There are many reasons as to why Violette de Sollies is among the top fig varieties in France,
and with each passing season, I'm finding out more about this wonderful variety.

This is the second year for my Violette de Sollies and first leaf in ground. After transferring my tree to in ground late last fall, this year its vertical growth rate slowed especially after getting snapped while in pot.
I figured that it will need at least a couple of years in order to adapt to its new environment before producing.  I was wrong, while in pot,  in its first year it produced only three figs, but despite being in a new environment, this year I'm showing over a dozen fruits.

I was thrilled! but the most impressive aspect of this tree is that it lets me know when the figs are ripe by forming a honey drop.
From the handful of figs that I picked this season and if this trend continues, I can safely say that I found my perfect fig tree. 
The flavor is complex enough and tops anything that I've tried so far this summer. But it's not just about flavor, for the fruit is perfectly shaped very appealing to the eye and the size and weight can easily top many other varieties that are out there.


If I just could keep the birds away, (They stole some of the fruit through the net) I'm hoping to get a real crop someday...





   
 

It does sure look perfect, great job!

Hi Alan, When that drop of Honey shows up, The fig retains its firmness. In other word when ripe, it is not a mushy fig but rather a soft texture that has fruity flavor,(Berry-watermelon...) along with a perfect sugar content that is too complex to describe.
It is not the strong strawberry jam flavor that you might find in a Col de Dame for example but a flavor that is closer to a Black Madeira or a Noire de Caromb without any cracking in the outer skin.
The seeds are as if they don't exist. So the fig is dense but no crunchy seeds.

Sounds wonderful - thanks for the report!  Would you say it is a short, mid or long/late-season fig?

Steve, The tree started to ripen fruit the first week of August with many still green. I expect this tree to continue to ripen figs well into late September.
It is too early to tell for sure as the tree is still relatively young, but when compared with other varieties I have, I would say that it is a late season fig.
 

I only tried a couple from my small tree and as soon as I did I set an airlayer for back up! Nice pics!

Looks great, congrats SAS

@Ryan after growing over 100 varieties in Pots, The beauty and flavor of this fig really leaves little doubt in my mind that it is a sure winner here in Texas.
If you're looking for a light colored fig, you cannot go wrong with "Atreano" (Mid Season) . Not only it is a large and tasty fruit, but the birds totally missed it this season. I'm thinking that they might be color blind when it comes to green figs.
@Rafael Thank You

Here's another snapshot taken today. I'm waiting for that Honey drop, I will try again tomorrow.

 
 

Just saw the Honey drop. It showed up at the end of the day, so I picked the fig. Could not wait till tomorrow... Unlike the last one, this one had some crunchy seeds!

 

Here's a youtube video. It's in French with subtitles. Apparently this tree not only needs heat, but also likes humidity which contributes to its fruit perfect balance between acidity and sugar content. Austin Texas has both of these elements. Perhaps this might explain it's lack of performance in different zones.
Finding the optimum tree for your zone requires a lot of patience and research.

Sas, these look great, and I love the shape of the fruit.  Have yours (particularly the second one) been caprified? I only ask because one has almost no seed crunch and the second one did.  HAPPY FIGGIN'!

Hey Sas, what a great Post! I'm glad I have got several of this one since Spring of last year. Have not got to taste them yet but a couple of mine have Figs on them! Enjoyed the Video even though did not understand, I just looked at the Pictures lol...Thanks for posting this Sas! : )

SuperMario, and Frank Thank You. Frank, I'm glad your growing this one.

Since we have no wasp in TX, I'd have to say no caprification, but since the tree is fairly young anything could happen.
For example, This tree is in ground right now and this year it appears to be bearing less than last year. I was expecting this as perhaps it is trying to establish itself.
Violette de Sollies is also known as Bourgasotte Noire or Black Brogiotto, adapted itself to the Sollies Pond area in France and became known as such. When you try to grow 50 to 80 different varieties, you sort of develop an early indication of what is promising for your own climate.
Violette de Sollies is a patented name and I believe that the fruit could never be marketed under that name without permission. I certainly hope that other gardeners give this large spaces loving variety a shot as the fruit has everything going for it. Namely super taste, size and look. Could it compete with a Black Madeira? Frank I need your opinion on this one in the near future:)

I'll be happy to share my opinion once I get my hands on some cuttings. LOL  I've just added it to my wishlist when cuttings become available... :)  Looks great, the pics remind me of Gypsy and Preto mixed together.

Thanks for posting this video!

"large spaces loving variety"  You aren't kidding, I have a three season old in ground and I only gave it 7 feet in diameter.  I feel a little guilty after seeing those huge trees in this video.

Bourjasotte Noire has been a very robust grower here, it really wants to be a tree.  I pruned it heavily this last fall and maybe that's why I'm not seeing any fruit embyos yet.  

Last year it was in my top 5 for taste, but number one in beautiful eye appeal.

This is a great fig. SAS is definitely correct about it not being a mushy fig. It is a firm fig with nice, complex fruity flavor, and it is perfect for a dessert tart or something that needs a little more rigidity than most while still having the mature flavor of a ripe ( or over ripe) fig. It is definitely better than last year, and very productive.

Hey Bill ,Don,and SAS, I agree with all three. of ya'll, I love this Fig, so far, a great grower and the fruit is simply delicious!

Sas. That's a beautiful looking fig, enjoy it.
Vito

Good morning, Your posts have me really wanting this fig. I am in a cold part of zone 7, north of Raleigh NC, will it survive here. Thanks

i have Bordissot Negra. it is the same fig as Violette de Sollies, similar, or not the same? anyone has any insight please?

My tree stalled and lost a lot of wood this past winter I will post some photos soon. It appears that when I transfer a tree to in ground different things start to happen.
In TX, I now expect that most of the old wood might be lost no matter how tall the newly planted fig tree is. In fact the larger the tree is, the more prone to winter damage it is.
I'm totally convinced that, the secret is in the roots and not the size of tree and unless those roots get established, the tree will never really take off. This is taking much longer than I expected.

For my zone, one of my very best dark fig is Bellone.

I was looking for a VdS, but never found one. I ended getting some Noire de Barbentane cuttings and grafted them unto my trees. Eventually I'll air layer off a stand alone plant. Supposed to be similar but earlier ripening. Looking at posts here, they do look a lot alike. Think I will stick to
Noire de Barbentane for now.