Purchasing a Fig Tree? How to Avoid Scams, Noise, and Hype to Ensure a Successful Harvest

The fig-growing hobby is fueled by passion, but that same passion often creates "noise"—misinformation and hype that obscure horticultural truth. To save time, money, and effort, it's wise to look past social media trends and focus on what actually performs in the dirt.

This guide identifies the most common pitfalls, deciphers the "synonym problem," and teaches you how to prioritize reliability over hype so you can harvest high-quality fruit, not just a label.

Popularity Does Not Equal Quality

The popularity of the Brown Turkey fig is the perfect example of "market noise" overriding horticultural quality. According to Google keyword data, Brown Turkey is searched 10 times more frequently than superior varieties like Violette de Bordeaux or Celeste.

This 10x search volume doesn't mean it’s 10 times better; it simply means it has 10 times more market saturation. Because it is the "default" tree sold in big-box nurseries across the US, it remains the most famous—even though it is often the worst choice for a home grower.

Check out the variety directory to find the right fig variety for you.

The Four Faces of "Brown Turkey"

The confusion goes deeper than just popularity. Because the name sells so well, nurseries have spent years rebranding other varieties as "Brown Turkey." If you buy one today, you are likely getting one of four distinct varieties:

• California Brown Turkey (aka Black Jack / Texas Blue Giant): This is the "true" version. It was bred for commercial growers because the fruit is large and handles shipping well. However, for the home gardener, its eating experience is inferior to hundreds of other options.

• English Brown Turkey (aka Olympian): Frequently sold as Brown Turkey in Europe and the US. While it is prized for its cold hardiness and prolific breba (early summer) crop, it is inferior in every way when compared to other varieties.

• Southern Brown Turkey: This is a rebranding of the Hardy Chicago type. It is the gold standard for growers in colder zones (6 and 7).

• Celeste: The legendary "sugar fig" of the South and Mid-Atlantic. It is exceptionally well-suited for humid climates. Because there is a severe lack of knowledge of fig varieties, and Celeste has brown skin, it is constantly mislabeled as Brown Turkey by nurseries.

The Takeaway for Hobbyists

When a grower says they "love their Brown Turkey," they often don't realize they are actually growing a Celeste or a Hardy Chicago. These last two are world-class varieties suited for a variety of climates. Meanwhile, the Californian and English versions—the ones most people think of as Brown Turkey—are almost always inferior in taste and performance.

Lesson one for any new grower: The most famous fig is rarely the best. To build a truly rewarding orchard, you must look past the labels found in big-box stores.

The Speculation Trap

Many serious fig hobbyists treat varieties like "penny stocks," paying thousands for unproven varieties. High prices are usually driven by perceived rarity and a "pump-and-dump" mentality, not fruit quality.

Here is a list of some of the most expensive varieties of the last 5 years:

Variety Name (Deleted Duplicate Sales)	Sale Price	My Thoughts
Angelito (7g pot)	$2,550.00	Was an unproven seedling from California
Cessac Fig Tree	$2,482.00	It's nearly identical to Smith
Aunan (Thierry) (5 gallon)	$2,025.00	Constans is a synonym that I've sold for much less.
NV1 Fig Tree	$1,580.50	An Adriatic fig
Sicilian 33 / Sicily 33 (5 gallon)	$1,325.00
Santa Claus Lane (SCL) (5 gallon)	$1,225.00	Was an unproven seedling from California
BVR Fig Tree	$1,180.00
NV6 Fig Tree	$1,145.00
Boysenberry Blush (Air Layer)	$1,025.00	Was an unproven seedling from California
Rigato del Salento PB	$1,025.00	A Kadota fig with stripes
Cipolla Fig Tree	$1,025.00	This is a bigger and wider Black Madeira
Kobu-Bashi	$1,000.00	No images on the listing
Tripoli Black	$1,000.00	No images on the listing
Ficus Palmata “Iraqi”	$888.00	Iraqi turned out to be one of the worst-tasting figs I've ever grown
White Baca (Cutting)	$853.00	Some suspect it's a synonym for Yellow Neches
Kuromitsu Fig Tree (1 gallon)	$811.00	The Japanese market is affecting prices
Cosme Manyo MP	$770.00	Supply & demand
Moro di Caneva	$769.97	I've sold this variety for way less
Balafi (MP) (6 year old tree)	$760.95	Supply & demand
Nerucciolo d'Elba (Dormant tree)	$760.95	I've sold this variety for way less
KTJ Fig Tree	$715.00	KTJ could be a synonym for Flanders
LUSSHEIM	$710.00	Some photos I've seen match Brunswick
Sacred Origin's Strawberry Cheesecake	$710.00	Was an unproven seedling from California
Montanha Verde Fig Tree	$696.00	Synonym for Hivernenca

So how does a fig variety reach such high prices?

Trust me, it's rarely about the variety's qualities. In fact, when they fetched high prices, very little was actually known about these varieties.

It's about:

1. Supply and demand (perceived rarity)

2. Pump and dump mentality (human nature)

3. A lack of due diligence and the ability to identify synonyms (knowledge)

4. Misleading actors in public fig-growing communities (greed, manipulation, & herd mentality)

To make matters worse, many of the high-priced "novelty" varieties are actually just synonyms of far more affordable varieties. Synonyms are genetically identical trees masquerading under different labels. A classic example is Hardy Chicago, which circulates the market under more than 100 different aliases.

The Synonym Problem

Because fig hobbyists have ungoverned and irresponsible naming practices, a single variety can accumulate dozens, or even hundreds, of regional names. This creates a massive amount of "naming noise" for the modern hobbyist.

For instance, you might pay a premium for a Bensonhurst Purple or a Malta Black, only to realize they are the exact same tree as the Hardy Chicago already in your backyard. Without due diligence, you risk wasting both money and limited orchard space on duplicates.

To combat this, I have grouped varieties that are genetically identical or nearly indistinguishable to maintain a lean, high-quality collection.

Reliability Over "Peak" Taste

In the fig world, "best tasting" is a moving target. The best fig is simply the one that reaches full ripeness.

Since most US growers lack Mediterranean climates, you should prioritize reliability over a "10/10" flavor profile that only occurs in perfect weather conditions. Rain can turn a variety like Kadota into mush, and premature harvesting—a common beginner mistake—will make even the best variety taste like cardboard.

You might be surprised to hear that after eating my first home-grown Kadota figs, I didn’t enjoy them.

Instead, prioritize the following:

• Consistency: Does it produce high-quality fruit every year? What's the variety's track record?

• Timing: Does it ripen within your specific growing window? Some varieties are simply too late to ripen for growers with short growing seasons.

• Resilience: Can it handle the humidity and rain of your region?

As I always say, the best-tasting fig is the variety that's the most ripe, the most consistently.

Hype vs. Promotion

After growers fall victim to any of these traps, they're often traumatized. Any varietal promotion whatsoever is immediately pegged as hype. Yet, an endorsement backed by transparency and proper evaluation can be extremely valuable.

I have spent years advocating for once-obscure or not-so-popular varieties that have now become staples for serious fig growers:

• Smith & Nerucciolo d’Elba

• Verdino del Nord (VR) & Moro de Caneva

• Campaniere & Teramo

• Black Celeste & Vagabond

• Hative d’Argenteuil & Hivernenca

Who to Trust

Take it from someone who's published 1000s of fig-related videos on YouTube: anyone can make a video and share their opinion. Most videos, forum posts, and social media musings are just noise.

Social media algorithms reward excitement, not accuracy. Look to experts like Condit, Pierre Baud, or Monserrat Pons, who documented their findings in text. Writing forces a level of accountability that video doesn't.

Seek out "blue-chip," not "penny stock" varieties with staying power—like Smith, Celeste, or the Coll de Damas—which have earned their prestige through years of transparent evaluation.

This is largely why I created this blog and published a guide to help make choosing a fig variety easy. Check it out below!

This stylish and substantive 15-page booklet, available in PDF format, makes it easy to choose a fig variety. You will find concise, specific recommendations tailored to your location, while also teaching new growers and even experts what to look for in other fig varieties, so that you can “fig-ure” out the right fig variety for you.

Sourcing Fig Trees

Here is how to source your trees without getting burned:

• The FigBoss Shop: I offer trees and cuttings for most of the varieties I recommend. You can find them here.

• Trust the Experts: If buying elsewhere, look for established collectors who take the time to provide transparency.  The seller should have a deep understanding of each variety they’re selling, with clear photos of the fruits, proving they have the correct variety.

• Avoid local nurseries, as they rarely understand the nuances of specific fig varieties. After all, would you buy a car from a salesperson who doesn’t know anything about the models they’re selling?

• Avoid the "Big Three": Steer clear of eBay, Etsy, and Amazon. These sites are notorious for scammers selling "mystery" figs under famous names.

• Look Next Door: Some of the best-performing trees are already in your neighborhood. Neighbors are often happy to share cuttings or root divisions, allowing you to "try before you buy."