“The famous striped honey fig — 'one of the more famous fig varieties... really good.' (Heard as 'Nixon piece' in the video; it's Panache.)”
Background
An old European variety first described under the name 'Panachée' (meaning 'variegated') in France in 1826, with similar striped figs noted as far back as the 17th century. It is very likely a striped mutation (chimera) of Col de Senora Blanca, a green-skinned Spanish variety once called 'one of the finest figs in cultivation.' California growers tested it a century ago but dismissed it for low productivity; it returned to commercial production around 2013 via Stellar Distributing in Madera, California. Also sold as 'Tiger,' 'Tiger Fig,' and 'Variegato.' The UA arboretum notes figs were domesticated in the Near East around 11,400 years ago, millennia before other fruit crops.
Distinguishing traits
The famous striped honey fig: green skin with yellow-cream stripes, strawberry-red pulp inside, sweet honeyed flavor with a balancing acidity and berry notes. Pyriform (pear-shaped) fruit with a prominent neck, roughly 60-90 grams. Sweet but fairly dry flesh. Bears only a main crop (no breba), ripening late. Parthenocarpic (self-fertile), no pollinator needed. The UA arboretum describes the common fig as a deciduous, low-branching tree with large lobed leaves, potentially bearing two crops per year.
Desert care — zone 9b
- Chill hours
- Low, roughly 100-200 hours (typical for warm-climate figs); no verified exact figure
- Cold hardiness
- Hardy to about 15-20°F once established (one European nursery claims -4°F for mature trees, but U.S. sources place figs in the high teens); young trees need protection in their first years. The UA arboretum notes a hard freeze kills it back to the ground, though it fruits on current-year growth.
- Heat tolerance
- Needs summer heat to ripen well and excels in hot climates; late crop fits the long desert season. Foliage and fruit handle 115°F+ with water.
- Water
- Deep, infrequent waterings; drought tolerant once established. Mulch to moderate root-zone heat. The UA arboretum rates water use as moderate: water monthly while growing, rarely when dormant.
- Soil
- Tolerant of many soils including alkaline; needs good drainage. Figs are notably 'pest free' and easy-care in warm regions.
- Sun exposure
- Full sun for best fruiting.