I bought this tree on the side of the road a few months back when it was dormant for $10.  I have no clue to what it is but the guy said it was a purple fig.  Since I don't know much about figs, I was hoping someone might be bale to help me out.

 
 

I don't know what it could be but 10 dollars for a tree that size is a good deal. Was it like a farmstand or literally a guy on the side of the road?

It is kinda a pull off the side of the road shack with mostly planting pots from mexico about 2 hours north of the border down here in south texas.

Possibly Voilette de Bordeaux or Negronne? Petite Aubique?

In Texas the most likely candidate is brunswick aka magnolia with that leaf type. Possibly black Italian bred extensively in Louisiana but less likely. Better idea when the fruit is ripe.

As far as I know there are no bad figs with leaves shaped like that.  You got a steal whether you can identify it or not.

Hi
I agree, that is a doozy of a bargain whatever it is. Doesn't really matter what it is, all figs are fun. Good luck with it, we need to see the fig to get a better idea of it.
It really is a beaut.

The stems on the leaves have a red complexion.
You may end up with a diamond in the rough.

Black mission

My gut says you have the mystery purple variety that Agristarts distributes as Magnolia. Maybe mission too?

Thanks for all the replies.

If the red eye is any indication then it should be a good fig.

I agree with the possibilities that Tami (javajunkie) posted.  Could be Negronne (aka Violette de Bordeaux).  Could be Aubique Petite.  I'd add another possibility as well:  Valle Negra.  Once you get ripe fruits, let us see pics of the outside and the inside (cut in half cleanly, for a longitudinal cross section).  The ripe fruit is pretty essential for identifying varieties.  Without that, it can be narrowed down but it's difficult to really zero in.  Leaf morphology just varies too much for any variety (even same individual tree, from year to year)... it's so culture dependent.  The unripe fruit helps rule some of them out.  That nice red eye makes it consistent anyway with the above choices.

Good luck with it in any case.  What Bob (rcantor) said also sounds right:  I don't know of any "bad tasting" fig with leaves shaped like that.

Mike

Hi,
my two cts more on brunswick for the shape of the leaf and the small size and bushiness of the tree.
Whatever it is, the question is: How are those fruits ? Is the tree a good producer ?
And you will find out with time.
For now keep it labeled something like "unknown maybe brunswick"
It is a good thing to keep the trees labeled with their strains for future reference.
Good luck to you and your new tree .

It makes me shudder to think it may be a Magnolia! I'm sticking with my original guesses! The 2 Magnolias I have here have never given me a ripe fig so I can't be positive but they never had the red dot either. They are the queens of suckering though. That being said, my Violette de Bordeaux looks like it's suckering but the new branches are just coming off the main trunk really low. Are your branches sucking out of the dirt or coming off the main trunk?

I may have challenged trees or you may have a really fantastic one!

I am not sure if it is suckering but if you look at the tip there are about 14 little black stubs and one or two purple ones, there were multiple branches coming out i had to remove.  This is only about 6-8 inches of tip with that many branching there are only three branches in that area now.  There were not getting sunlight and staying small so I thinned it out.  It is not suckering from the dirt though.
 
It is two main branches, one high and one low, looking down at the middle it resembles a hors shoe, that I tied down with limbs coming off the main two, trying the espalier/japanese/step-over thing.  Size wise, it is in a 7 gallon smart pot.
 
 
 

If it's not suckering out of the dirt I don't believe it's a Magnolia/Brunswick. Just my humble opinion though.

Pwbum1,
IMO, the tree looks to be a Mission, but pictures of the ripe fig would be required for a better guess.
The close internode spacing and small leaves are usually due to poor growing conditions (low water and or nutrient deficiency). The growth of the new shoots, with longer internode spacing are an indication that the growing conditions have improved.
Good Luck with the ID.

Pete, I'm really not sure how you came up with mission and the leaf pattern we have. See attached picture of a mission leaf from the varietals pages here.

$10.00 for an established tree?!  You can't even get a pot for that here!  Score one for you.

Nate

Tami,
Leaves on young fig trees are usually different than on older trees. Also trees (especially younger ones) that are given sufficient nutrients, fertilization,  develop leaves faster and they usually have deeper sinuses and increased lobes. I have had 2 different Mission trees produce similar shaped leaves, with the red stems.

Black mission off of a production tree

Brunswick or Texas Everbearing, or at least what everyone around here call Texas Everbearing.  Both work real good around here.

The tree is now producing, I have about 10 figs on it. One has finally turned color, still, I have no idea on what it is.  Any more thoughts or ideas with this picture? I will say it starts off green and turns purple/blackish where you see the white dots ( the dots are initially purple/blackish)  as if it is bruised (then the dots turned white), I almost ripped it off and threw it away, then the color works its way out front the spots to the overall purple/blackish color and the spots turn white. I hope that makes since..never was a really good writer.
 
  

Pwbum1,
Another guess, Black Italian.
I have a Black Italian (Heirloom) tissue cultured plant that developed pink leaf stems within days of being placed into direct sunlight, no figs in the near future but the description of the fig and leaves are similar.