So far my search produces the following:

Known LSU Variants :

LSU Gold                                    Scott's Black
LSU Black                                   Hollier
LSU Everbearing                         LSU Red
LSU Purple                                  O'Rourke
LSU Tiger                                    LSU Improved Celeste
LSU Champagne                         LSU Scott Yellow(Brandy)
LSU O'Rourke                            


Said To Be LSU :

LSU #5                               LSU Thibidaux
LSU #156                           LSU White Honey


I have also been told there is a known LSU Golden Celeste that is not Champagne. My interest in LSU varieties is I feel they are designed to have close eye and would not spoil as easy with rainfall. Hence if there are more less known LSU varieties, please add to the list. Better still if info can be included on their characteristics.

Added :   St Gabriel Black
                 Jack Lily
                 Late Black


paully22

LSU Black and Scott Black are not the same variety?

There is also a known LSU Late Black. There are many postings on Scotts Blk & LSU Black and there is no "real" outcome as what is what. Its in the list so that its a LSU fig. I have Scotts Blk but no LSU Blk or Late Blk. Perhaps there are fig friends who have the 3 and it would be nice to know what is what. Interesting confusion.

A while back (2006) I bought some LSU 156 scion from an SSE member.

Paul,

Good thread. Thanks for starting it.

LSU Black. I have only seen LSU Black sold at Petals from the Past. I know two forum members who own this fig and have said that particular LSU Black = LSU Scott's Black.

LSU Late Black. There are several posts on this forum and at Garden Web that support the existence of Late Black. And again, there are a couple venerable forum members who own or have owned Late Black.

LSU Golden Celeste. I own it. I purchased it last summer from Just Fruits and Exotics. It is no longer listed on their website. i am not sure why but I will inquire. The tree produced a main crop of about 60 figs that I thinned 3:1. I didn't taste a single fig because it dropped all 20+ figs. It has broken dormancy and the jury is out.

LSU Red. While chatting with the friend of a friend and devouring Celeste figs from his tree last summer, the owner mentioned that one of his other fig trees was called LSU Red. Until today, I was not sure if he knew what he was talking about. I have access to the tree. Do you have a description?

LSU #5, #156, Thibidaux, and White Honey. I have never heard of them and I would like to read more about them. Thanks for letting me know they exist.

LSU St. Gabriel Black and LSU Jack Lily. I have not found any information on these two, however, there are a few posts on Garden Web that mention their existence.

Noss, figs can differ in color and size on a tree. Jon, showed and taught me that at UCD last year. I do believe LSU Champagne figs are all 3 colors. I have one. The figs are small....yellow and if left on the tree willl turn purple and brown. :-)

I read one post from Herman2 and he was very impressed with LSU Scott Black, very good flavor (cross between celeste and VDB) and good rain resistance.

Can someone explain about the LSU fig breeding program?  What years did it cover?  Did LSU just stop it's fig program?  It seems that LSU could publish the  names and descriptions of the figs they developed to clear up all the confusion.

Noss,

It is *not* you.

As we all know, there is a problem with the naming of figs even at places like LSU.

My tree is tagged with a white label that says Golden Celeste. Apparently JFE also yellow tagged the trees and this one should have been tagged as Champagne?? I do not know. However, I do know that my tree somehow lost the yellow tag.

I am in the process of confirming something whatever it may be. Nonetheless, my leaves are different and the shape of the unripened fruit were different than what is in the LSU AgCenter press release/announcement.

I am *not* surprised.

JD, LSU variants are mysterious. I used to hear more about them from Dan in this forum. So unfortunate that LSU no longer have a fig program. The variants mentioned are grown by a fig friend and it is best I respect his privacy.

Paul,
I have no intention of encroaching on anyone's privacy. Over time, if you can provide a description of a fig or two, that would be helpful. Sometime soon, I am going to visit the owner to get the history of what he casually called LSU Red.

JD, please don't get me wrong. My apologies if I had implied in any ways. I was referring to myself on who I knew who had the trees. I would love to have these varieties as I would like to trial them in a zone very much like yours. Your experience with any LSU variants is much appreciated & I like to know more on how they performed as I have some growing in similar climatic conditions. Close eye varieties are so key to fig growing in any humid & rainy conditions. Overhere in Canada we have many limitations and my best experience with LSU varieties are Gold, Golden Celeste & Hollier. Good productivity and reliabilities are excellent virtues so far. I know I can get the trees to do better in the area of ripening. I have to say, I do like LSU variants.

I have a contact in Louisiana who deals with LSU agriculture center. He was just mentioning to me about the LSU Red. He's in the process on getting me more information. So far he confirms there are several" fig hybrid releases of Dr. Ed O'Rourke".  

Paul,

I don't think I misunderstood your intent. I believe it was honest and genuine; just as you stated. I wanted to clarify mine such that I noted clearly that I was interested in the information. The dropping figs from my LSU Golden Celeste (or Champagne), LSU produces very good figs. The more I learn, the better.

Bass,

Excellent! I trust that we can get educated on LSU Red (and others) in the near future.

Are Scott's Black and LSU Scott's Black the same thing?

Today I found a very good 11 page article from LSU on Champagne, O'Rourke and Tiger varieties.  http://www.lsu.edu/departments/horticulture/new_figs.pdf

John V.

Alan,

I agree that LSU Late Black is different from LSU Scott's Black. I can also personally attest to the fact that it is EXCELLENT. Moreover, here are what some of the veterans have posted about LSU Scott's Black: Herman and Dan.

What else do you know about LSU Black? Have you seen it? Photos? Anything would help close out the discussion about existence..

I am also inclined to believe that LSU Black = LSU Scott's Black. Here's why: I have only seen LSU Black listed at Petals from the Past. A few members have purchased it and said that the fruit and leaves are identical. I can only take their word for it since I am not growing LSU Black but they are well respected forum members. Thus even though Petals from the Past lists the fig (Scott’s Black) as LSU Black, it may be adding to the name confusion. Do you know of another source for LSU Black other than PFTP?

I don't mean to bend this thread in another direction, but I am (again) confused by terminology. Is a variant the same as a variety or a cultivar? Are these LSU figs the result of breeding, ie, are they from different seeds, or did some other treatment produce them?

Yes they were seedlings. this is from John V.'s link.