Picked up an interesting fig from walmart today.  Hadn't really planned on buying anything, but I saw the tag and couldn't resist.  Along side brown turkeys, magnolia, and a black mission was this guy labelled "Ischia."  It's from Dewar nurseries in Florida.  Plant was well established and looked pretty decent, and curiosity got the best of me.

Any idea from anyone if its an Ischia Black or an Ischia Green?  I have pictures of the foliage, if it helps to identify it.  Better yet, if anyone knows this nursery and might know what they have available...that would also solve the riddle if it was just the green or the black.

Also...did I really just find this at walmart for 9 bucks?

It would be great if it would be Black Ischia but my bet would be that it's Green Ischia.
One could only hope.

Can't speak for anyone else, but I feel like the green might be more common?  Someone told me the Ischia black...at least the ones from UC Davis...were badly affected by FMV, which would make healthy plants a bit more prized perhaps?  Of course, I've got no personal experience with UCD, so I don't know for sure.

Just for curiosities sake, what are the flavor differences between the black and the green?

there are three figs that everyone wants from USDA/UCD.. Ischia Black, Black Madeira, and Barnissotte (can't spell...). 

Barnissotte, and Ischia Black are both very heavily infected with FMV. they leaves are misshaped and the trees grow very slowly. but figs are fine, if the tree grows well enough to put on the fig and weather is good enough to ripen them. 

those three are top three trees when it comes to taste.. so i have heard. have all three in 3 gal, but really haven't tasted them yet. this yr i know i should be tasting Black Madeira and Barnissotte.. not too sure about Ischia Black. 

Hi Brett. Your tree is most likely a tissue culture plant originating from Agristarts. The other varieties you mentioned are available from them as well so it seems they are the most likely source. The small size of the leaves also indicates tissue culture. As far as rarity goes, it is one of many thousands, but if you look at what is available now the more desirable varieties are all sold out.  TC plants are a relatively new thing so you are part of an adventure, if that is what you think you have ; )

Brent...

You might have nailed it.  The varieties I saw were black mission, brown turkey, magnolia, and just "Ischia,"  all of which are listed on that site (out of 13 listed).  The picture shown is a green fig, so it's likely a green ischia.

That likely solves the mystery, but if anyone else has input, let me know.

Thanks again guys and gals

Dizzy - no problem with Green Ischia. It's just more of a common fig tree that is commercially grown for sale. Black Ischia isn't as easy to get at your local nursery. Besides that I personally would like to try the Black Ischia so if I could get it at Walmart all the better. Wishful thinking.

CdDB from USDA/UCD is good, but it's not "desirable" as those three i mentioned.