Yesterday evening I went down to the Petals from the past nursery and bought few figs, Lemons and Persimmons trees. They also had some LSU Black for sale, I had never heard of it but bought one in 3 gallon. The owner (Jason) told me, the tree came out of LSU Ag. program and the fruit resemble the Black Italian but a little smaller and very sweet.<div>My question for you all of you who has more knowledge about the figs came out of LSU program is,  do you have this tree in your collection, if so, how would you compare its sweetness to O'Rourke and VDB, is this a closed or open eye fig and do have any pics from your own LSU Blk that you can post?</div><div><br></div><div>Navid.</div><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div></div>

There are three LSU black figs......LSU Scott's Black, LSU Late Black, and LSU St. Gabriel Black.   Scott's Black has the tightest eye of the three and a flavor profile closer to VDB than the other two black figs. All three are very good tasting figs that do quite well in my yard. 

My guess is that you have the Scott's Black variety. It is the common one now found in the retail trade. The other two black LSU figs are a bit harder to come by. A few forum members have LSU Late Black. This particular one that they have originated from me. I have not yet given out my St. Gabriel Black to anyone. I posted pictures sometime back on this fig forum.

Dan
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Scott's Black is a great fig by all measures. It does not split in my yard. My tree has never produced any breba figs.  It is a mid season fig and its main crop figs are producing figs after Celeste stops producing. It is a good second cultivar to have if you only have a Celeste.....like many people in Louisiana do.  I highly recommend it. FYI....this variety has extended Herman2's fig season in New Jersey into late summer early fall. He too finds merit in this particular cultivar. It deserves wider distribution.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Dan,

Navid,

Per this thread http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=5124385, I have not followed up with Jason. Please let us know when/if you do.

JD

Navid,

I had posted pictures of LSU Late Black and Scott's Black (fig and leaf) in the thread that JD posted...........not the best pictures in the world due to poor lighting.  I have a picture of St. Gabriel Black posted in some other thread. I'm too lazy to look for it........

Dan
Semper Fi-cus 

Anyone know where to get LSU Scott's Black via mailorder?  Would prefer cuttings but would also consider a smaller plant if the price was reasonable.

Beyond,

I think I can help. I will check once I return from travel.

I got one from James Robin in Louisiana about 20 months ago, I think.

JD and Dan,

Navid, I don't see LSU Black listed on their website.  I see LSU Purple & O'Rourke listed...

Beyondista,

JD,

Beyondista,
Check your PMs.
JD

Dan,

There is a fig being sold in retail nurseries as "Black Italian".  That particular strain was "found" growing in the New Orleans area. It was brought to the US by Italian immigrants many years ago. It was propagated and first introduced into commerce by the Becnel family in Belle Chase, La. The Becnel's have a nursery in Eastern Texas, which has this cultivar for sale. It is available at a few nurseries in the south.  It is a very good tasting sweet fig. The eye is colored a bright almost fluorescent pink.....not quite as pronounced as the Chico Strawberry fig.

"Native Black" is another black Italian fig that was "found" in the New Orleans area. It too is a completely different cultivar. It is much like a LARGE Black Mission fig. It was introduced to the retail trade by the Becnel's too. Same with the Smith fig.....it is an Italian heirloom fig "found" in the New Orleans area and introduced by the Becnel's.


Also, I personally have "found" yet another "black Italian" heirloom variety that was likewise brought into south Louisiana many years ago by Italian immigrants. It is a different cultivar. My little tree was killed to the ground this past winter......so it is unlikely for it to fruit for me this year.

Dan,

I have not eaten as many O'Rourkes as the other cultivars, only a few from some else's tree....not mine That was because of the O'Rourke/Improved Celeste confusion that exists.  Hopefully, you know that I have proven that they are two entirely different cultivars....and both excellent figs.

I would rank O'Rourke as number 1.....followed by Scott's Black and then the Black Italian. However, personal tastes will differ. The eye on Black Italian is a bit larger than on the other two figs. I would not give up growing any of these cultivars.....partly because they fruit at different times and mostly because they taste so good.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Yes, the O'Rourke and the Improved Celeste are two different figs, one with longer neck than the other one and slightly different taste too, as O'Rourke being sweeter. However I lost my O'Rourke last winter due to freezing. Last week I bought a 3 gallon O'Rourke to replace my lost one. 

You will enjoy your Scott's Black (LSU Black) too. It is a great fig to have in any collection.

Dan
Semper Fi-cus

Dan,

Dan,

I've wanted to order from Durio for a long time.  I had a list made up and everything. 

The thing that stopped me was the damned high shipping prices.

I just sent a 1gal tree, packed with moist soil, bundled in a shoebox-sized box for about $8.50 by USPS priority mail.  It took me about 15 minutes to pack it, take it to the post office and get it out.  If I would have sent it "cheapest shipping possible", the price would have been $5.20.

I have heard nothing but good things about the plants.  But as someone that ships a few fig trees per year to folks, I cant get on board with those prices.  If it was $20 for 3 one-gallon plants or something, I think I'd bite. 

I understand he combines shipping - I think I recall it being $20 the first tree, $10 each add'l tree.  I would even pay $10/tree.  It just chaps my ass that I can practically get a whole tree shipped to me for $20 from one of the other forum members, JV, BB or RW, for example.

Navid,

Yes, I can recommend Durio nursery. Dalton is running a real nice small nursery. He took over the business only a few years ago following in his dad's footsteps.  They sells lots of stuff besides fig trees.....rare flowers and plants.  The sizes of his trees vary.  FYI.....it is quite possible some of the fig trees you buy from him actually originated from me.

Should you make a visit to the Opelousas area, you can also visit James Robin's KT nursery which is only about 5 miles away. Should you go there, you will never forget your visit.....JR is a one of a kind true Cajun. You usually can buy plants from him before he sells to mail order. You can inspect your plants too while there.


Dan
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