I see Osborn Prolific described by various nurseries & others with skin colors ranging from dark to light. Raintree Nursery describes it as a dark purple skin fig; Condit describes it as bronze with a violet tinge and mine is as Condit describes. Are there different color variations or different strains?

Maybe different looks in different locations?  Maybe same look different descriptions?
This is a main crop Neveralla in Rhode Island.

I'd say bronze with a violet tinge, but someone else might call it purple.
One thing for sure, this is one of the best figs I've ever tasted!

I Have a yellow Osborn proliffic wich is not allwayes consistent in quality.
Some of the figs are very good some are bad tasting.
They are Similar to the Osborn Prollific,UC Davis have but it is from a different source.
It is yellow outside with light pink inside.
I also have the Archipell from UC Davis Collection,wich is yellow to bronze in Color and Amber inside.
Archipell is a fig wich is also,called Osborn Prolific.
Marry Anne:Your Fig is much darker than Archipell ,so I think it is a different fig.There are at least 3 Cultivars Called Osborn Prolific.
It could be you got the tastier of them all.
Archipell is good but i would not call it excellent.
Best Regards

Mine is closer to a BT in coloration, with a flavor somewhere between BT and Black Mission. Will have pix at Figs 4 Fun later in the season.

I picked the last two Neveralla today.  They were very sweet, but did not have the rich flavor of the earlier figs.  It could be that I just didn't wait long enough.  But considering how cold it has been, they were very good for this time of year in New England.  You can see the color better in this photo.


They had spots inside that weren't ripe - you can see the white area in the upper left side at about 10 o'clock - I probably should have waited longer to pick.

Since I'm adding to my wish list (especially short-season varieties), what do you recommend as a source since there seems to be several named similarly?

Mary Ann,

I have one Osborn Prolific that looks pretty much as the ones you posted today. Yes, O.P. is like many figs in that they can vary somewhat in color and taste from different regions of the US. My 2 types ripen excellent fruit in hot temps.

Herman,

I also have a O.P. that has yellowish fruit. I got it from Paul Starnes back in the 80's and it is a very good one.

Jon,

I look forward to seeing pix of yours later.

All in all, we'll probably never sort out all figs to exact cultivars, but that's part of the fun of growing them. Thanks for the input.

Jack

Jack,
Are you aware of any online nursery selling OP? Sounds like a good candidate for me in NJ. Thanks.

Steve,

Several on line nurseries that offer Osborn Prolific are Raintree Nursery and Just Fruits & Exotics. If you would like to root your own, I can furnish cuttings in the dormant season which will be in Dec. If so, send me your mailing address.

Jack Rice
arice1@bellsouth.com

Jack,
I sent you an email.

Steve,

My correct Email address is arice1@bellsouth.net. This is not my day as I posted this correction as a separate topic earlier. I'm half asleep so it's time to get off the computer.

Jack

I thought I would resurrect this thread. Attached is a "white paper" resulting from a little digging I did into the question of Archipel = Osborn = Neveralla? Please take a look and comment as you see fit. I welcome your feedback and have a thick skin :)

So, anyone with these varieties, I would like to hear your observations regarding fruit descriptions and growth habit. I know a few of you have them and can add to a discussion. Thanks

Perplexed,
First was my LSU Gold that doesn't look like an LSU Gold, now this one.

Three weeks ago I bought what was suppose to be an Osborn Prolific. It is only 6 months old and has this great big fig on it that seems to be swelling and ripening. It doesn't look at all like the figs you have pictured in this post. Anyone with any clues?  I thought that by buying from a nursery I be getting the right names on the plants.

Looks a lot like Brunswick, including the leaves.

The question s not whether you bought from a nursery, but who the nursery bought from: did they get the plants they ordered, or did they get plants labeled with the names of what they ordered.

Gene:Your Osborn P,is identical to The Archipel,in UCDAVIS Collection.
I have one just like yours but 3 years older,Inground outside,and is a good fig.
You will not be dissapointed with this one.
Osborn Prolific and Archipell are 2 names that are used,for this one.
According to UCDavis This is Archipel.
Sorry,Jon,but the leaves do not look like Brunswick to me,but yes they look close to Brunswick.
This cultivar's leaves look more like English Brown Turkey,to me.
Best Regards to all.

After I made my post, I did some browsing and came up with a couple of pictures and some descriptions that made me think the same a you Herman2. Of course this is a very young tree, and perhaps as it ages it may give me a better idea. I hope you're right Herman about it being a keeper because it sure is pretty to look at.

Jon I have a Brunswick in the neighborhood and the leaves are close but not quite. In fact I had one growing from a cutting off of that tree but took it out because it soured too easily and my space is to precious to leave a tree there that doesn't support itself. 

Thanks for the replies.

Not sure if this is of any help but this is a leaf photo from my Osborne . The tree is here in NJ and acquired from a Jersey grower in Flemington grown in a pot. I did take a photo of the tree and figs but didn't come out good, very blurry, I'll give it a shot tomorrow.

My OP looks much closer to a BT, from a reliable CRFG source.

You can see:
1 Calvert    at 12 o'clock
2 ??           at 3 o'clock
1 Neveralla at 5 o'clock
2 Archipel   at 9 o'clock

This is edible landscaping's osborne prolific. Kind of rust colored orange on yellow. Yellow pulp. I've only had one--it's not prolific yet--taste was ok.

bump

I bumped this thread last year without a comment.  Therefore, I am bumping it again.  I have 3 Osborne Prolifics.  One is the the ground and the others are in pots.  I'm looking for some more current data from anyone that has this fig.  My large one came from a forum member years ago.  The other 2 came from RR.  I got 2 small dudes in pots and they did fruit last year, but I have no notes on the figs at all.  If anyone has addition information on this fig, please comment.

thanks!

Hi Snaglplus,
Could you be more precise ? How prolific were your trees ?
Here I have never heard or have seen that strain at nurseries .