LSU Purple Fig Tree
One of the best of many excellent varieties to come out of the LSU fig breeding program, LSU Purple is very prolific producing large breba and main crops of sweet, caramel-flavored figs. LSU Purple is very adaptable to many climate types, thriving in the Southeast as well as the Pacific Northwest and warmer climates. The small, closed eye makes it resistant to spoiling and is very adaptable to container culture.
One of the easiest fruits to grow, and a true gourmet delight, you should not live your life without feasting on this sweet, delectable fruit. To fully enjoy fresh Figs you must grow your own. When fully ripe and at their tender, shipping them long distances is virtually impossible. Another plus for Figs – deer don’t like them (most of the time)!
Click here to read our Fig Growing Guide.
Latin Name: Ficus carica
Site and Soil: Figs do well in a variety of soils, but require at least 8 hours of sunlight during the growing season.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fruitful.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Size at Maturity: 10-12 ft. in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sweet, caramel-flavored
Fruit Skin: Purple
Fruit Flesh: Strawberry red
Ripening Time: July
Yield: 30-50 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Figs are not bothered by pests in our region. Cover plants with netting if birds are a problem.
Fig Mosaic Virus is a benign virus that exists in all cultivated fig trees. Yellow spotting of the leaves is a cosmetic symptom that shows more in container culture, but is quickly outgrown once trees are planted in the ground. The presence of FMV in all cultivated figs has become widely accepted, as even the national germplasm repository for figs maintained by the USDA has Fig Mosaic Virus. If the presence of FMV is a concern, then purchasing fig trees may not be the best option for you.
USDA Zone: 7