Fig, LSU Purple, Bare Root

LSU Purple Fig (Ficus carica)

LSU Purple is a Louisiana-bred fig with purple skin and mild, sweet flesh. It is particularly useful in warm climates where its main crop has time to continue through the season.

Key Characteristics

Sweet fruit with a milder flavor

The medium-sized figs have dark purple skin and light strawberry to amber flesh. Fully ripe fruit works fresh, in preserves, or dried.

A strong main-crop focus

LSU Purple can begin fruiting while plants are relatively young and is valued mainly for its crop on current-season growth. Do not expect a large early breba harvest every year.

Useful foliage health in warm climates

LSU trials note good resistance to foliage diseases, a useful trait in humid summers. Keep plants open to light and harvest promptly because ripe fruit can still spoil in wet weather.

Fruiting and Pollination

Self-fertile; a second tree is not required.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 10–15 feet at maturity, depending on site and pruning. Figs can also be managed as multistem shrubs or grown in large containers where winter protection is needed.

Product Details

• Sun: Full sun to light partial shade; full sun is best for fruiting.
• Soil: medium to medium-dry, well-drained soil; avoid standing water.
• Mature height: Approximately 10–15 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Tiny flowers are enclosed inside the developing fig and are not showy.
• Fruit: Purple-skinned figs with mild, sweet light strawberry to amber flesh.
• Uses: Fresh eating, drying, preserves, and baking.
• Ripening: July–October in long, warm seasons
• Chill hours: Low chill, generally 300 hours or less; summer warmth and winter stem survival are more important for harvest planning.
• Pollination: Self-fertile; no second tree required.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 7–10.

General Fig Growing Guidance

A good start

Choose well-drained soil and enough room for the mature tree. Water consistently while roots establish, mulch with space around the trunk, and keep vigorous grass and other competitors away from the young root zone.

Fertility and fruit-tree guilds

Use a soil test to guide lime and fertilizer rather than feeding heavily by default. Our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend is an optional planting supplement; keep concentrated fertilizer away from bare roots and avoid excess nitrogen.

Interested in permaculture and stacking functions around your fruit trees? Explore our fruit-tree guild guide for ideas on combining plants for flowers, ground cover, and mulch while giving your tree room to grow.

Practical pest and disease care

Figs need summer warmth as well as winter survival to ripen fruit. Keep watering steady as fruit swells, pick only when fully ripe, and protect ripening fruit from birds and insects. In colder regions, protect stems or move containers to a sheltered dormant location; root survival alone does not guarantee a crop.