This spring I planted 12 small fig plants.  They were all rooted from cuttings in the fall and winter.  All of them were planted in the ground around the same time.  All of them were alive and growing in the spring.  THEN CAME THE SUMMER SUN AND HEAT.  I did not provide any shade.  They were all given the same water and care.


These ones died:

Kathleen Black
Conadria
Desert King
Atreano


These ones are alive but growing slowly:

Scotts Black



Maltese Falcon




This one has thrived:

6 of the 12 plants were the same variety, an unknown tree from NJ that has done really well for me in AZ.  I have been calling this one Joe's Jersey.









Some cultivars are just able to handle the heat and sun better than others, especially when young and not yet established.

man those trees are nice!! What's the soil condition like? Does it drain fast or slowly. Maybe the others rotted from soil holding the water if roota were too small. None the less those that survived looks good.

Joe,
Thanks for posting.
My observation has been that the cultivars with thicker leaves seem to withstand the Cold, Sun, Rust and adverse conditions better than those with thinner leaves.

Jarrett, the soil varies across my property.  Some spots drain better than others.  The figs don't seem to mind it.  The figs were all doing good until the heat kicked in.  Most people around here shade young plants the first year.  I know the trees from NJ will be ok.  I think the Scotts Black and Maltese Falcon will make it too.

Pete, different cultivars vary with characteristics like that, and it does make a difference with how the cultivar handles the climate, whether it is colder or hotter than ideal.