Smith Fig | Comprehensive Variety Review

Many people may not realize that thousands of fig varieties exist. Over the years, I have grown and trialed hundreds of these myself, investing significant time, effort, and money to better understand them—all for the benefit of fig enthusiasts like you.

I’ve created a series of blog posts featuring what I consider 'standard' fig varieties. While there are thousands of varieties in existence, classics like Smith are inexpensive, easy to find, and varieties you ought to know like the back of your hand. You can find my deep dives on other essential varieties in the directory here:

Growing Characteristics

• Origin: Croatia

• Categorization: Unifera

• Similar varieties: Texas BA-1

• Taste grouping: Elegant berry

• Texture: Jammy

• Size: Medium to Small

• Ripening period: Mid-season

• Rain resistance: High

• Spoilage resistance: High

• Shape: Urceolado / Pyriforme

• Hang time: Average

• Split resistance: Above average

• Growth habit: Erect/Upright

• Climate preference: Well-adapted

• Light requirements: High

• Productivity: Below average

• Hardiness: Low

• Taste rating: 4.7/5

History & Other Information

I've heard from a credible source that Smith originates from Croatia, eventually made its way to France, where the Becnel family had been growing it. They then brought it to the United States when they immigrated. Once in the US, they opened a nursery called "Becnel Nursery."

Over the years, they have been the main reason for Smith's immense popularity in the southern United States, comparable to well-known varieties like Celeste and Brown Turkey. However, Smith is far superior in eating quality; its strong, acidic, and exquisite berry flavor distinguishes it from most other fig varieties.

Related: The Celeste Fig - It's Traits, History & Variations

Varietal Traits

Smith is also known for its adaptability to various climates, particularly excelling in humid and short-season environments. It's highly resistant to rain, less prone to splitting despite its flat shape, and ripens early enough (August 15th in Philadelphia) to avoid most of the rainy fall weather.

Despite its many strengths, Smith has a noted limitation in hardiness, struggling with temperatures around 10-15°F. However, after experiencing the impressive hardiness of my Texas BA-1 tree (to at least 5°F or zone 7B), I believe Smith may not have inferior hardiness as much as fig collectors once thought.

One of the other challenges with Smith is that some growers report inconsistent production. Others report higher-than-average productivity. So which is it? With proper cultivation techniques, including managing the tree's canopy for better light penetration, Smith can produce fruit prolifically. As an erect grower, Smith requires intervention to change the angle of the scaffolds to prevent self-shading, which is often the cause of limited production.

This variety also doesn’t respond well to hard pruning. Protect in the winter and limit pruning of the apical and lateral buds, and your tree will be in the right hormonal balance for reliable fruiting—a topic I frequently cover in all of my pruning lessons.

Addressing these aspects can lead to a fig on every node and a significant increase in overall yield. among hobbyists.

The same credible source mentioned earlier has said that Smith was used for a short time in LSU's breeding program. Smith is believed to be involved in the breeding of a variety called LSU Strawberry or Strawberry.

Texas BA-1

The history of Texas BA-1 is a bit unclear. Here's what's stated on Figs4Fun's variety database:

"Texas BA-1 is a variety said to have been found on an unknown Texas A&M graduate student's abandoned test plot during the trials of Alma. Large and of good quality in the Gulf Coast states. May be less hardy than other varieties."

On Ediblelandscaping's website, this is their description:

"Sweetest of our collection. Hardy in 7 if protected from the wind. Space 10' circle. Ripens 2 weeks later than Hardy Chicago. Zone 7-8."

It turns out that my in-ground tree has survived unprotected but in a sheltered location for 4 consecutive winters. To be safe, I think a 7B zone is more appropriate if you're not going to protect your tree.

As for the fruit quality, the eating experience is every bit as good as Smith's. I do find that the skin is darker and has many more sugar spots. They may be slightly different than one another, most likely due to a small mutation.

Cessac

Another variety called Cessac is also very similar, if not identical to Smith. Introduced by Figues du Monde and found in France, Cessac provides some evidence that Smith did, in fact, originate in France.

Some experienced collectors believe there is a difference between the two varieties, but comparing fig varieties is difficult, even when they're fully ripened side by side. There are at least 7 reasons why fig collectors are misled when making observations, and most reasons can affect the fruit quality.

Regardless, I think most would agree, the difference is minimal, which is why if you're interested in growing a particular fig variety, researching potential synonyms is extremely helpful.