Hi all,

Here are photos I took of Anjeer-e Koohi (mountain fig) in southern Fars province of Iran.

Extremely delicious, extremely dry area, ZERO water irrigation delivered to these wild growing figs. People just go pick them and then sell them. I believe there may be more than one cultivar of Anjeer-e Koohi and it can be a category term instead of cultivar-specific. But I believe in general in southern Iran this is the most popular Anjeer-e Koohi variety.

This is not to be confused with the white small shriveled up dry hard as a rock figs enjoyed in Middle East commonly in nut/seed/trail mixes. I may be acquiring that fig this season, I don't believe this one that I'm posting of however will do favorably in Mid-Atlantic conditions so have not tried to test it here... May be superb for those living in the desert though in crazy sun.

Best by far flavor of any figs I've had in my life so posted for your enjoyment. Large beautiful purple fig, productive, delicious red interior. Extremely rich and delicious sap/honey at eye is my favorite part.

I am sure that it is not just the cultivar that leads to the godly flavor of these figs, but also the water starvation they take in stride.

If you grew it in a container you could control the amount of water.  I'd love to try, at least  :)

PersianMd!

Great photos of figs in their natural conditions there in southern Iran! Love the baskets! I'm guessing the local folks make the baskets, fill them with local figs, and have them available at roadside stalls for motorists passing by. Nice shelter as well to keep the shop keeper potected from the elements. What's the going rate for a full basket of figs?

Thanks for sharing!

Persian,
I really enjoyed your pictures. It is always fascinating for me to see orchards and fruits from around the world. I can only imagine how concentrated the flavor must have been.

Those figs look amazing! Does any on the forum currently grow this variety? Wonder how them do in the usa? Thanks for the pics!

Looks really delicious... In many cases these wild figs require wasp pollination.

Thanks for sharing, they look very beautiful.

I grow this one from cutting and i can tell you this is very pretty plant.

Glad you guys enjoyed.

@Bass, Yup, I would bet on them needing the fig wasp, but not 100% sure.


@Eden, Does your come from southern Iran? Have you seen a mother plant in the US produce top notch figs?? I had not ventured into it because of climate and wasp concerns. You will have to report back to us with performance please!

@Maro, I think the going rate was dirt cheap for a basket. We got at least 3 baskets, maybe 5. This was probably some 8 years ago and it was probably 50 US cents to 1 dollar for a basket.

Vinifera grapes also taste insanely good there, likewise water starved in the dry mountains. Dates, pomegranates, apricots, citrus out of this world in some private/hobbyist orchards that still grow some of the high quality citrus cultivars.

I'm glad I could enjoy a bit of my nation's fruit activities with you all! It is a truly special place for fruit lovers.

Interestingly, did you guys see how long the stems are connecting fig to tree? They seem some 2.25 inches... (in last picture clear). Can you guys enlighten me if there are any figs that have that trait and if they are also desert fig varieties? Just interesting fig plant anatomy.

I hope it doesn't need the wasp, that would look great across the country.

Looking good Eden, I forgot that you had said you had a mountain fig cutting. Hope It grows perfectly for you.
Does it need the fig wasp?

What cool looking pictures!  Thanks for sharing! 

Suzi

Also for one other thread of some interest on a similar subject, see:

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Mountain-Fig-6028045

From what I understand of the language, the name "Anjir Kohi"  (and its spelling variants) is probably a pretty generic name.  There is likely great variation among the kinds of figs that are called "Anjir Kohi".  I've been trying to bring some of the types described in the thread that Gorgi linked, to the U.S.  (and I think there are a few other threads as well).  So far without success.  The claims that the Anjir Kohi from the mountainous regions can survive very low temperatures are intriguing.  I've written to many over there, but the difficulties with trade in the region are multiple and obvious.  If any of you have (or believe you have) a sample of the Anjir Kohi from the mountainous (cold, elevated) regions, I'd be interested to correspond with you  (send a PM or an email please).  Eden, I'm writing again to you as well... do you know the origin/provenance/locale where that fig you pictured came from?

Mike   central NY state, zone 5     (it gets cold here, and I'm experimenting with figs in harsh winter conditions)

p.s. persianmd2orchard, thanks for posting this!  Nice meeting you, and thanks for sharing!

re:  your question about the stem length.   Yes, I agree that's interesting!  There's a good bit of variation in stems, but I'm not aware of any others as long as these.  Maybe some of the experts on the forum who know about more varieties will comment on that... greater than 2 inches is longer than any other that I'm aware of.  In one of the other threads, there were even comments from some suggesting that the photos had been "faked" because of the way the figs attached to the tree.  It sure is another interesting characteristic... gives me some hope that the seemingly wild claims about cold temps may be true!

Mike 

Here is description i got from seller.
Sell one iran. Mountain fig about 25 cm high. The Mountain fig has smaller leaves as the Mediterranean rim and is very good to draw a bonsai plant. This fig is also harder to winter minus 15 degree C, since he is a clone he has the same characteristics as the parent plant that grows past 4 years in my garden .. by Google Translate.
Mother tree is in Germany

Way cool! I notice in the 4th picture orchards in the valley below. Are any of those cultivated figs?

In Varamin, Iran, which as well as I can tell from Google maps is well north of Fars province & near Tehran, a number of ficus carica L. cultivars are grown commercially. The attached paper lists 9 cultivars to add to the collection of ones people here would be interested in getting.

I would like a plant of this fig. Pm me your price.

@ Dieseler, Productivity, yeah pretty darn productive. Very large and beautiful fruit too. I haven't seen many fig plants of that size but definitely productive even for plant size, the second picture shows a massive crop. The red honey dripping out the eye was so, so good.

Thanks for enjoying, here's to figs.

Hi Guys, just joined the forum. I'm hoping to learn where I can buy the original Iranian Fig trees in the USA.  I wish we could get the cuttings directly from Iran, but that's an impossibility. 

Are these mountain figs the same as the marble sized light dried figs with an open mouth that I've seen at a Persian supermarket.

Wish I had one of those delicious looking fresh figs right now !!

fig fanatic those are different figs.