I must ask you, if you moved somewhere where temps never fell below 40 degrees, would you plant this variety in your new yard?

I have it (EL) but have read many mixed reviews and am quite on the fence about whether or not to plant it. Is hardiness the main attribute, or is it many splendored, I guess I'm asking. I hope you can forgive me using that word.

Thanks very much

Couldn't say. I planted mine and we had a bad winter. This past winter was a warm one though had a lot of days abnormaly warm like 70 on new years. But this isn't normal weather at all. We had a drought that lasted 8 months. After all this the figs still came and the tree is still thriving. Looks like another cold one comming this year though. Know its not exactly what you aske but I though I would throw that out there. Hope it helps.

Many including myself think it is a very solid fig. Tastes good. Not 10/10 or the best in the world, but good, reliable, and first season fruits taste great. Not the largest size fig. I think it depends on where you are moving exactly and if you're space if very limited.

is* very limited.

I was wondering the same thing.  I guess time will tell.  I have it too!  I think it's a nice dark fig with red center, but not sure about much else or how it does when it isn't cold in winter.  I'm gifting my extra to my daughter-in Law's parents who do get a tiny bit of snow in winter here in So CA.

Suzi

That would depend. If you only had room for one tree then I would say "No don't plant a Hardy Chicago". There are a lot more other varieties better than that. If you had the room for multiple trees then I would say "Yes". It would have a place there. I have a couple of them. They have a good taste and should be added to any collection as long as room is available. They are hardy but so are others.

Hello Forrest,
I've tasted a fig from a tree where the owner didn't know what variety it is... it has REALLY good taste.  Some of the experts on this site have indicated it's likely Hardy Chicago.  The tree is mature (at least 15 years old, maybe 20 plus).  So I'd have to say that if that fig is truly Hardy Chicago, then my advice is definitely keep your HC.  I'd add though, that I've eaten HC figs from young (3 year old) trees, and they were nowhere near as good as this one... they were good but not great.  But if that tree is any indication of what HC tastes like from a really mature tree, then I'd say definitely keep it.  Also, letting them get really ripe makes a big difference... just "ripe" from this tree was OK, but really ripe (maybe "overripe") was really great tasting.  Since that one was (tentatively) identified, I've become pretty positive about keeping HC around.  Here's the thread for the discussion I'm talking about:  

Hi thanks so much for the responses everyone, I'm really glad I made this topic! It really answered the question for me.

Persian MD and Tonycm, tell me which dark figs you prefer for taste and productivity. I have room for 15 trees, but I'm curious which you would recommend if I could only have one or two.

MichaelTucson: what a great post! I'm excited to plant it now, actually I should have planted it in 1992 it seems. Those are interesting flavors you pick up, are you one of those guys who tastes a wine and rhapsodizes about "Oakiness, against a backdrop of juniper and sage, with a top note of citrus and hints of chocolate, raspberry and Japanese yam."? I suspect you might be.

Forrest,
   I'm know others will probably not agree, but for myself I'm stuck on Black Triana and San Pietro. For me they taste way better than Hardy Chicago. I would rate HC a 6 and the other two an easy 8 if not 9. They just do something to my tastebuds that HC doesn't. Black Triana to me has a sweet berry taste and San Pietro is sweet with a figgy berry flavor. I'm sure under ideal conditions my Hardy Chicago could be better but as it is now it just doesn't cut it for me. My HC is about 5 years old. I have no plans on getting rid of it but I feel that there are other figs that have better taste and that are just as hardy if not more. On the other hand, like Mike says the HC figs he had were from an older tree so that may well make a world of difference plus the climate and soil it's in so I can't argue with that. In another 10 to15 years mine may improve enough to change my mind but I'm too impatient to wait. Like everyone says "taste is subjective" so what is the best tasting fig for one person may not be good for another.  Some tell me I'm a stubborn a**. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

just started rooting HC EL cuttings. if more than one roots, i'll try one on our area in ground. 

I have 4 Hardy Chicago trees growing in ground here in zone 7.  I don't think anyone in my family would let me dig one up and replace it with another variety even if I wanted to.  It grows well, bears prolifically, and consistently tastes excellent.  

Eric

Forrest,

I have an HC growing in my yard and also an unknown that is probably an HC as well.  My winter temps do drop below 40, but not by too much.  I like HC a lot.  It has a bad rap because some people have questioned its productivity and flavor.  As far as productivity goes it is not the earliest tree to start ripening figs, but once it starts to ripen figs it keeps ripening them over a long period of time.  As far as flavor is concerned, I guess flavor is in the eye of the beholder.  I like the flavor a lot.  HC figs really seem to benefit from being left on the tree until they hang straight down and start to shrivel up.  The figs are on the small side.  The plant has a dense growth habit and I don't lose as many figs to the birds compared to other varieties because it is harder for them to spot the figs.  If you decide to grow it I don't think you will be disappointed.

Hey thanks. Yeah flavor and productivity were the issues I'd read about. And it's funny, I had to choose either black and white Triana or HC and Champagne and I went with the latter two. I'll get the Black Triana -hey it's a BT! -someday for sure, I understand it is aka St. Jerome and really highly regarded. But ouch Tony, 6/10 for Hardy? I hope you are very particular.

Mike: you outed me! I was an English major and actually wrote essays for fun. I guess Im still prone to some ... flowery language here and there. I'll totally come back someday and describe the nuanced pecan pie flavor of this hopefully really great fig.

A lot of positive reports, I'm going to go with the flow here and plant what I've got and see what happens. Im really too curious not to.

Thanks again

My hardy chicago is in ground no winter protection at all. doing great this comming spring will be three years and i had about 30 figs this summer.

Put mine inground this spring and put a portable around it just for this season, are you in southern Illinois ?

Bond County. about 36 miles east of st.louis pocahontas il

Thanks explains your zone .

Forrest,
If you go to the "Best figs for your location" part of the first topic posted by Jon, and you just happen to be ill and in bed bored to tears, you might actually count the favorite figs to see which is listed the most. Well, if you did this, you'd find that Hardy Chicago is listed as a favorite more then any othe variety. 
I think because of this alone, you could safely say that Hardy Chicago would be worth the risk to try in your area.
cheers,
mgg
And, BTW, I think my HC is a pretty good tree and would recommend it as a safe and reliable variety. Mine is 7 years old and a very solid producer.

i heard its a great tasting fig, never tried it