Go FIGure

Identifying a specific variety of fig tree by its leaves can be a tricky task. I have quite a few Violette de Bordeaux fig trees, but only two are planted in the ground. The figs from both plants taste amazing and appear identical. The leaves, however, are another story.

Violette de Bordeaux fig tree from Edible Landscaping.

The top picture is a VdB that I picked up from Edible Landscaping a few years ago. The leaf has five skinny prominent "fingers". The next picture is a VdB that I bought at McDonald Garden Center in Hampton, VA. Note that the leaf has three wider "fingers" and two nubs at the leaf base compared to the first picture.  The "fingers" on the Edible Landscaping VdB appear serrated and the McDonald Garden Center VdB appear smooth.

Violette de Bordeaux fig tree from McDonald Garden Center.

There are a few possible explanations. First, fig leaves can vary in appearance from tree to tree of the same variety, and leaves can vary even on the same tree. But the leaves on the above plants have almost no similarity to each other. Second, plants are easily mis-labeled in nurseries and this could explain the difference. But the fact that figs harvested from both trees look and taste identical makes this explanation doubtful. Third, because there are thousands of varieties of figs and very close similarities between some varieties, some growers may generically name figs by general appearance and taste of the fruit.

I may never know why my two plants are different, yet in the long run I won't care too much as long as the figs are tasty!  Here are a few additional fig photos from .09 Acres.

Violette de Bordeaux fig tree from McDonald Garden Center. The tree is about 4 feet tall. I harvested figs from this tree in July, and there are additional figs growing on the newer branches.

Strawberry Verte fig tree.  This tree grew about 5 feet this season is now over 7 feet tall.  I will prune it back in late winter to keep it a manageable size for harvesting figs without a ladder.

Unripe Strawberry Verte figs. We typically don't see frost in my area until late October or even early November, so these will definitely ripen before the season is over.

Celeste fig tree from Paradise Nursery in Virginia Beach. Unfortunately they closed a few years ago. I've had this tree for four years and I prune it each spring to keep it a manageable size. Now it has many branches which means many figs. These are usually the first to ripen, sometimes in late June but usually early July.

Peter's Honey figs. This tree is prolific and grows like a weed. The flavor of these figs hasn't overly impressed me this year, but they have typically ripened right after periods of heavy rain. I think it has diluted the flavor a bit.

Hardcore fig growers like me will tell you to give each tree a few years to mature before you make a decision to get rid of or replace a fig tree if the flavor isn't great. Flavor can be inconsistent when the trees are young, and it usually improves with age.  How have your figs tasted this summer?