Description
LSU Purple Fig Facts
- USDA Zones: 7–10 (Cold hardy to 15°F)
- Mature Size: 8–10 ft. tall and wide (unpruned)
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun (6+ hours)
- Harvest Season: Early Summer (Main crop) & Late Fall
- Growth Habit: Vigorous, upright, bush-like; suitable for containers.
- Fruit Profile: Dark purple glossy skin; sweet strawberry-red flesh.
- Special Features: Self-fertile, high disease resistance, closed eye (resists rot).
Originating from the Louisiana State University breeding program, the LSU Purple was engineered specifically to solve common humidity-related gardening challenges. Unlike many heritage figs, this variety features exceptional resistance to foliar diseases like fig rust and leaf spot. Crucially, the fruit possesses a “closed eye” the tight opening at the base of the fig, which prevents moisture and insects from entering, significantly reducing the risk of spoilage or souring on the branch.
Gardeners value this variety for its precocious nature; it is known to bear fruit earlier than most figs, often within one to two years of planting. In optimal warm climates, it is capable of producing three distinct harvests: a light “breba” crop on old wood in spring, a heavy main crop in summer, and a smaller late crop in autumn. Its adaptability allows it to thrive in the ground as a large shrub or be maintained as a compact, productive specimen in containers.
