My LSU Purple (PftP) has been in-ground now for about 8 years; and for NorthCentral Alabama has been one of the most prolific, consistent figs with the capacity to bear a great deal of rain without splitting or adverse effects. I'm on the Zone 7a/b border, and like many folks in the Eastern U.S., we have experienced a harsher winter than expected. I might mention that our area is prone to cold snaps of frost/freeze in as early mid-October and sporadic freezes as late as April. For Birmingham, this variety is really a main-only crop bearing in late July/early August, a week or two after Celeste.

In the literature (LSUAgCtr releases, etc.), the jury is still out on whether this variety is cold-hardy, and for which Zones it can thrive. 

Curious what folks north of us have observed with LSU Purple in terms of cold-hardiness/productivity? 

Hi Rick, I have had the same results as you have had. Here in New Jersey, southern tip of NJ, zone 7, is very cold hardy and prolific, a keeper here, 6 to 7 years old in ground. True test will be this spring when it will wake up from this long and cold winter, enjoy, Sergio.

How good is the taste? What does it compare to?

Just got some LSU purple cuttings so I guess I'll find out down the road.  Also very interested in taste.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/lsu-purple-updated-91813-6501621?pid=1279331551#post1279331551 is my take on this one from last year

Thanks, Mike. I haven't tasted very many varieties of fresh figs, so I'm curious what others make of it.  imo Taste is sweet, but more balanced fruity sweet than occasionally too-sweet Celeste; basically seedless, so no nutty crunch. To me it's a remarkable variety because once mature, it will produce a reliable, fine crop year after year when others might fail. Barring any damage, I'm hoping the cold winter might be exactly the thing to make for an excellent year of production. Those I preserve in jars, I pick before completely ripe so that they retain shape when cooked.

Glad to hear your results, Sergio. Always find it amusing that north central Alabama and New Jersey share the same zone. 

My in ground one year old LSU purple died back a few inches below where it was protected by a cage full of leaves. We had several nights below 10 degrees (official low was 6) and a few days that never broke 30. My neighbor's VDB left out by a south facing brick wall in a large (30 gal?) black pot is dead to the soil (and maybe completely).