Hi Folks Happy Spring 2015,

Question for you,

I bought a black Madeira fig tree from Just Fruits and Exotics plant nursery last year it has finally begun to sprout leaves. The leaves on this tree do not have the characteristic wide palm shaped leaves that I have seen of black Madeira trees pictures such as from this forum's member pics. This includes the now rooted cutting that I got from UC Davis. My UC Davis BM does have the characteristic palm shaped leaf. The tree in question from Just Fruits and Exotics has a cross like shaped set of three leaf lobes on the leaf instead of one round palm shape I'm wondering if I have a variance of a black Madeira fig tree (trying to remain hopeful) or if I simply do not have a black Madeira fig tree (bummer).
If someone can please tell me how to post a picture I'll be glad to do it.

Thanks in advance.

Would you happen to have any pictures? It's difficult to say from description alone.

My Black Maderia started from an Encanto cutting has wide leaves and shallow lobes, if that helps any.

Lucky you to be able to get an established BM from a reputable place like that. Post a pic please but I wouldn't rush to panic! Young leaves on trees that come out of dormancy can be very illusive! Imagine if it turns out to be a Preto instead? Lol
happy growing.

Thanks for responding DatesNFigs,
Your leaf description sounds like what I've seen to be typical for Black Maderias.

Sadly, I don't know how to post a picture on this forum it's not really clear on this site.

On the bottom of the reply box ,press "more reply option" and then attach file.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/violeta-still-strong-6569728?highlight=violeta&pid=1281525606#post1281525606

Hello potatochips .. Thank you for your wishes.
This link does not lead you to a description of Black Madeira as such.. but to a report on the fruiting and leaves as well, from the 'father' of Black Madeira, the Portuguese Common variety Violeta.
I am strongly convinced that Black Madeira is synonymous to Violeta.
There you have the various contours of their leaves as well as the fruit.

Francisco
Portugal

These are the three main leaf shapes on my Black Madeira:







The single lobe is the most common by far, especially on my older 6ft tree.

Any tree can have single lobes leaves: they seem to be some sort of juvenile shape. Some trees have lots, some not so much, some seldom.

See Here  They can range from 3 lobes to 3 plus 2 semi-lobes in my experience, but need to have "fat" fingers. You may need to wait till the plant is a little more mature.

The leaves on Black Madeira should look like this.

 
 
 
 
 

Joe your Black Maderia is looking amazing, such vigorous growth for a tree that is a notorious slow grower. How many years have you had it for?

Thanks to all of you for your kind, helpful responses. I really appreciate the care and efforts you all make on this forum to keep the culture and passion of fig growing a viable and satisfying endeavour.

Hope this link for my tree works...

http://s610.photobucket.com/user/liveforgodsglory/library/Mobile%20Uploads

It's really too early to tell.  I have 3 of JF&E's Black Madeiras growing in large SWPs.  Black Maderia is a true dwarf so it will be interesting to see how these trees grow.  I did call and talk to the owner of JF&E about their Black Maderia fig.  He said it came from a very reliable source and is really a Black Maderia fig.  More to come....

Thanks Snaglpus, please do keep us updated. Due to replies shared on this post, I have seen some BMs with wide single lobes as well as three "fingers"vatieties. The one with three fingers tended to be "fat" like Jon indicated so maybe all is well.
Do yours B. Mad. leaves look like mine?

Thanks Drew. I got that tree in the spring of 2011. It was a rooted air layer from Encanto Farms. I fertilize the trees in the spring with compost. They have full sun and get a good watering every 4th day. Most of the trees respond real well.

I am a little worried about my Black Madeira at this point.  I got it from a local guy, who got it from another local guy lol....But the leaves don't look right to me.  The figs are developing slowly which is promising since it is known to take a long season.  But the leaves do not look right at all to me.  I will post pics when I can get some and let the experts say what they think...the tree is still young though, so maybe the leaves are just misshapen, or maybe I am over reacting...

I'm skeptical that the Just Fruits and Exotics Black Madeira is the same as the UCD Black Madeira.  Even with just rooted cuttings of the UCD B.M. I have never seen the sort of leaf shape that forum  members show for JFE B.M. so I don't think it is a case of immature leaves.  

So then I may have the JF&E B Mad and not the UCD B Mad...I wonder how different the fruits are....

Black Madeira leaves are very distinct. Spade shape and some three lobe mixed in. Slow growing if from uc davis.there are pics of jf&e bmadeira and leaves are way off. Although it could be a great fig if it is from island of Madeira as stated.

Well time will have to tell. My JF&E B.M. hardly has any spade shaped leaves- most of it's leaves are finger shaped whereas, my 2014 rooted cutting B.M. from UCD only has spade shaped leaves.
Would be nice if the JF&E were a earlier fruiting strain or something but, at this point I don't see any fruit babies on it as yet. I did get it late fall of 2014 so maybe it'll do more next year. Just for comparison in age, height and production, I mention my Smith fig tree. My JF&E B.M. is about as tall (3 1/2 - 4 ft tall) as my Smith fig which I got it last year from JF&E. Last year the Smith barely pushed out three little figs they hardly ripened but they still tasted nice fruity, not clasically figgy in flavor and surprisingly sweet. They were kind of hard and still small but I couldn't let them drop with out trying them out. The Smith is supposed to be a late ripening tree and it does have plenty of fruit babies on it right now and like the JF&E BM, is in a seven gallon container.
So maybe the JF&E will do similarly as far as production goes.

Here is my Black Madeira...thoughts on leaves? They look a little fatter fingered than I thought, but still not quite right to me...

Not Black Madeira. Leaves are definitely wrong.

Agree - definitely not a UCD Black Madeira.

Then maybe a JF&E Black Madeira?  I guess I need to leave Black Madeira on my wish list until I acquire a UCD Black Madeira.  Thanks for the info fellas...

I am sure that what JFE is selling is NOT Black Madeira. Please do not call it JFE Black Madeira or anything similar as it will just cause confusion and likely mistakes in trading. Once some of our JFE trees ripen, we can figure out what they are. I should get some updated pics soon from my brother in law in Georgia. As of a couple of weeks ago, his figs were still pretty small, but I imagine he is a good month ahead of most of us.