They look the same in everything, but when Negrone starts setting fruit, the fruit color is red in young. VDB is slowly going red. What do you thing?

Negrone

Negrone

 http://figstree.blogspot.com/

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VdB 

  VdB

 http://point09acres.blogspot.com/2012/06/theyre-figgin-huge.html

I've always read there were the same. I have one of each, but they were only started from cuttings last year so maybe I can tell this year.

I'm no expert, I have just a VdB that is about to enter it's 3rd season, but your leaves do not look like the typical VdB leaves.  Maybe it is due to being a young plant, but mine looked typical last year.  Hopefully someone else can help with more experience

Bordeaux family of figs.  Closely related but not identical figs that are often confused for one another.

That looks like a bordeaux, but should mention that these red figs looks like they are getting more sun than the figs in more developed plants.

There may well have been two different figs at one time - hard to say. It it extremely likely that both (if there were two) have been often interchanged and sold under both names. In the end, they are very similar, if not identical. Given that figs are so very responsive to their environments and can appear completely different at different locations, it will be very hard to determine whether they are the same or different without and extremely controlled trial, or DNA analysis.

If they taste good, eat them.

Seems like every year someone ask this very same question.

I have several Violette de Bordeauxs.
I have a few Negronnes
I have several Petite Negras.

All are 5yrs plus.

All are similar, PN are Hardier than both. Negronne ripens first, then PN and VdB last. Are they all the same? If you ask me, I will tell you NO. If you ask another....they will say they are the same. If it makes you feel better, flip a coin! Ha. Just kidding.....but I really do not think they are the same.

Be blessed.

Both NG and Vdb is grow in same condition. Moreover, they are beside each other.

I also grow them both. They are both  terrific figs and cold hardy here in zone 7a. I do especially love a dead ripe Negronne. I got mine from Bill's Figs and can honestly say that the Negronne is absolutely delicious and one of my all time favorites. Bill thinks they are the same. Its an age old question.

I talked to a fig nursery owner over here in Europe who got his Negronne sources from Pierre Baud Provence, France.
He told me that the most obvious sign to recognize a Negronne are some of the leaves are round and mulberry like.
I don't know if VdB has this too, as there are no two different fig strains are known over here in Europe.
Negronne is known to have the syn. Violette de Bordeaux but no one will sell it under VdB.

This is a true American phenomenon. ;-)

I have all 3 I think. (VdB in ground, Petite Nigra in a pot ready to go in ground and a Negronne still in a rooting chamber).  Guess they are all going to have to be planted side by side when they are big enough. Looks like I will have years of entertainment ahead of me just contemplating differences and similarities between them. Good eating in any event. :)

Here are a couple "VDB" cuttings I got from mgwillis55 on ebay.  The one on the right has leaves that look exactly like the asymmetrical leaves  on Figgyme's NG.  The rounded leaf on the left cutting also sounds like the description of NG from figgenbaum's european nursery owner.

For the record, i am not vouching for mgwillis55.  However he wrote me: 

"If your question is regarding the Violet de Bordeaux cuttings, that particular tree is at my Grandmother's house.  It's well over 20 years old.  It's massive and produces hundreds of pounds of figs a year.  I'm not entirely sure where she got it from, but I'm sure she may know."

I admit, that does not sound like a dwarf.   However if Grandma planted it a very long time ago...

If mgwillis55 label if correct, then I think I'd have to vote for NG = VDB




Tim in paradise zone 10a


   

Here's a better angle to see the asymmetrical VDB leaves that look like figgyme's NG.