Stands out in a crowd.

that's nice red stem/branch, red bud also? what is it hybrid of? any fruits so far, or is it really new? i didn't see it on UCD list.. is it something you discovered?

pete

Yes, it does "Stand out in a crowd"!
I had one a while ago and I do remember
my wife asking me "what is that tree"?

Very vigorous with HUGE leaves. But
sadly, it never produced a single fig for me,
and since then, I did get rid of it.

Most likely it does require caprification?....

I have seen pictures of the fruit from California,
and it does look fabulous!

See Hybrid DFIC0023

Yes, it is from USDA / UC Davis,

that's a very good looking fig.. how did it taste?

pete

The more answers one gives;
the more questions one gets....

sorry about so many questions. the fig looks interesting.

pete

Actually Bass did taste this fig (from his web site):
http://www.treesofjoy.com/content/sampling-figs-uc-davis-fig-orchard

"Very attractive tree. Has a mulberry like leaves, with dark figs. Flavor is really good. May require pollination to produce figs based on growers experience in the North east."

gorgi,

thanks.

pete

Cool looking fig. The younger leaves and stems look as if they might be slightly pubescent.

Does anyone know the range or locations of the fig wasp in SoCalifornia? I've tried to find information but I've only seen reference to an area in the San Diego area (Vista) where there are some wild figs growing along streams, suspected pollinations, etc   

Very ornamental Jon.

It does stand out in a crowd.  The tree at UCD is very tall and was full of very ripe figs last year. See pics below.  There were figs all over the ground around the tree.  Most were sour by the time we got there.  Tasted like wine.  I love the leaf pattern.  Maybe this year we can taste some good ones.  Also, it oozes red honey from the eye when ripe and it produces a lot of figs!  Enjoy the pics!

I hope everyone is wrong that it needs the wasp, it looks like an excellent fig to have.

Yes this tree is the prettiest fig tree at UCdavis orchard. The leaves are light green and the dark fruit make it stand out. Taste is a a bit different than common figs more, Dennis described it as wine flavor. 

Even if it doesn't produce, it would make a beautiful ornamental.   Much nicer than the pyracantha I recently dug out.

Mine is about four ft tall now but not branching.
Which reminds me to start an air layer for Gene. I almost forgot.

Hopefully it doesn't need a wasp. That would be a heart breaker.

Jon, could you please take this gal and Vashon (or some other persisent caprifig) up to "lookout point" and let things take their natural course ; ) I would really like some of those seeds. I could grow hundreds and sell the undesirable fruiters as landscape plants.

Maybe I can pick up some seeds this summer.

That would be great. Hybrid seed is actually quite valuable, some tomatoes and sunflowers cost close to a dollar each when buying small packets.

I can send you some insect barrier if you have any trouble finding it.

That's good to know. I can price your seeds accordingly?

Well, it is less work for you than hand pollinating tomatoes, but these figs seeds are as rare as it gets, although demand seems to be fairly low. So I would be willing to pay up to $40 for one figs worth of seeds (could be thousands of seeds right?), provided the germ test is good and you are sure of the parentage in the cross.
Fig seeds could be even more dubious than cuttings, with the added time to fruition and everything. So I think it is worth it to pay a fair price for the peace of mind and get them from someone who is reliable.
I trade wooden bowls and spoons as well, they are nice, if you are interested...

I am interested in some of those seeds myself, it just sounds like you might be able to find something really great, with a lot of work but still it definitely seems worthwhile.

I should be able to snag some fruit when I visit USDA / UC Davis this summer. So those who are interested in seeds - e-mail me with "DFIC0023" in the subject line.

Cannot guarantee parentage, on the male side of the cross. Cannot guarantee pollination/germination, but should be able to send them for a lot less than $40.

Any idea of the probability of such a seed growing into a tree that does not need the fig wasp to produce and mature fruit?

Sorry, I thought you had a fruiting tree there. Ensuring parentage is pretty simple, it involves putting a sock made of insect barrier/row cover over the mother branch once main crop figs form to prevent unwanted pollination, and then adding ripening brebas from the selected male into the enclosure so the wasps can do their jobs. Do you think I could talk the nice folks at Davis into giving it a whirl? I will sew them some socks myself.

Jon,

This is the one you sent me. It is approx. 4ft tall.
The branches you see are all new growth. The rest of the tree is all bare stem.

That red color kinda reminds me of one of my plants just not as dramatic there beautiful. Except in mine the color wanes near end of season.

Martin,

If the one you are speaking of starts with an "N" then I have that too. LOL

Hoosier, UC Davis will do that for you (they have the "socks") for a fee (not known to me). They do research for the fig growers coop, etc, for a fee.

Rob, I have to assume so, if common, smyrna and san pedro types all have a common ancestor. I have common figs, here, and seedlings from them seem to be both common, smyrna, and possibly san pedro types. I seem to remember that the various types are somewhat distributed over the genetic tree that USDA / UC Davis developed.

The leaves remind me of a Portugese fig. Jon, have you had any luck growing fig from seed?

Thanks. I will look into that.

Yes, I have several seedlings picked from among the hundreds/thousands that come up voluntarily each year in my yard. Raspberry Latte and Encanto are 2 examples.

I read the post from Bass last year and added DFIC0023 to my UC Davis order last year and got 3 cuttings. 

Here is the link that shows they are available for distribution.
http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/acc/display.pl?1000850


Below are pictures of the cuttings that are just getting started but seem to do very well here in Texas.  It's pretty enough I don't care if it produces fruit or now but will keep everyone posted, as this one will be staying on our property providing shade for the tortoises (in a couple of years).

They're beautiful, Cathy.  Please keep us updated on their progress.

i might order it just for the ornamental purpose. the tree looks very attractive.

pete

By the photos, that fig looks beautiful in color.  It almost looks like it's dark blue/purple.  Is it?

noss

I ordered cuttings and stuck this in a 4x12 treepot about two years ago and finally decided to up pot it so that I can plant it out in my orchard in a couple of months. Mine doesn't have red growth on it but it's been in the shade house until taking this photo.

Here is the one I have. I got it it was labeled (wrong) as Adriatic. It gets loaded with figlets and then they dry up and fall off. 
  Mike


http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=16h52j8&s=6

Do not know if it needs caprification. Tree is utterly overloaded at USDA/UC Davis WEO orchard. My first batch of seeds had very low germination rate, which could indicate that it does not need caprification.

It is definately one huge tree at UCD.  So those growing this tree can expect one giant tree.  Jon, I think your Encanto fig is another excellent looking tree similar to this one, very different leaf pattern but excellent tasting fig.  Encanto figs looks like black figs on a fish hook hanging from a tree.  Ha!

Is this HAVA variety?

Hi I just started 7 little cutting from this tree , I may have extras  when ready. Rex