Does anyone know why sometimes the leaves and stem will get the reddish color when others don't? The tree is a purple fig my grandfather brought from his town in Italy in the 50s. Thanks, Steven

Not sure but nice fig you have.Do you know what part of Italy It's from?Thank you.

Montorio nei Frentani is the town, it's in the Midsouth eastern side of Italy.

I believe this is a phenomenon specific to darker figs.  Quite a few of my darker figs do it, and I have noticed it on the stems of at least one variety.

Same here lot of my figs plants do similar and when pruned for the figs its real noticeable.

If a plant has the genetic predisposition for a certain pigmention, it will often be expressed in more than one location - fruits, stems, leaf tips, bracts...  And the pigmentation will often be influenced by the environment, including soil. Full sun will often bring out pigment in a plant. Depending on the plant, sometimes shade will do it too. It can be a variable trait.

I started cuttings from an unknown fig. It has reddish stems and bracts, and even darker leaves. The one thing I know about this fig's fruits without having seen a ripe one is that they will be dark. :)

I love dark red snapdragons. When I am shopping for plant starts in pony packs, to get the dark red flowers, I make sure some of the plants in a mixed pack have reddish leaves and stems.  If you want light colored snap flowers (white or yellow or pale pink) look for pale green (but healthy) stems and leaves. Same principle.

Steven, if you post a pic of a few of the total leaves to see the differing shapes and a pic of the fruit that will help Id it much easier. Probably too early for the fruit, so when it does fruit repost with pics. Also, where in Italy did it come from?