This is one of the cuttings I picked up from UCD this year.

Jon, since you've had this fruiting for at least 4 years, what can you share about its flavor and habits?  It looks like it has a huge breba crop (Monstrueuse = "Monstrous" in French), are the brebas large and/or tasty?  It looks like the main crop is barely larger than 1.25", putting it in a medium-size category. 

I just got one of these today, and am curious to hear what folks say about it.

Thoughts?

I've had one in the ground for several years. It is 6 ft tall and has obvious signs of FMV.  It has not yet fruited for me. It did produce a nice looking fig the first year I rooted it. Just went outside to check and right now there is only one fig on my tree. I'm still hopeful about this cultivar.......

Dan
Semper Fi-cus 

My experience with it is the same as Dan"s.
I think it is the unusual FMV severity.
Presently I have other 2 cultivars from California collection,doing nothing about after 7 years of growing:Ischia Black,and Verdal Longue.
I personally have learned my lessons.
California collection figs outside Ca,are ,something to explore how a cultivar fruit will look,if one can't find a specimen with a different origin.
If you want a real tree from same cultivar look outside the collection.

Hmmmmm.... I trust my source, both to be knowledgeable, and to be ethical.

I got it from one of the senior members of our local chapters of California Rare Fruit Growers. She said she would expect this little tree to fruit within a year, based on her own experience. She also advised not putting it in the ground for another four months, to avoid stressing the young plant.

I guess I'll reread about virus, and then take action as needed.

All of my Monstrueuse cuttings this year from UCD flopped.  I had nothing but problems with St Jean, Monstrueuse and (surprisingly) Calvert.

I forgotten to say I also got Calvert from the Ca Collection,and I have the same problem with it.
Yet I had a couple of ripe fruits 3 years ago from Calvert,and I can tell you that :It is one of a handfull of white cultivars that makes the best tasting,white fruits with burgundy interior.
I keep growing this one no matter what!

So, given the discussion about how California's soil differs from eastern soil, and given that I'm in California, are you all still pessimistic about my chances with this fig?

optimistic!!

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Optimistic

Hurray!

My fig and I are both happy.

I have a two year old tree that had one fig the first year but it did not ripen. This year it has many and I hope to taste some.
"gene"


Monstrueuse

Very handsome!