LSU Purple Fig

LSU Purple is the first commercial release from the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s fig breeding program, released in 1991 after the AgCenter revived O’Rourke’s archived selections in the late 1980s. The documented parentage is Hunt x C1: Hunt is a Georgia-origin cultivar used as the female parent, and C1 designates a California caprifig obtained from the University of California, Riverside around 1950, which served as the male parent. The cross was made during Ed O’Rourke’s tenure in the 1950s; the individual selection was evaluated under test designations before being released under the variety name. O’Rourke established the program with the explicit goal of developing cultivars suited to Gulf South conditions — specifically targeting closed-ostiole fruit architecture to reduce souring losses in rainy weather, and foliage disease resistance to combat the fig rust that defoliates many traditional cultivars by midsummer in Louisiana. LSU Purple met both objectives. It carries no plant patent and is freely propagable from cuttings, consistent with the AgCenter’s public-service release policy.

Plant LSU Purple in full sun “ at least 8 hours of direct sun daily (8–10 preferred for best fruiting) “ on well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Figs decline quickly in waterlogged ground; raised beds or bermed sites prevent root suffocation during heavy rainfall. Space trees 10–15 feet apart to allow air movement through the canopy, which matters for managing rust and blight pressure in humid summers.

This variety performs best in climates with long, warm summers. In transitional or marginal temperate climates it is marginal without protection: plant against a south- or west-facing masonry wall to capture reflected heat, and mulch the root zone heavily before winter to protect the crown. Where hard freezes below 10°F are common, container culture in a large pot “ moved to a cool garage during freezing weather “ is a reliable way to grow this variety north of its comfort zone. Prune lightly after the main harvest; heavy pruning removes the second-year wood that carries the breba crop.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7-10
AHS Heat Zone: 7-10
Chill Hours: 150-350
Sun Requirements: Full Sun (8+ hours daily for best fruiting)
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Soil Type: Well-drained loam with organic matter; tolerates sandy and rocky soils if nematode-free
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium (1-1.5 inches per week during fruit development; established trees tolerate brief drought)
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerance: High
Plant Spacing: 10-20 ft apart
Container Suitability: Yes
How to Prune: Prune in late winter or early spring while dormant; remove dead or broken branches and open the canopy for air circulation

LSU Purple grows as a multi-stemmed shrub or small tree, typically reaching 10–15 feet tall under standard garden conditions. The growth habit is upright-spreading with moderately dense foliage — large, deeply lobed leaves that cast useful shade once the tree matures. Left unpruned, trees fill a generous footprint; where space is limited, annual thinning of crossing branches keeps the canopy open without sacrificing production.

The variety is well-suited to container culture, which makes it practical in patios, courtyard gardens, and climates where winter protection is needed. In a large container, growth rate slows naturally, keeping the tree manageable. The dense foliage and vigorous spring flush make LSU Purple an attractive landscape plant even before the first fruit appears — fruiting commonly begins in the first or second year from a rooted cutting, which is unusually fast for a tree fruit.

Mature Height: 10-15 ft tall
Mature Spread: 10-15 ft wide
Growth Habit: Vigorous upright grower
Growth Rate: Moderate
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Sub-canopy
Permaculture Role: Edible fruit producer; wildlife food (birds, mammals); deciduous shade in summer; suckers freely (manage for layering propagation)
Leaf Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Birds and small mammals (ripe fruit); bees and wasps visit ripe split fruit for sugars
Life Span: 50-100 years

LSU Purple is parthenocarpic, meaning each fruit develops without pollination or fertilization. No companion tree is needed, and the variety produces well whether grown in an isolated yard or an urban container. The closed ostiole — the small opening at the fruit tip — physically blocks insects from entering the developing fig, which is one reason this variety resists fig souring so effectively.

The bearing pattern runs from early spring through late fall in warm climates: a light breba crop on prior-season wood ripens in early spring, a heavy main crop follows in early summer (around early July in temperate climate), and a fall extension continues the harvest through late autumn. Warm, frost-free conditions through October allow growers in Zones 9–10 to harvest into December.

Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile (parthenocarpic common-type fig) — sets fruit without pollination; no pollinizer or fig wasp needed.
Pollination Mechanism: Parthenocarpic (common-type cultivars set fruit without pollination)
Flower Color: Not applicable — tiny flowers enclosed inside the syconium, not externally visible
Ploidy: Diploid (2n=2x=26)

The fruit is medium-sized, running 1–2 inches in diameter, with dark purple to near-black skin and sweet, richly colored red flesh inside. Flavor improves noticeably as the tree matures — young trees produce acceptable fruit, but established trees several years old deliver notably sweeter, more complex flavor in good years. The sugar concentration increases during warm, dry ripening periods, so growers in humid climates can expect more variability than those in drier summer regions.

Fresh eating is where LSU Purple shines: picked fully ripe at color change from purple to near-black, the fruit has soft, jammy flesh and a mild sweetness. The fruit also dries well and makes a smooth preserve. The closed ostiole keeps the fruit clean through ripening, reducing the insect-related souring that can ruin an open-eye variety during warm, wet summers.

Ripening Season: Very Late
Harvest Window: Early Jul - Mid Dec
Fruit Size: 1-2 inch
Flavor: Variable (flavor improves on older trees)
Fruit Color: Dark purple; medium-size
Fruit Texture: Soft, juicy flesh
Fruit Skin: Thin, soft, glossy deep purple to burgundy skin; closed eye (ostiole sealed)
Bearing Habit: Breba (light, early spring) + main (heavy, early July) + fall extension (to December)
Years to Bear: 1-2 years
Storage Life: 5-7 days refrigerated; 1-2 days at room temperature
Culinary Uses: Fresh; Drying; Preserves

LSU Purple carries its strongest resistance advantage against Fig Rust (Cerotelium fici), the defoliating fungal disease that devastates standard varieties in humid summer climates. LSU AgCenter trials consistently rated it resistant, and the practical outcome is that trees stay in leaf and productive when nearby open-eye varieties lose foliage by August. Maintain air circulation by thinning crossing branches annually — rust spores spread fastest in stagnant, humid canopies.

The closed ostiole gives LSU Purple meaningful resistance to Fig Souring (yeast/bacterial complex), which typically enters through the open fruit tip. Under the same humid-summer conditions where souring ruins 20–30 percent of an open-eye harvest, LSU Purple loses very little crop to this problem.

Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) resistance is moderately resistant per LSU AgCenter research — one of the few fig cultivars with documented nematode tolerance; well-drained, organically enriched soil supports root health regardless. For Fig Mosaic Virus (vectored by the fig mite Aceria ficus), source only certified or visually clean cutting material — there is no cure once infected. Dried Fruit Beetle, Granulate Ambrosia Beetle, African Fig Fly, and Spotted Wing Drosophila all pose risk near harvest; prompt collection of ripe and fallen fruit removes the substrate these insects require.

Root-Knot Nematode: Moderately Resistant
Fig Rust: Resistant
Fig Leaf Blight: Moderately Susceptible
Fig Mosaic Virus: Susceptible
Fig Souring: Resistant
Dried Fruit Beetle: Very Resistant
Granulate Ambrosia Beetle: Moderately Susceptible
African Fig Fly: Very Resistant
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Moderately Resistant

• South-facing wall siting: Plant against a south- or west-facing masonry wall and mulch the root zone deeply before winter; the reflected heat and root insulation protect the tree through cold winters in the northern end of its range.
• Container growing: A 25–30 gallon pot with well-drained mix works well; move the container to a cool, frost-free garage or shed once nighttime temperatures drop below 28°F to protect the crown.
• Maximize flavor: Avoid overhead irrigation during ripening — dry conditions in the final two weeks before harvest concentrate sugars and intensify flavor, especially in the main summer crop.
• Harvest timing: Figs do not continue to ripen after picking. Wait until skin color shifts to dark purple-black and the fruit feels slightly soft at the neck before harvesting.
• Pest prevention: Collect and remove fallen or overripe fruit promptly — fallen figs are the primary attractant for Dried Fruit Beetle, African Fig Fly, and Spotted Wing Drosophila. A clean orchard floor cuts pressure significantly. Source trees from clean-plant stock to limit Fig Mosaic Virus.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital