I received this variety last March as an extra cutting generously provided by BronxFigs.  Frank has provided some description of this variety previously (see post #5 from http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/red-sicilian-fig-5532817).  The person who gave it to him simply called it "Red Italian" and I have taken the liberty to add UNK to the name since it could well be a known variety.  It set a number of figs during the growing season and pulled of all but one.  I picked that fig today.  It wasn't the best I have had this season but it was pretty good - a fair amount of sweetness, some complexity but overall not a lot of intensity.  I assume the flavor will get quite a bit better as the tree matures.  If anyone recognizes this fig as a known variety I'm all ears.  I don't think it is Red Sicilian based on the leaf shape and the relatively small size of the fruit (though I only have a sample size of one).  Thanks for watching.

I should mention that the first pic has multiple trees in view but the tree in the center is the Red Italian UNK.  Also sorry for the quality of the close-up shots.  I'm still learning how adjust my digital camera so that it focuses for close ups.

Rewton,

Nice looking trees and fruit.  Your Red Italian Unknown looks like a Hardy Chicago type fig in my opinion.  I see in your first post that the fruit was more red.  But it also looked like that fruit ripened under pretty wet conditions.  What color are most of the fruit on it now?  Good luck with this tree and please keep us informed on how it does for you.

Joe, just to clarify - the link is for a post from Marius on Sicilian Red.  In that thread Italian Red is compared to it but I don't believe they are the same.  I agree, the leaves do look like those of Mt. Etna types.  I should know more about this variety next year when I get more fruit.  The one fig I harvested today was a bit smaller than I expected but it's a first year fig ripening late in the season so that probably doesn't mean too much.  Maybe the fruit will be more red when the tree gets in synch with the season and ripens fruit in the warmer weather.  I hope Frank weighs in on this thread because he knows a lot more about it than I do.

You picked it at what I consider the right time but when you let a fruit get this ripe they're always smaller than they would be if picked less ripe.  My Chicago Hardy never has any green at this stage of ripeness.  There's purple and brown but never green.

Rewton, et al.

I have grown this unidentified variety since 2007.  It sets two crops, and ripens main-crop figs towards mid-late August.  It a good, productive, "workhorse" tree, has never aborted figs, grows vigorously, and has survived Bronx winters without protection.  The original, three, rooted twigs that were given to me as gifts, were growing in the ground, after the roots escaped, until a few years ago.  They are now presently, containerized, and the three twigs, grew into 5-7 ft. trees, and that's even with severe pruning to keep rampant growth in check.  I have a pruned-back, 5 ft. tree, planted into a big 18-gallon tub, that has almost a 4" diameter trunk just above the roots.

I agree with the general consensus that this is a Mt Etna type fig variety, and resembles, "Black Bethlehem", "Hardy Chicago"/"Bensonhurst Purple", and Sal's-EL.

Figs off this tree, when perfectly ripe, taste like black raspberries...but taste is subjective.  The figs are not large, but there's plenty of them.  When ripe they have a very deep, reddish-black color.  Seeds are crunchy, but not too gritty.  Beware!  In general, after a good soaking rain at the wrong time, figs can split.  This unknown variety has also split, but only once, if I recall correctly, after a 4 day soaker.  Grown in a container, this is not so much of a problem, but watch the amount of water getting to the roots, with grounded trees.

Considering the hardiness, productivity, vigor, no symptoms of FMV/D, and consistently decent tasting fruit, I will continue to grow it until something better comes along.

Frank