Olympian Fig

Olympian is a Pacific Northwest heirloom fig discovered by retired environmental biologist Denny McGaughy, who received cuttings from a century-old tree growing in Olympia, Washington. McGaughy introduced the variety commercially in 2014 after working with USDA geneticist Malli Aradhya at the National Clonal Germplasm Repository at UC Davis to conduct DNA testing against more than 200 accessions in the federal collection. The tests did not match Olympian to any known cultivar in the repository, indicating it is a genetically distinct selection, though one pomological source has suggested its profile aligns with English Brown Turkey (historically known as Lee’s Perpetual, documented in England around 1843 and likely of Italian origin). The variety carries no plant patent and no recorded hybrid parentage; it was preserved through informal cultivation in western Washington rather than through a formal breeding program. Its name reflects the city where the source tree was found. The USDA’s confirmation of its distinctiveness from known accessions has made it a collector reference point for Pacific Northwest fig enthusiasts seeking documented cold-climate performance.

Plant Olympian Fig in full sun — at least eight hours daily — in well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Space plants 10–20 feet apart to allow the wide, spreading canopy room to mature. Figs are drought-tolerant once established but produce larger, sweeter fruit with consistent moisture during fruit swell; deep, infrequent watering outperforms light daily irrigation. Feed lightly with a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring; excessive nitrogen favors foliage over fruit. In colder climates and at the cooler margins of the hardiness range, protect the root zone with a thick mulch layer and consider wrapping the main trunk during the coldest weeks. Container culture is practical for gardeners who want to overwinter the plant in an unheated garage or basement, which reliably extends range beyond zone 6 without elaborate winter protection. Prune in late winter before bud break to remove dead wood and open the canopy for airflow.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6-10
AHS Heat Zone: 3-9
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; thrives in 8-10 gallon containers; can be moved indoors in colder zones

Olympian grows as a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub or small tree reaching 8–12 feet tall and spreading up to 15 feet wide. The growth habit is open and arching — characteristic of many Pacific Northwest selections — and the broad canopy fills in quickly once the plant is established. Large, deeply lobed fig leaves provide bold texture and dense shade beneath the canopy. Chill hours are estimated at 200–400, making the variety adaptable to a range of winter climates: mild coastal winters satisfy its requirement without difficulty, and most temperate continental climates accumulate enough chill even in warmer winters. The root system can be aggressive near hardscape, so site the plant at least ten feet from foundations, walks, and irrigation lines. Like all common-type figs, Olympian bears fruit parthenocarpically — ovary tissue develops into mature fruit without fertilization — so no pollinator tree is required.

Mature Height: 8-12 ft tall
Mature Spread: 15 ft wide
Growth Habit: Multi-stemmed spreading shrub or small tree; bushy, fully branched to the ground
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

Olympian is a common-type, parthenocarpic fig: it develops fruit entirely through internal plant processes, with no pollen transfer, no companion variety, and no fig wasp required. The "flowers" of a fig are enclosed inside the developing fruit body (syconium), so nothing resembling a conventional bloom is visible. Bees and other pollinators are welcome in the garden and will forage on nearby plants, but they play no role in fig fruit set. Olympian produces a single main crop per season, with harvest running mid-August through mid-September in a temperate climate. Gardeners who have grown varieties requiring a caprification wasp will find Olympian considerably simpler to manage — plant it and expect fruit from the first productive season onward.

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)

Olympian produces notably large fruit "” 2.5–3 inches across "” with violet to purplish-brown skin and vivid red interior flesh. The texture is juicy and melting, and the flavor is very sweet with distinct honey and berry notes that intensify as the fruit reaches full ripeness. The large, open eye makes the variety very susceptible to fig souring, dried fruit beetle, and African fig fly, so harvest timing is critical: pick as soon as the neck softens and the skin begins to wrinkle slightly at the base, and remove any split, overripe, or dropped fruit from the ground immediately to reduce pest pressure. Ripe Olympian figs are excellent eaten fresh and work equally well in preserves, baked goods, and savory preparations. Dry or dehydrate at peak ripeness to concentrate the natural sugars.

Ripening Season: Late
Harvest Window: Mid Aug - Mid Sep
Fruit Size: 2.5-3 inch
Flavor: Very sweet and rich with honey and berry notes
Fruit Color: Violet to purplish-brown skin; vivid red flesh
Fruit Texture: Juicy and melting
Fruit Skin: Thin, tender purple skin
Bearing Habit: Bifera (two crops annually): breba crop on prior-year wood, main crop on current-season growth
Years to Bear: 1-3 years
Storage Life: 5-7 days refrigerated; 1-2 days at room temperature
Culinary Uses: Fresh; Drying; Preserves; Baking

Olympian's large, open eye makes the variety very susceptible to fig souring (the yeast-and-bacterial complex that ferments fruit from the inside out), the dried fruit beetle (Carpophilus hemipterus), and the African fig fly (Zaprionus indianus); all three gain direct access through the exposed ostiole. The practical defense is consistent, prompt harvesting "” pick as soon as fruit softens and bends at the neck, clear dropped and overripe figs from the ground daily, and maintain clean orchard-floor sanitation throughout the ripening window. Against fig rust (Cerotelium fici) and fig leaf blight (Pellicularia koleroga), Olympian shows moderate susceptibility; good airflow through the canopy, avoiding overhead irrigation, and removing infected foliage promptly reduce pressure from both pathogens. The variety is susceptible to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) and fig mosaic virus "” plant in nematode-free soil or raised beds where soil history is known, and source cuttings only from certified, virus-tested material. Spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) readily infests damaged or overripe fruit; harvest at peak ripeness and remove dropped figs to reduce adult populations. The granulate ambrosia beetle (Xylosandrus crassiusculus) targets stressed wood; maintaining plant vigor through consistent water and organic fertility is the primary cultural defense.

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

• Harvest at neck-soften: Olympian is ready to pick when the neck softens and bends slightly under light pressure — waiting for full purple color without checking the neck risks splitting fruit during rain events.
• Nematode prevention beats cure: Root-knot nematodes are nearly impossible to eliminate once established; planting into raised beds with compost-heavy mix, or into a site with no prior Solanaceae or fig history, avoids the problem entirely.
• Mulch deep in cold climates: A 6–8 inch layer of straw or wood chips over the root zone acts as a thermal buffer during hard freezes; pair with a burlap wrap around the main trunk for winters that dip below 0°F.
• Limit nitrogen after mid-summer: High nitrogen late in the season pushes vegetative growth at the expense of fruit ripening and reduces cold-hardiness heading into winter — switch to a low-nitrogen organic top-dress after July.
• Container overwintering extends range: Growing Olympian in a 25–30 gallon container and moving it to an unheated but frost-free space in November is reliable for growers at the cold edge of its range. Source clean-plant stock to limit Fig Mosaic Virus exposure. Keep the orchard floor clean during ripening to reduce Dried Fruit Beetle, African Fig Fly, and Fig Souring pressure.

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