I just read a great article on figs on Ocracoke Island, off the coast of North Carolina. Apparently, they have been growing the trees there since the 1700s and have several varieties, many which I did not recognize like "Sugar" and "Blue." Has anyone heard of these or do you currently grow figs of this origin?

I called a nursery on the island today and spoke with the owner. She said the varieties grown on the island are cold hardy and are mulched with clam and oyster shells. I guess almost every backyard has figs of some variety growing.

Sounds like a good field trip. I might have to go out to gather cuttings later this year. Do I have to wait until dormancy? Or could hardwood cuttings be taken before the leaves drop?

John
Zone 7
NC

John.. I have been to the island and saw the figs trees with all of the oyster shells under them. I did not know there was a nursery there. I should have asked ! I live in New Bern.
  If they have fig trees in in pots , any time is ok. I think that most cuttings are taken in dormancy. But, I am new to the forum and hobby.  Fred

Ciao,

Sugar may be another name for the Southern favorite,  Celeste. Don't know about the Blue. Ciao

She described her Sugar fig as being very vigorous with lots of super sweet fruit that are a mix of purple, brown and green in color. Another one she mentioned was a white fig called Lemon. Almost all of the trees are planted in the ground out there. The nursery is called Woccocon Nursery & Gifts. They sell some plants but mostly fig preserves and cakes. I live about 4 hours away in the Piedmont, so it would be a mini vacation to get out there.

John
Zone 7
NC

John,

Maggie is correct!  Blue and Sugar are very common names for Celeste Fig down here in the Carolinas.  The most common fig all around here are Celeste and Brown Turkey.  Celeste looks reddish brown but the blue celeste looks purple.  You don't see too many Blue Celeste.  Most folks down here pick up their fig tree from Lowes or Home Depot and the only fig trees I've ever seen there were Brown Turkey and Celeste and sometime you may see Black Mission.  However, this year and last only Home Depot a very few Brown Turkey trees.  I got some cuttings from my coworker and they are starting to root.  I'll post some pics tomorrow but I'm not sure what fig this is.  Dennis

Hi Jack,

Yep, that's the article in "Our State" magazine. I've wanted to go out there for a while. Adding figs to the attractions just makes it better. The lady who runs Woccocon also rents cottages out by the lighthouse. Rates seemed reasonable, so it looks like the trip might actually happen in the near future.

And Dennis is correct. The home stores and nurseries around here only carry BT and Celeste. We have to acquire cuttings or travel to get anything else.

John
Zone 7
NC

Now I have an excuse to go back to Ocracoke. :-) I stayed at the bottom of Hatteras last time but Ocracoke seems so much more low key.