Recently I had occasion to pass thru Tennessee and to my surprise went within 20 miles of Oak Ridge.  I first learned of the TM fig some years ago when I found a picture of it on the web, the caption saying that it grew on the lawn of a Vet Hospital in Oak Ridge.  By identifying the surroundings and calling the city horticulturist I learned where the fig was.

So, we drove to Oak ridge, and after asking a few questions I recalled the name of the vet clinic and went there.  I was made welcome and told to examine the tree to my hear's content, but that the extreme winter had reduced it to roots, and it was coming out from the ground.  Exactly as my figs did here in Oklahoma.

LOL, I spoke with a young man in Oak Ridge and asked him about their climate.  He told me that if they had two inches of snow they could count on having the schools closed.  He went on to tell me things that made me think he and I lived in the same town. 

At any ate, the Tennessee Mountain Fig lives on the sloping lawn of the Jackson Square Vet Clinic in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  The people there are very nice and surely will not mind your looking at a fine example of the TMF.  

That's a good story.

Glad to hear it is still alive.  Sad to hear it didn't fare better.
Hmmmm, the TMF is presumed to be a more cold-hardy bud sport of Celeste.  I wonder how much more cold hardy it really is...e.g. would the same cold temperatures that killed this original TMF down to its roots have killed a regular Celeste outright?
Does anyone know if there are any other differences between TMF and Celeste besides slightly increased hardiness?
Jim

Anyone know what the coldest temperature is that it has taken without die back?

Oxankle, do you know how cold it got this past winter there?

HeyMikey knows the history do that fig. He has told me about it before but I can't remember for sure. I will try to get him to chime in.

Thanks for sharing a piece of history.

Greg,
Looks like Knoxville got down to -8f according to weather underground. Maybe someone who knows TN better can say if that is a good estimate.

I have one from Tennessee,it is in ground next to my Celeste, has the same dry back as my Celeste.It did make it through a horribly long,and cold winter in NJ.But so did my Celeste.

Victor,
  Did they both die back all the way to the ground for you after this hard winter?
Jim