Originates from the Northern Mediterranean, in Genova City. Small fruit with white/golden skin and pink flesh. Light strawberry flavor.

Early Violet. Planted 2015.  Figs produced: 2022=4, 2023=10, 2024=22, 2025=18.

Chocolate brown with a strawberry flesh. Very small fruits that ripen early. Ripens 3 crops in a greenhouse. Great in pots. Once very popular in the South, but Celeste replaced it long ago. Listed by John J Cole in 1867 as a small fruited variety with brownish red skin and red flesh of good flavor. "Much too small to cultivate except for variety." Grown in the 19th century in the UK as a greenhouse variety.

Panache planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=0, 2023=4, 2024=10, 2025=8. Medium size, yellow fruit with green striped skin and strawberry flesh, becoming violet black in cooler climates. Panache figs are best eaten fresh. Harvest is late often in Sept-Oct.

Capitola Long planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs producted: 2022=10, 2023=8, 2024=13, 2025=12. Small tree which can reach a mature height can grow up to 10 feet tall. The mature spread typically ranges from 3-5 feet, making it a versatile choice for smaller spaces. Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems. Fruit is fairly large, long and narrow, no splitting, with light brown skin, pink or reddish-amber flesh and good flavor. Fall ripening.

Barnisotte planted 2015 Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=8, 2023=6, 2024=10, 2025=4. Fruit dark purple to black skin with strawberry colored interior. Needs heat to develop the berry flavor. Widely grown in Italy, in southern France and in parts of Spain and Portugal.

Karayaprak planted 2015 requires fig wasp. Not recommended.

Bournabat planted 2016 Requires fig wasp. Turkish fig. Not recommended.

ROW 3

UCR 184-15S planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=12, 2023=10, 2024=11, 2025=8. Produces a large green fig with a very sweet red strawberry interior.

Beall. Planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=26, 2023=29, 2024=32, 2025=20. Sugar fig. Large, red-brown skin, white to amber pulp.

Mead planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=80, 2023=68, 2024=62, 2025=54.

Sugar fig. Excellent producer. Closed eye. Light red interior. Flavor of the figs on a young tree are really blah, but as the tree matures the fig flavor does also. 2025 The fig is juicy sugar with mild to moderate seed crunch.

Sicilian White planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=64, 2023=59, 2024=48, 2025=36. Sugar fig. Melon or honeydew flavor.

LSU Champagne planted 2015. Fruit produced: 2022=50, 2023=68, 2024=77, 2025=82. Reliable, heavy-producing fig variety that thrives in hot and humid climates. Developed by LSU, this is a medium-sized honey fig. Exceptional flavor and strong growth characteristics. It produces an abundant crop of golden-yellow figs with a rich, sweet, honey-like flavor.

Santa Cruz white planted 2022. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=0, 2023=0, 2024=4, 2025=6. Fruit smallish or medium-size, with thin yellow/green skin, very pale with amber flesh, good distinctive flavor sugar & honey.

Orphan planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=84, 2023=80, 2024=78, 2025=70.

Large light green/yellow fruit with a golden red pulp.

Dorothy’s English Brown Turkey planted 2023. Figs produced: 2024=2, 2025=3.

Once established Brown turkeys are the work horse of figs and very cold tolerant. Bronze skin with red flesh, fruity plum after note. Data pending.

Violet de Bordeaux planted 2023. Figs produced: 2024=2, 2025=5. This is a young tree, further data will be added as it matures.  Classic French fig variety. It’s widely regarded as one of the finest-tasting figs, prized for its deep purple-black skin, rich strawberry-red flesh, and very sweet flavor. excellent for fresh eating, drying, and preserves. Cold tolerate down to zone 5.  Tolerates heat, humidity and drought.

Osborne Prolific planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=6, 2023=8, 2024=7, 2025=4. Purplish-brown fruit ideal for eating fresh or preserves. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils and loves heat.

Ms. Willie UNK planted 2015. Failed trial.

*Bensonhurst Purple planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=98, 2023=92, 2024=95, 2025=68. Does well grown in pots or the ground. Delicious brown-purple figs. Grows up to 15 feet tall. Medium-sized, sweet-tasting figs with a plum after taste. Begins to mature from the end of summer into the fall.

Castle Kenndy planted 2015.  Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=0, 2023=0, 2024=0, 2025=0. UK fig variety got its name from Castle Kennedy in Scotland.  The fig produces a very large fruit with pale brown skinned fruit, flesh pale and opalescent, according to Goodman's Fruit Catalogue of 1911.  Reports have stated this tree is EXTREMELY cold hardy and tolerable in zone 5 through zone 11.  Has not done well in Arkansas maybe due to our humidity.

LSU Purple planted 2015. Figs produced BUT NO FIGS RIPENED: 2022=84, 2023=80, 2024=81. 2025=79. Fruit glossy dark purple to burgundy skin and light-red flesh. Closed eye. Grows in hardiness zones seven to 10—suitable for hot and humid conditions. High sugar content, the LSU purple fig is very sweet, juicy, mild flavor. The tree likes to sprawl instead of growing upright. This may be the best rootstock because it is Nematode resistant.  While this tree has done well in Russellville which is just east of our trial, it has not done well in my trial. Loads up with fruit but doesn’t ripen before frost. 2026 the tree has been moved to a new location in the orchard for further assessment.

 ROW 4

*Marylane seedless planted 2016. Figs produced: 2022=35, 2023=33, 2024=40, 2025=42. Mary Lane is a honey-flavored fig variety with almost seedless fruits. These figs are extremely juicy with a hint of floral or agave flavor. The fruits ripen from green to yellow with a beautiful golden interior. Developed in California, this is a widely-adapted fig that will perform well in a variety of climates. This is a great fig if you're limited on space because the trees are not as bushy as most varieties. This tree does need time (6 years) to mature before it will produce fruit but it is worth the wait.

Gino’s Black planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=50, 2023=51, 2024=52, 2025=49.

Italian variety that is very productive and flavorful. A very good quality fig that is winter hardy. A dependable Mt. Etna type with deep colored skin with bright red center. The fruit offers a light berry flavor. Sweet Fig with mild berry flavor, with little to no seed crunch.

Armenian planted 2016. Figs produced: 2022=49, 2023=45, 2024=48, 2025=51. Armenia variety. Yellow figs with a refreshing honey melon flavor. Flesh rose amber color. Has open eye. UC Davis common fig. Does well in pots.

Galburn planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=9, 2023=8, 2024=7, 2025=5. Large, light green-to-pale yellow fig bred by Ira Condit. It has a translucent pulp tinged with pink. Good strawberry flavor, delicately sweet. Moderately hardy.

Atreano planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=4, 2023=6, 2024=5, 2025=3. Italian fig. Early ripening. Closed eye. Honey flavor with floral depth.  

 Peachy Pliamon planted 2016. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=7, 2023=5, 2024=4, 2025=6. Limited information. Some fig people question this name and believe it to actually be a fig called Texas Peach.

The Learning Fields unknown planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=20, 2023=15, 2024=9, 2025=12. Possibly a brown turkey. Great plum flavor. Exterior very dark red or purple.

Petite Negri planted 2015. Figs produced: 2022=45, 2023=51, 2024=50, 2025=57.

Fruit is very small/thumb size. Growing only 4-6 feet.  Fruit black skin and deep red sweet berry flesh. Can exhibit 2 leaf forms simultaneously. Probably not the tree the home gardener will want because of the very small fruit but excellent for small spaces.

Vasilika Sika planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=7, 2023=8, 2024=10, 2025=7. Sets figs late so needs long season.  Green exterior with raspberry color interior. Small open eye.

Deanna planted 2015. Recommend with caution. This hasn’t been a big fruit producer in the trial but that maybe due to location. Fig bases and growers list it as a heavy fruit producer. I would recommend Deanna as a second fig tree in your orchard but not the only tree. Figs produced: 2022=16, 2023=18, 2024=16, 20225=12. Green figs that ripen to yellow or greenish yellow. The strawberry to amber flesh with slight seed crunch. Sweet honey flavored. The small eye helps to minimize spoiling. Deanna is another fig that came out of Dr. Ira Condit's breeding program at UC Davis, Riverside. Common fig. Good cold hardiness.

Marabout c Smyrnay planted 2015. Needs wasp. Failed trial.

Longue d’ Aout planted 2016. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=7, 2023=5, 2024=3, 2025=4. One of the top figs for cold hardiness and early producing.  Firm green skin and red pulp. It’s large and flavorful, dense pulp.

Grosse de Montrueuse de Lipari planted 2015. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=8, 2023=6, 2024=5, 2025=7. Tolerates cold weather and still produces excellent, sweet berry tasting figs in October. Wide open eye.

ROW 5

White Texas Everbearing planted 2016. Figs produced: 2022=22, 2023=21, 2024=24, 2025=16.  First cultivated in Provence, France before being brought to Texas. Often produces from May -August. Purple-brown fruit with very sweet amber flesh.  Nearly seedless fig on a large bushy tree. Mature tree 10x10. Fruit is good for fresh eating and jams.

Peter’s Honey planted 2016. Figs produced:2022=28, 2023=26, 2024=25, 2025=18. Italian fig variety that was brought to the United States from Sicily by Peter Danna of Portland. This medium-sized honey fig has a beautiful yellow to green skin and a delicious amber pulp.

Strawberry planted 2020. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=0, 2023=3, 2024=4, 2025=5. Strong debate regarding if this is an LSU bred tree with many saying no. It was found growing at the field trail but not with the trialed trees and no listing for official LSU release, no ID ever assigned. Tagged in the trial as Strawberry not LSU Strawberry. Closed eye and known to tolerate heat and high humidity. Distinct red pulp with a strawberry flavor. The round figs have a thick, bright green skin.

Roeding 4 planted 2016 Failed trial.

UCR 200-43 planted 2016. From UC Davis. Either hand pollination or the fig wasp is required.

Black Beauty 10 planted 2026. Further data will be reported as the tree matures.

Found in Louisiana by Cajun Dan, origin of the fig is unknown. All research listed it as more intense than a sugar fig with a complex flavor which is more berry-like with tropical/fruity notes. No seed crunch. Exterior deep black, no cracking, closed eye. Interior caramel colored with light purple at the eye. This is an early season fig that handles rain well.

LSU Scott’s Black planted 2025. Further data will be reported as the tree mature. 

Unofficial fig of LSU breeding program. Dark red interior with distinct berry notes. Exterior deep maroon to black. Medium size figs. The main crop ripens mid-season.

Violette de Sollies planted 2023. Further data will be reported as the tree matures. Cold hardiness may be an issue. Origin southern France. Fruit is large, flat, long stemmed, firm, sweet taste with berry, watermelon, and subtle floral flavors. Light seed crunch is present. Purple on the outside and pink to red on the inside. Mid-season producer.

Colonel Littman’s Black Cross planted 2026. Further data will be reported as the tree matures. Unsure of origins but Mr. Cross in Tallahassee Florida had the tree and provided cuttings to Colonel Littman. Medium to large fruits with dark purple skin and red flesh. Flavor: Sweet with pronounced berry notes. Does well in humid climates. Mid to late season producer.

 Panachee planted 2016. Not recommended. Figs produced: 2022=3, 2023=5, 2024=4, 2025=7. Deep green and yellow striped skin with deep red pulp.

 Susan Randolph

08/03/2026

susanrandolphark@gmail.com 

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.