Here is what the leaves look like on one of my LSU Improved Celeste fig trees. As I have reported many times before.....it IS NOT the same cultivar as the O'Rouke fig.  LSU Improved Celeste will have only single and tri lobe lea leaves.....NEVER a five lobed leaf. On the other hand, O'Rourke will have both three and five lobed leaves.....NEVER a single lobed leaf. As I have previously reported........that is how you can tell these two sibling figs apart!!! Both the LSU Improved Celeste and the O'Rourke fig are excellent cultivars. They are just not the same as some people still choose to "believe".

That stake that you will see in the picture is 4 ft. tall. This is the second main crop that is now forming. These figs will still taste good when they ripen during cooler weather. I have eaten figs from my LSI Improved Celeste fig trees as late as mid December.


Dan
Semper Fi-cus

No pic 

........you read faster than I could upload the pictures. lol

I see them now lol. What are the primary differences in the figs of these two cultivars? Is one sweeter or figgier, different ripening times etc? 

Do a seach on those two names and you will see what has already been written....on this and the other fig forum too. They are both very good figs.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Most of what I have read on the forum so far is confusion about which is which and are they different at all etc. I'll look again. I have one which was sold to me as Orourke and it does have 3 and 5 lobed leaves is fruiting now in Philly. Just thought you might have some quick and easy observations other than leaves.

If your tree came from Louisiana AND, it was named an O'Rouke AND, if it has any five lobed leaf (even one) on it...........then you have a true O'Rourke fig.

I am the individual who discovered this FACT by tracking down the origin of many fig trees in South Louisiana. That took quite a bit of my time and I have graciously shared my findings with this fig community.

The confusion came in when some individuals (and I can specifically name those individuals) "assumed" that "only one" LSU Improved Celeste was out there in the retail trade. That simply is not true.  FACTUALLY, there are at least 3 LSU Improved Celeste "sibling" figs that can be found STILL today in retail nurseries. One of them is the exact same as the O'Rourke that was "officially" released by LSU. And one of the others, is the one that I have pictured in this thread. And the third LSU Improved Celeste is a yellow fig and completely different from its other two siblings.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Yes my tree came from JR, has some 5 lobed leaves. Now I have to find the improved Celeste and see what the differences between them are.    

Any comments from anyone as to the cold hardiness of the Improved Celeste vs "regular" (don't know what else to call it) Celeste?  I'd certainly be interested if it's proven to be as hardy.

Hi Timclymer,

I grow mine in a pot and bring it in for the winter, don't grow the regular Celeste. Havn't tried it myself for hardiness, but that is a good question. I am in Philly so basically the same zone as you. 

Dan,

I have what I believe to be an LSU Improved Celeste. It does *not* have 5-lobed leaves which rules out O'Rourke. Thus I have one of the two non-O'Rourke LSU Improved Celeste trees. Have you identified any other simple visual markers that distinguish those two LSU ICs from one another? Well, the yellow fig is a dead give away but if possible it would be nice to know sooner versus 18-24 months later.

timcllmer

I have "no doubt" that LSU Improved Celeste is cold hardy. My tree NEVER EVER has any die back.

JD,

Check to see if your tree has single lobed leaves on it.  If it does, AND your tree came from Louisiana, AND it was labeled either O'Rourke or Improved Celeste.......it is an LSU Improved Celeste and not an O'Rourke.
------------------------------------------

This is Dan's handy dandy way to distinguish between the O'Rourke and the LSU Improved Celeste "sibling" figs. This test comes out of my own personal research activities. Talk to ANYONE else in South Louisiana (where these great figs originated) about this and they likely won't know what the hell you are talking about. They simply are behind on the learning curve.........  

I planted a IC_not last year in March, it was the only one planted last year that made it through the Winter unprotected...My O'Rourke from JR was planted within 20' of the IC and it did not make it.

Thanks for that information Cecil.

I have not grown my O'Rourke long enough to know much about it.....other than it is a good tasting fig and one that is worth having in a collection. I am much more knowledgeable and experienced on the growing and fruiting characteristics of  the LSU Improved Celeste fig.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Thanks Dan.

Just to follow up because I may have blurred my question:

1. I have an LSU Improved Celeste from Louisiana. It is very good. It is not the yellow variety...I think. If you know them both, let me know.
2. You have noted that there are three LSU ICs and have graciously provided us with a very simple means to identify one (O'Rourke) of the three.
3. My focus is on the other two ICs. Other than the fig ripening yellow, do you know of any other way to determine the difference between the yellow and brown ICs without waiting for a fig to ripen? I would like to get the other LSU IC (with the yellow fig) but do not need another of the other.

There is no easy way to correctly ID the Yellow Improved Celese fig without seeing the actual fruit. I do not have it in my colection because it has a rather large and open eye. However, it may be blocked by honey. I really do not know. I've seen them for sale for several years in Baton Rouge and know that definitely it is not a milabled fig. (Yes, I study the fig trees that are in local nurseries too.)

If I am not mistaken, Bracey's "wholesale" nursery is the local nursery that was propagating this particular fig. I have seen them many times for sale at "Louisiana Nursery" in Baton Rouge. Don't believe either of these nurseries do mail orders.

I have one more O'Rourke planted in-ground this last March, I plan on putting about 6" of mulch around it for this winter (fingers crossed)

Thanks Dan.

Yellow strain of LSU IC is now off my list of figs to find. This sentence "I do not have it in my collection because it has has a rather large and open eye" was all I needed to read. You may have posted it before if so I appreciate the repetition.

Cecil, My O'Rourke, which comes direct for LSU, died to the ground this past winter. I thought it was lost but it came back and now has two sprout about 4' tall with figs on it. My other O'Rouke (Imp. Celeste) from JR and still in a 3 gallon, came through winter with out any problems. This year is hasn't grown much or put on any fruit.
"gene"

Thanks Gene,