Fig Synonyms | What is a Synonym & A List of Types or Categories and their many names
- Ross the Fig BOSS
- Dec 20, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 19, 2024
What is a Fig Tree Synonym?
In the fruit world, synonyms are different names for genetically identical varieties. Due to widespread popularity, irresponsible hobbyist naming practices, and a lack of knowledge about fig trees, a fig variety called Hardy Chicago has amassed over 100 synonyms: Bensonhurst Purple, Bethlehem Black, & Malta Black are a few you might have heard of.
Below is a video comparison of several Hardy Chicago figs with different names.
And it’s not just Hardy Chicago. There are 10, 20, or more synonyms for figs like White Marseilles, Longue d’Aout, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, and other popular fig varieties.
This is why learning about fig varieties can be challenging for beginners. Therefore, I decided to categorize varieties into specific "types" or "categories” whether or not they were exact synonyms. Maybe they were just very similar. This helped me sort through the confusion and decide which figs to add to my collection and how to avoid growing duplicates of the same variety.
The List of Fig Variety Synonyms:
Below, I've listed the most popular fig varieties and their common synonyms. Every fig grower should learn these. With thousands of fig varieties and their synonyms, it can be overwhelming. If a variety isn't common and not on this list, it's probably not worth learning right now. This is a great starting point:
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Hardy Chicago
Abba
Abington Unknown
Abou George
Abruzzi
Angelo's Dark
Antonelli
Azores Dark
Bari
Bensonhurt Purple
Bifere
Bisirri #3
Bisirri Dark #2
Black Bethlehem
Black Greek
Black Portugal
Brockton Greek
Bryant Dark
Ciccio Fico Nero
Colasanti Dark
Conde
Crozes
Danny's Delight
Dark Portugeuse
Dominick's Black
Don Fortissi Black
Enola Italian #1
Gino's Black
Ginoso
Hardy Chicago
Hardy Hartford
Hardy Pittsburgh
Italian Purple Red
Jersey Fig
Joe's Jersey
Keddie
Kesariani
Kesariani
Letizia
Macool
Malta Black
Marseilles Black VS
Martini
Maryland Berry
Mavra Sika
Mavra Sika
Mead
Natalina
Navid's Unk Dark Greek
NJ Red
Norella
Panana's Purple
Papa John
Pop's Purple
Red Lebanese (Bekaa)
Rossi Dark
Salem Dark
Sals EL/Gene
San Donato di Ninea
Sangue Dolce
Sao Miguel Roxo
Sicilian Dark (GM #11)
Spanish Black
St. Rita
Sunfire
Takoma Violet
Unk Attilio Purple
Unk Lyon France
Unk Nola Dark
Unknown Owensboro
Valoze
Vibo Valencia
Zingarella
Barran
Cardeal
Savanac Noire
Luisa's Fig
Michael Grace Mystery Fig
Dalmatie
Stella
Makedonian White
San Pietro
Staten Island Bomb
Vasilika Sika (BC)
White Greek
Leon's Montenegro
Gayet
Marot
Henderson Green
Hivernenca
De La Senyora (Hivernenca)
Coll de Dama Cuitat
Moro de Bou
Bergunya
Labritja
Ouriola
Verdal Longue
Can Planetes
Montanha Verde
Chetouia
Cendrosa
Lampeira 1
Figo Moro da Caneva
Nerino
Fico Secco (PB)
Szivarfuge
Violette de Bordeaux
Beer's Black
Little Miss Figgy
Negronne
Nero 600m
Petite Aubique
Petite Negri
Valle Calda
Valle Negra
Vista
Unk Negretta (Marius)
Ischia Black (RW)
Black Provence
7th Street Unk
Vallecalda di Borgofornari
Ischia Black (Arboreum)
Picolla Negretta
Malone
Ischia Black (Porq)
Black Mission
Abeberiera
Abicou
Albacor
Azul azul
Bebera Preta
Bolzano Nero
Carne Don Celia
Colar d'Albatera
Corvo
De La Reina
Deos Negra
Dr. Monticello
Fico Niedda
Hatfield Unk
Italian Black
Kathleen's Black
Malta Mission
Maltese Falcon
Melanzana Calabrese
Napolitana Negra
Noire de Caromb
Perkounis (BC #100)
Piombinese
Unk Burbank & Vineland
Unk Italian AS
English Brown Turkey
Bayernfeige Violeta
Calliope's Red Greek
Emma
Feng Chan Huang
Gene's Vashon
LaRadek's BT
Nexoe/Bornholm
Olympian
Sodus Sicilian
Sweet George
Unk Carini
Valliery
Cosenza
Chiappetta
Fehmarn
Morena
St. Peters (JFE)
Sunbird Unk
Dotatto
Kadota
Banana
Pingo de Mel
Excel
Moscatel Branco
Peter's Honey
White Texas Everbearing
Gota De Mel
Corynth
Bourjassotte Noire
Bordissot Negra
Bracajote
Brogiotto Nero Fiorentino
Parisienne
Violette de Sollies
Bordissot Negra Rimada
Noire De Barbentane
Bordissot Negra de Coll Llarg
Ham Ram
Negrette de Porquerolles
Black Madeira
Violetta (Lampo)
Black Tuscan
Cravin's Craving
Figo Preto
Madeira Island Black
Pota de Cavall
Black Portuguese (BC)
Atreano
Conadria
Lattarola
Lyndhurst White
Troiano Calabrese
Unk Mittica
White Triana
Yellow Lebanese
Persian White (Bass)
Montenegro (Marius)
Napolitana Blanca
Qalaat al Madiq
Sicilian White (BC)
Sefrawi
Dr. Gowaty
Emerald Strawberry
Qudssaya
Naples White
Brooklyn White
Sister Madeline's Yellow
Unk Blackberry
Sweet Mashinka Unk
Celeste
Egyptian Pharaoh
Improved Celeste
Tennessee Mountain
LSU O'Rourke
Fred's Celeste
Stallion
Malta (Durio)
Patrick's Super Giant (Bill)
Sweet Diana
The One
Sturch's
Seven Lakes Unk
Violette de Marseilles
Santa Margherita
Noah
Texas Peach
Celeste (Fruitwood) Celeste (Becnel)
Slidell Black
Celeste (EL)
Blue Celeste
White Marseilles
Blanche
Byadi
Italian Honey
Marseilles
Oregon Prolific
St. Anthony
Lattarula
White Ischia
LSU Hollier (JFE)
Longue d'Aout
Cucumber
Melanzana Merdoscola
Nordland
Niagara Black
Nitra
Lungo Di Portugallo
Perretta
Grigio
Pelligrino
Italian Everbearing "Sport" (BC)
Adriatic
Battaglia Green
Calverte
Green Ischia
Green Michurinska
Harry's Crete
JH Adriatic
Proscuitto Unk
Rockaway Green
Sister Madeline's Green Greek
Strawberry
Strawberry Verte
Texas Strawberry
Unknown Lake Spur
Vasilika Sika (VS)
Ventura
Verte
Fico Gentile (European Version)
Mercedes Gem
Verdino del Nord (Tatiana)
Anconetana
White Madeira #1
Paradiso Bronze (VS)
Verdino (Giacomo)
Verdino (Toscano)
Blanche de Deux Saison
Gros Monstreuse di Lipari
California Brown Turkey
Black Jack
Black Spanish
Greek Isle
Improved Brown Turkey
Kure Beach Unk
LSU Thibodeaux
Rei
Rob's Genovese Nero
Texas Blue Giant
Fico Nera Duemane (BC)
Morocco Alter 23
Xinesa (MP)
Brunswick
Calabrese Long
Doree
Goutte D'or
Khurtmani
Magnolia
Rattlesnake Island
Red Israel
Fico Zana (BC)
Capelas
Grise de St. Jean
D'en Manel
Loretta
Cateto
LSU Hollier
Unk Spain
Nebo
Teramo
Brown Sugar Crunch
Brandon St. Unk
LSU Scott's Black
JFE's Black Madeira Not
Coll de Dama Grise (VS)
Yellow Long Neck
Golden Rainbow
Long Yellow
Smith
Cessac
Texas BA-1
Verdino del Nord (VR)
Figoin
Zigalino
Figalino
Verdal (Ibiza)
Verdolino
Salame
Noire de Bellone
Barnissotte (USDA)
Coll de Dama
Coll de Dama Blanc
Coll de Dama Noire
Coll de Dama Grise
Coll de Dama Roja
Coll de Dama Gegantina
Sarda
Coll de Dama Mutante
Coll de Dama Rimada
Joualle Noire
Molla Vermella
Beat Ramon
Bourjassotte Grise
Violet Sepor
Socorro Black
Socorro Green
Calderona
Bass' Favorite Fig
Constans
Aunan
Las Carreteres
La Croix Blanche
Eaubonne
Sucrette
Cul Noir
Black Celeste
Marion
Now that you’re aware of many fig tree synonyms, you should be better informed and prepared to make good decisions when selecting a new fig variety to grow. But what if you wanted to name your fig variety? Maybe you found a new variety, maybe it’s a seedling or a tree that your family has been growing for generations.
Here are some tips and general rules to avoid adding to the confusion:
Naming a Fig Variety
First and foremost, you need to understand whether or not your fig is unique. Ask yourself these questions:
Is your fig variety unique?
If your fig variety is not unique, can it be identified, does it have any synonyms, and what observable differences can be seen to merit a new name?
Here are some examples:
Seedlings:
1. If you plant a seed, it is acceptable to name your new fig variety whatever you please. Seedlings are genetically unique and will not have any synonyms. By hand pollinating your female fig with the pollen of a male fig of your choosing, you could also potentially prove that the seedling is your intellectual property.
2. If you find a seedling in the wild, it is also acceptable to name the tree whatever you please. Again, it's a seedling and when we plant seeds or when birds plant seeds, they are genetically different than any other variety.
However, I would suggest taking a photo of the tree to get more opinions on whether or not it is indeed a seedling. Sometimes trees are planted and a trained eye can usually tell the difference. Honesty is the best policy and if you present detailed information to other fig growers about the seedling you've found, serious fig hobbyists will have no problem accepting your seedling and the name you've given it.
Planted Trees:
If you find a planted tree, try to identify it first. Find out from the owner where it comes from. Was it purchased from a nursery? Is it from some other country? What’s the history of this tree?
If it's from a nursery, identify it (that shouldn't be difficult) and keep the original name the nursery gave it. If it's from another country and it cannot be identified, feel free to name it whatever you please. If it can be identified, and it's not from a nursery, you should proceed carefully with a new name. There’s a fine line.
Your reputation as a fig grower can be tarnished. After repeated offenses, other growers will start to believe that you’re causing too many issues for new fig growers (adding to the confusion) or you’re naming fig varieties to promote hype around your variety.
The politics of fig trees is crazy.
These days, I think it's fine to name a fig variety whatever you like, but you should do your research first. Remember that new fig growers will need to learn the name you choose. Make it easy by picking a name related to its origin or appearance. For example, avoid naming another Hardy Chicago unless it's truly unique. Instead, consider adding a moniker, like "Fred's Celeste," to indicate the source and reduce confusion.
Here’s why:
Not every fig synonym is identical and we have no way of knowing if they are or are not identical.
Well… that’s not exactly true. Yes, genetic testing fig varieties is an option, but that’s expensive.
There’s also the concern of accuracy. From my understanding, genetic testing doesn’t describe epigenetic differences, a credible theory of why synonyms may appear different.
What is Epigenetics in Fig Trees?
Like identical twins, figs with the same genetics can show differences due to epigenetics. Epigenetics is like a light dimmer or switch for genes, influenced by environment, habits, and lifestyle. This means genes can be turned on, off, or somewhere in between. Identical twins, for example, may develop differently if raised in separate environments, or even show some differences if raised together, due to these subtle genetic changes.
Another credible theory as to why synonyms may appear different is mutation. Will a mutated fig variety show a different genetic code than the original variety it mutated from? I believe so, but I’m not a geneticist.
How Can Figs Mutate?
Branches and even single buds on fig trees can mutate into something called a chimera.
Chimeras occur when a cell mutates, either spontaneously or due to irradiation or chemical treatment. If this mutation happens near the top of the growing point, all new cells from that point will carry the mutation. Simply propagate and stabilize the mutated plant material and you have what should be considered a whole new fig variety.
Below you'll find a video of Barbillone: a black-skinned mutation of White Marseilles. The mutation turned the skin dark!
Trialing & Testing Fig Varieties
Mutations and epigenetic changes in fig trees are important, fun, and interesting, and those theories may not be the answer to the observable differences growers may see when comparing synonyms.
However, it's worthwhile to trial fig varieties that are genetically or observably similar. At the time of writing it’s 2024, and I am testing 15 different Celeste figs to compare their traits side by side, and to date, I’ve also tested well over 30 Hardy Chicago varieties for comparison purposes.
