13 Tastiest Fig Varieties for Home Gardens

Eating a fig is like sampling a flavor-packed, summery culinary masterpiece. These fruits are soft, tender, juicy, sweet, and tantalizingly delicious. You can eat figs fresh, dried, cooked, or preserved. And the best part is that you can grow your own figs in your home garden!

Edible figs (Ficus carica) are native to the Mediterranean region and have been around for thousands of years. People have cultivated and eaten figs since ancient civilizations. These deciduous fruit trees provide a valuable food source for both humans and animals. 

Since figs are so soft and have a short shelf life, they are not as widely cultivated as many of the more durable fruits. Luckily for those who love to eat tasty figs, these little fruits are surprisingly easy to grow at home! Fig trees make desirable landscaping trees, and smaller varieties can be pruned to grow in container gardens.

As long as you have the right climate, plenty of sunshine, and rich, moist soil, you’ll be well on your way to your first fig harvest. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map to learn your zone. All fig varieties should grow well in climate zones 7 – 9, and some will be slightly more cold-hardy or heat-tolerant. 

Read on for an introduction to 13 of the tastiest varieties of figs for gardeners to grow and enjoy their bounty.

‘Black Madeira’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Black Madeira’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8 – 15 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 9

The ‘Black Madeira’ cultivar produces a large crop of medium-sized figs. At full maturity, the outer skin darkens from pale green to a rich, dark blackish-burgundy color. The inside flesh is deep, maroon red, and extremely tender. These figs have a sugary, sweet flavor. The riper they are, the juicer and sweeter they become. 

‘Black Madeira’ fig trees love a long, hot growing season and thrive in the Southeast, although you can also grow them in more moderate climates. ‘Black Madeira’ is a late-season producer. These fig trees grow fairly slowly and don’t become too large, making them an excellent choice for container gardening. 

‘Black Mission’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Black Mission’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12 – 20 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 11

‘Black Mission’ figs are famously known for their heavy yield of jumbo-sized fruits. A mature fruit can easily fill the palm of your hand. Not only do they produce huge fruits, but they also produce both a lighter early crop and a heavier main crop later in the season. ‘Black Mission’ fruits are excellent for eating fresh or preserved by drying. The flavor is a classically sweet, rich, figgy flavor.

‘Black Mission’ fig trees can grow up to 20 feet tall, although you can prune them to keep them more compact. ‘Black Mission’ is one of the most popular varieties for growing in California, where Spanish missionaries originally introduced it. Today, it is widely grown commercially in California and is one of the most easily recognized fig cultivars. 

‘Brown Turkey’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10 – 30 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 9

‘Brown Turkey’ figs are a larger fig variety, growing up to 30 feet tall. These bushy trees look great in your landscape and produce two hefty crops of figs each year. The early crop is typically smaller, and the later main crop will keep your stock of figs well supplied! Eat them fresh or dried for a handy snack that you can enjoy well after the main harvest season.

‘Brown Turkey’ figs are medium to large-sized fruits. At maturity, they are plump and rounded and can measure about three inches across. Their mature skin color is a rich, bronzed maroon with pink inner flesh. Their flavor is very sweet and honey-like. 

‘Celeste’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Celeste’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 7 – 10 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 8

‘Celeste’ fig trees are a very popular variety, one of the more commonly available varieties available at garden centers and plant nurseries. It’s no wonder that ‘Celeste’ figs are so well-loved. These hardy and vigorous trees are also compact and reach only about 10 feet tall.

‘Celeste’ fig fruits are small to medium-sized and may produce two crops. In warmer climates, the early breba crop is small but worthwhile because you’ll get an early taste of summer. The later fig crop produces copious purple and green fruits with the tastiest honey-berry flavor. These figs are excellent for drying and preserving whole or incorporating into jams and jellies.

‘Chicago Hardy’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10 – 15 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 10

‘Chicago Hardy’ figs are one of the better varieties for growing in cooler climates. These tough trees will do best in warmer climates. ‘Chicago Hardy’ is also a great choice if you want to grow figs in zones 6 or 7, and possibly even zone 5, as long as you can give them some extra winter protection. This variety reaches a height of about 15 feet and can be pruned smaller to grow in a container. 

‘Chicago Hardy’ figs produce both an early breba crop in late spring and a later main crop in early summer. The fruits ripen to a dark maroon-black color and are medium-sized. Inside, they are beautifully pinkish-red and tasty with a complex, honey-like flavor. These fruits are superb when enjoyed freshly picked and still warm from the sun.

‘Desert King’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Desert King’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15 – 25 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 10

‘Desert King’ produces a plethora of beautiful yellowish-green-skinned fruits. When you slice one open, you’ll see the juicy, reddish-pink inner flesh. Take a bite and taste the rich, fruity, almost strawberry-like flavor. 

‘Desert King’ figs reliably have two crops each year. The early breba crop is fairly large. The later crop ripens by mid-summer and is typically larger in cooler climates. In warm climates, you are more likely to see a larger early crop and a smaller late crop. These fig trees typically grow to 25 feet tall and are an excellent variety for the Pacific Northwest.

‘Italian Everbearing’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Italian Everbearing’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12 – 14 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 8

‘Italian Everbearing’ fig trees form a heavy crop of large, tasty fruits. ‘Italian Everbearing’ figs are dark purplish-bronze on the outside and amber-pink on the inside. The taste is sweet and sugary, making these an excellent choice for canning and preserving. Or eat them straight from the tree for a quick taste of summer perfection.

‘Italian Everbearing’ is a very reliable producer and will typically bear two crops each year. The first crop ripens in early summer, and the second, usually larger crop, ripens in early to mid fall.

Slice the large fruits in half for drying, and you’ll be able to save these flavorful fruits well past their peak harvest. The compact trees are good for container gardening and can be pruned to maintain an even smaller size.

‘LSU Scott’s Black’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘LSU Scott’s Black’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8 – 15 feet
	hardiness zones 6 – 10

The ‘LSU Scott’s Black’ fig was bred by Louisiana State University in the 1950s, and as a result of this fig-breeding program, several fantastic varieties were created. ‘LSU Scott’s Black’ is a manageable-sized tree that grows up to 15 feet tall and maintains an attractive rounded form without any extra pruning required. 

The ‘LSU Scott’s Black’ fig fruits are large and stunning in appearance. The dark purple-to-black skin contrasts nicely with the intensely plum-red colored inner flesh. These figs are very juicy and sweet with a fruity, berry-like flavor. You won’t be able to just eat one!

‘LSU Tiger’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘LSU Tiger’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8 – 12 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 10

‘LSU Tiger’ figs are a delicious variety bred by Louisiana State University. These colorful figs may not exactly be yellow and black like a tiger, but they do have stripes! The medium-sized fruits are bronze and green striped on the outside and dark maroon on the inside. ‘LSU Tiger’ figs are incredibly juicy with an exceptionally sweet, berry-like flavor.

‘LSU Tigers’ grow well in both hot, humid climates and cooler, moderate climates with shorter growing seasons. This cultivar typically produces a smaller early-season crop and a larger late-season main crop. These compact trees are an excellent choice for a smaller landscape or container garden.

‘Smith’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Smith’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 10 – 20 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 10

‘Smith’ figs may not be the most productive of the fig tree varieties, but they have very tasty fruits that are very worth growing. At first glance, the ‘Smith’ fig fruit looks plain and unassuming, with green skin and mottled purple overtones. Slice one open to reveal deep plum-red flesh. The taste is sweet with a complex, berry-like flavor. These soft-skinned fruits are perfect for eating fresh or slicing and drying.

These trees can grow moderately large, up to about 20 feet tall. Prune them to keep them shorter and allow yourself to be able to reach more of the fruits during harvest.

This variety produces one main crop in mid-summer and is a good choice for climates with a shorter growing season. These trees also grow well in hot, humid climates and, although the fruits are soft, they have split-resistant skins.

‘Violette de Bordeaux’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Violette de Bordeaux’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 18 – 24 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 10

‘Violette de Bordeaux’ is a cultivar with dramatic, dark fruits and a fantastic flavor. The large, beautiful, dark purple fruits have hints of green on their skins. Inside, the dark red custard-like centers have a rich, fruity-sweet flavor. These figs are fantastic for drying, fresh snacking, or slicing in salads. 

‘Violette de Bordeaux’ produces two reliable crops. The early summer crop is small, and the late-season main crop is the primary producer. These fruits have a somewhat firm skin that is resistant to splitting. Grow these handsome trees as a center point in your sunny landscape, or prune them for growing in a large container in your patio garden.

‘White Marseilles’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘White Marseilles’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12 – 15 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 10

The ‘White Marseilles’ fig originated in France and is said to have been brought to the United States by Thomas Jefferson. These medium-sized fig trees grow up to 15 feet tall and have an attractive rounded form. ‘White Marseilles’ is reliably cold hardy in zones 7 and above and can even overwinter in zone 6 with some extra protection.

‘White Marseilles’ figs have pale green skins, even when fully ripe. Inside, the creamy yellow flesh is deliciously sweet with a honey-like flavor. These trees produce two reliable crops each year. The earlier crop ripens in mid-summer, and the second main crop ripens in late summer or early fall. Enjoy this productive fig variety with its tasty medium-sized fruit anywhere in your sunny landscape.

‘Yellow Long-Neck’

	botanical name Ficus carica ‘Yellow Long-Neck’
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 4 – 8 feet
	hardiness zones 7 – 10

The ‘Yellow Long-Neck’ fig cultivar has a prolific crop of attractive yellow-green fruits. The fruits are plump and rounded with a relatively long neck. The inner flesh is pale pink or amber in color and has a sweet honey-like flavor. 

‘Yellow Long-Neck’ fig trees are compact yet vigorous. They grow to only about eight feet tall, and because of their small stature, they are an excellent choice for smaller landscapes and container gardening. Despite their small size, the ‘Yellow Long-Neck’ produces two crops each year, one in early summer and the other in late summer or early autumn.

Frequently Asked Questions