Olympian Hardy Fig Tree
The Olympian Hardy Fig Tree produces two crops of very large green and purple striped fruit with sweet, violet flesh that is excellent for fresh eating, canning or drying. It is an incredibly cold hardy fig, reportedly down to zone 6, and reliably produces two crops, even in cool coastal conditions. “Rediscovered” by retired biologist Denny McGaughy in the town of Olympia, Washington. Olympian is incredibly cold tolerant, reportedly surviving down to zero degrees Fahrenheit, and growing back from the roots at colder temperatures. It is the most reliable producer of two large crops here in the often cool and mild Pacific Northwest, with its breba crop overwintering into the teens.
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.
Size at Maturity: 8-12 ft. in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sweet
Fruit Skin: Green and purple striped
Fruit Flesh: Violet
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: July and September
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: 6-10