Fig

Adriatic

An export-quality cultivar prized for its rich, creamy intensity when fully ripe. Green-skinned with deep red flesh that develops a pronounced sweetness unique among New Zealand-grown figs. Produces a main crop only, ripening late in the season. Fruit holds without splitting and can continue ripening off the tree, though it must be fully ripe to avoid bitterness. The preferred export variety for the New Zealand market; best in warmer regions north of Hawke's Bay.

Anglique

Mid-season cultivar with distinctive yellow skin flecked with white spots and white to pink flesh. Small to medium, spherical fruit. Also sold as Madeleine des deux Saisons, reflecting its two-season fruiting habit in its country of origin.

Archipel

A variety similar in overall character to Brown Turkey, bearing amber-red skinned fruit with red flesh. Small to medium size. Some sources consider it the same variety as Osborne's Prolific.

Benheim

Very late-ripening cultivar with distinctive purple-black skin and pale to pink flesh. Small fruit that extends the season into April to May. Limited data available for New Zealand growing conditions.

Black Beauty

Variety identity varies by source: the HortRes Kerikeri accession appears to match French Sugar, while the Waimea Nursery version resembles Black Poutu. HortRes material is reportedly a caprifig that does not produce edible fruit. True Black Mission exists elsewhere in New Zealand, distinct from both of these selections.

Black Mission

A Californian classic widely grown for fresh eating and commercial drying. Produces a generous breba crop of large figs followed by a second, more abundant crop of smaller, rounder fruit. The tight ostiole reduces splitting and limits insect access. High dry-weight makes it one of California's principal drying varieties, with dried yields around 1.5 t/ha. Performs best in the warmer parts of the North Island.

Blekinja

A very large fig with shiny skin, yielding notably sweet, honeyed flesh when fully ripe. Yellow colouring at the apex transitions to purple-red at the base. Red, honeyed flesh in a turbiniform shape. Bears a light breba crop. Ripens very late in the season. Considered synonymous with San Pedro No. 2 and Herne Bay in several New Zealand collections.

Brett Burney

A large green San Pedro-type fig identified as likely matching San Pedro Miro. Spherical fruit with pink flesh. Produces primarily as a breba crop with little or no main crop.

Brown Turkey

One of the most widely planted fig varieties across New Zealand. Early-ripening with green-brown skin and amber flesh. Most local selections produce somewhat smaller fruit than French Sugar but in a broadly similar style. Popular throughout the country and also sold under the name Magnolia. Suited to most New Zealand growing regions.

Brunoro Black

Named after Italian-born Paraparaumu grower John Brunoro. A highly productive cultivar bearing a moderate breba and a prolific late main crop. Small oblique pyriform fruit with dark purple to black skin and deep red flesh. High sugar and solids content make it excellent for drying and preserving. Some ability to continue ripening after harvest. Trees sucker aggressively, particularly following heavy pruning. Very closely resembles Black Mission in fruit and tree character.

Brunswick

A large fig producing both a breba and a late main crop, though many New Zealand selections appear to carry fig mosaic virus. Purple-bronze skin with pink flesh. Oblique pyriform shape. Achieves its best flavour in warmer northern regions; results in the southern North Island are generally poor.

Candy

aka Fig Edible This Adriatic type Fig is a heavy producer of medium sized, bell shaped, green/yellow skinned fruit with gorgeous red flesh that is rich and sugary. The tree forms into a round topped spreading tree with deep green lobed leaves. Self pollinating. Harvest in April when fruit starts to fall. Deciduous Habit: Shrub. Leaves: Deciduous.

Cape White

Green-skinned with amber flesh and a pyriform profile. Produces a moderate breba crop, though yields can be erratic from year to year. Main crop timing is similar to French Sugar. Breba fruit resembles San Pedro No. 3 but has firmer skin and flesh. Susceptible to leaf spot disease. Similar in character to Patricia.

Caves Wanganui

A fig maintained by the Caves Nursery family in Cambridge for around a century, with its origins traced to Wanganui. Likely the same variety as Vlassoff. Brown to purple skin with amber flesh in a pyriform form. Late-season main crop.

Celeste

An upright-growing variety with brown to purple skin, small pyriform fruit, and red flesh. Mild citrus notes in the flavour. Suitable for both drying and preserving. Unusually, fruit continues to develop sweetness after harvest. The NZ Celeste is distinct from local fig selections sold under the Malta name.

Cheddar Valley

A French Sugar-type variety with brown to purple skin and amber flesh. Medium-sized, turbiniform. Mid-season harvest window. Limited additional NZ data available.

Christovsky Christmas Fig

Named after George Christovsky of Motueka, who brought fig material with him when he emigrated in the early 1950s. Bears both a breba and main crop, with the main crop ripening before Adriatic at Motueka — approximately mid-season. Bronze skin and red flesh in a turbiniform form with a distinctively thick neck. Prolific producer. Reportedly able to continue ripening off the tree.

Crnica

A small conical fig (pronounced 'sernitsa') closely resembling NZ Malta Type 1. Bronze to dark brown-purple skin with red flesh. Bears a light breba crop and a prolific mid-season main crop. High solids content makes it well suited to drying and preserving. Can ripen after picking.

De Anna

A University of California Riverside hybrid (Dottato/Kadota parentage). Very large fruit with amber flesh and a notably heavy late-season main crop. Prominent hard seeds can be unexpected for first-time tasters. Trialled at Motueka where it ripens in late April.

Excel

UCR-bred Verdone Hybrid, potentially mislabelled in some HortRes accessions as similar to Adriatic. UCR records describe large green-skinned fruit with pink flesh. Limited performance data for New Zealand conditions.