Colonel Littman's Black Cross Fig traces its lineage to a remarkable friendship between two Florida plantsmen: Colonel Littman of Gainesville and Mr. Cross of Tallahassee, whose combined passion resulted in a fig that thrives in zones 8, 10 with medium to large, dark fruits bursting with berry-forward flavor. This self-fertile Common fig adapts readily to containers and gardens alike, rewarding full sun exposure with a mid-season harvest of complex, naturally sweet figs touched by subtle acidity. The variety's cold-hardy nature and moderate skin thickness make it a distinctive choice for southeastern growers seeking both historical connection and reliable production.
Full Sun
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8-10
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The story behind this fig is as rich as its flavor: propagated from Colonel Littman's own specimen in Florida, it carries the legacy of two devoted cultivators whose names are forever linked in its very title. Dark berry notes with mild to very sweet undertones and surprising depth define the eating experience, while the fig's proven container-growing capability means you don't need a sprawling garden to succeed. Its mid-season timing slots it perfectly into a staggered fig harvest, and its self-fertile nature means even a single tree produces abundantly.
As an edible fig producing medium to large fruits, Colonel Littman's Black Cross is eaten fresh from the tree, where the combination of berry notes and balanced sweetness shines brightest. The moderate skin thickness suggests it also handles brief storage and gentle handling well, making it suitable for sharing or small-scale sales at farmers markets. The compact growth typical of self-fertile Common figs grown in containers makes it accessible to gardeners with limited space who want to eat their own figs.
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From mildly to very sweet, with distinct berry notes complemented by a touch of acidity. They often feature subtle complexity, with additional layers of flavor that enhance their rich and balanced profile.
Harvest Colonel Littman's Black Cross figs when they reach full size and the skin develops its dark color, typically mid-season. Ripe figs will feel slightly soft to gentle pressure and may show a drop of nectar at the base; pick them by hand or with a gentle twist to avoid damaging the delicate fruit. The moderate skin thickness means they're less prone to splitting on the tree, giving you a wider window to harvest at peak ripeness.
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“Colonel Littman's Black Cross Fig emerged from American horticultural tradition at its finest: a gifting of plant material between passionate growers that proved worth preserving. Colonel Littman, based in Gainesville, Florida, received his original stock from Mr. Cross in Tallahassee, a transfer that sparked enough interest to establish a named cultivar bearing both men's legacies. The propagating material remained available through Just Fruits and Exotics for years, making this a fig with documented nursery history in the American Southeast. Though it has since left that catalog, its origins remain clear, a regional discovery that deserved preservation.”