Here's pictures of my first LUV fig, could have been better and bigger only 17 grams normal avarage 40/50 grams but I'm not complaining, very happy to have confirmed the varietal. I shared it with my neighbor and fig friend Garlic Mike it was fun sharing the experience, it will only get better from here.

Very nice fig. I presume that since you are not taking about the flavor it is one that will improve with age?

Devslgro, the flavor was ok for first fig ,I tested little honey but to soon to judge flavor, or size. Probably best look up other references for better judgement. Like I said I'm very happy to have confirmed that there was no mislabeling , which is not to uncommon in our hobby.

Looks very nice congratulations!

Congratulations, Mario! You are a conservator of a rare and special fig! Aside from the pleasure of growing the fig and enjoying its fruit, comes the responsibility of stewardship, to ensure that the cultivar survives and prospers. I don't know why but I much prefer the name "Fico Lupo" to "Luv" fig; regardless... it is a beauty, the blue / black color is hard to beat and makes a great contrast to the cherry red interior... Enjoy the fig, I hope that it proves to be a very vigorous and strong grower for you and as delicious in taste as it is in looks...

Congratulations Mario . Could you post a close up pic of the leaf. I want to compare with mine. These pics are from a video posted by Paolo , I'm afraid they are not so clear. I will post pics of mine when I get home from work.

I have it too ☺

I'm curious, are there any fake LUVS being circulated?

Since the variety has never been completely defined and documented publicly how does anyone even know if they have the real thing?

Congratulations Mario! Gorgeous fig, Thank you for sharing.

Mario has got the real deal ;)

Brian got a point. I think there are many fake being circulated. Having said that in tropical climate Fig trees grow like weed and almost every one I know from Malaysia and Thailand got a LUV and I know for a fact that most of them are real. It's really difficult to identify, I got one from a friend in Europe who got it directely from Paolo Belloni.

hoosierbanana this fig was found and documented by Paolo Belloni, a very respected collector of figs in Southern Italy. For me that is planty documentation.

Yes, I read that Mario. 

@Mario_1  Mario.... You have mentioned visiting Paolo Belloni at Pomona Garden Conservatory.... Would you know if the fig wasp lives in and around the Gardens and Conservatory? I know the wasp thrives in southern areas of Italy and the Conservatory appears to be fairly south and I was wondering if this was the case.  I had read that small pockets of the wasp can be found on some of the islands slightly north of Dubrovnik along the Dalmatian coast in the Adriatic which Croatia and Italy and a few other countries share and Dubrovnik is slightly north latitude of Bari which is slightly north of the Conservatory so it would appear that the conditions there might be suitable to host the wasp as well.... Thank you... Tony

Tony, the Luv fig definitely doesn't need the wasp. Mario lives near my friend Mike down in Connecticut, no wasps there and fruited at that location.

Sorry Devin, you misunderstood my question. I wasn't asking about whether Lupo was common or not. I live fairly close to both Mike and mario (I am about 1 hour from Wallingford) and know that Mario's Luv fruited there. I was asking if the wasp lives and thrives in the area around the Pomona Garden and Conservatory... No reason or other connection unless you want to consider that I was born in Croatia on one of the northern Islands fairly close to what used to be called Fiume (Rijeka) and a stones throw from Trieste. I have often wondered at what point in the southern Adriatic the wasp is found and having read that the wasp occurs on some of the islands around Dubrovnik which is north of the Conservatory's latitude, I just wondered at what point on the Italian side, the wasp is consistently found.

Ah okay very cool. Sorry for the misunderstanding, I remember that you have croatian origins. I need to take a fig road trip at some point! Put some faces to names.

Thank you for that confirmation, Vinny!

Sorry for not replying sooner tsparosi I have been traveling and busy with grandkids. I didn't know about wasp being at Pumona but my Luv had no problem this past season it produced good figs for a young plant, Tony you are not far from me you are welcome to stop by anytime we can have a glass of wine together

Thank you, Mario... I didn't think that Fico Lupo needed the wasp but my curiosity was related to the general availability of the wasp in that overall region. I am wondering how the wasp enhances the flavors of the figs found on the croatian islands...

I would really love to stop by one of these days, Mario, it really is a short hop and would be a wonderful opportunity to share some conversations and a glass of wine together... I will drop you a PM note one of these upcoming spring days and perhaps we can make it happen soon...