The 5 Points Fig emerged from the passionate work of American fig enthusiasts who recognized something special in this California-origin cultivar. Introduced by David Burke and catalogued as TFH-1700, it has earned a reputation for delivering genuine cold hardiness alongside a honey-sweet flavor that feels almost floral in its complexity. The fruits arrive in medium to large sizes with a thin, gossamer skin and a notably small eye opening that resists the splitting problems that plague many fig varieties. Hardy across zones 7 to 10, the 5 Points Fig grows with remarkable speed and adapts readily to container culture, making it accessible to gardeners in cooler climates who might otherwise think fig growing out of reach.
Full Sun
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7-10
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This California cultivar combines cold hardiness with an unexpected delicacy: a honey-forward flavor with a soft, warm richness and gentle floral undertones that set it apart from coarser fig varieties. The small eye opening and thin skin mean less fruit drop and splitting, while the ability to produce a breba crop gives you an earlier harvest window each season. Rooting with exceptional ease and thriving in containers or ground, the 5 Points Fig removes the excuses for not growing figs in zones that typically don't get them.
As a fresh fig with genuine culinary quality, the 5 Points delivers honey sweetness that makes it excellent for eating out of hand when fully ripe. The floral honey notes and smooth texture also make it suitable for fresh applications where you want the fig's character to shine rather than be buried in cooking or preserving. Its suitability for container growing expands where and how it can be enjoyed, bringing fresh fig harvests within reach for gardeners in cooler climates.
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Honey- offers a delicate and smooth sweetness with a warm, golden richness. It brings a soft, floral depth to the flavor, creating a naturally sweet and mellow experience.
Transplant container-grown 5 Points Figs outdoors after the last frost date for your zone, positioning them in full sun. Space plants at least 15 feet apart if growing multiple trees in ground, though containers allow flexible placement. Harden off nursery plants gradually over 7 to 10 days before final planting to acclimate them to outdoor light intensity.
Pick figs when they reach full size (medium to large) and the skin softens slightly with gentle pressure. The color deepens as fruit ripens, and you'll notice the small eye opening at the bottom beginning to open slightly. Harvest in mid-season when figs feel heavy for their size and the stem bends easily at the attachment point. Handle gently as the thin skin bruises readily. The breba crop typically arrives earlier in the season, followed by the main crop.
Prune lightly in late winter to remove any frost-damaged wood and shape the tree for open branching that maximizes fruit exposure to sun. The 5 Points Fig produces a breba crop on the previous year's growth, so avoid heavy pruning that would remove next season's fruit buds. Once established, minimal pruning suffices beyond removing dead or crossing branches.
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“The 5 Points Fig represents a distinctly modern preservation story. Rather than a heirloom passed through generations, it emerged from the collaborative discoveries of contemporary fig aficionados across the United States who recognized its potential. David Burke introduced this cultivar, naming it TFH-1700 in the fig enthusiast community before it became known more broadly as 5 Points. Its development reflects the growing network of specialty fruit growers and seed savers who are actively expanding the range of cold-hardy cultivars available to home gardeners, proving that important fig varieties don't have to be ancient to be valuable.”