LSU AgCenter Article: History of the LSU Fig Breeding Program

[CDGfig]

History of the LSU AgCenter Fig Breeding Program

Figs have been an important fruit crop in Louisiana for over 150 years.

www.lsuagcenter.com

Article dated 6/3/2025

 

[CDGfig]

6 Official Releases: O'Rourke, Champagne, Tiger, LSU Gold, LSU Purple, Scott's Black

"... there are also many fig varieties circulating as LSU releases that have no connection to the original breeding efforts."

 

[GoodFriendMike]

There where a few found at Dr O'rourke's house from the breeding program.
There is also a couple at the LSU Hammond research station from the breeding program
that have yet to be released.
So there is some going around that are not LSU releases but LSU bred figs.
Many know more than me on this subject. And much information has been lost.

 

[CDGfig]

I was pleasantly surprised to see Scott's Black listed in the article as an official release. I had found an AgCenter article from 2016 implying that Scott's Black would be released; but subsequent AgCenter articles and videos referred to five official releases that did not include Scott's Black. Speculation was that since Gurney's was selling it as Fantasia, LSU had lost/sold some sort of rights to the variety.

 

[Figsee]

I was pleasantly surprised to see Scott's Black listed in the article as an official release. I had found an AgCenter article from 2016 implying that Scott's Black would be released; but subsequent AgCenter articles and videos referred to five official releases that did not include Scott's Black. Speculation was that since Gurney's was selling it as Fantasia, LSU had lost/sold some sort of rights to the variety.

I have a lsu fantasia that I got from off the beaten path but I know it’s a Scott’s black.

 

[superdave336]

Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Figless]

Great post, great article, all this information needs reviewing, and reviewing every bit of it is fascinating.

 

[GoodFriendMike]

Anyone growing LSU weeping? Not a joke. Real.

 

[ETXfigs]

Is that dead cat fig any good?

 

[GoodFriendMike]

Is that dead cat fig any good?

Which one? 3 are known to be persistent Capri.

 

[ETXfigs]

I only heard of #2

 

[GoodFriendMike]

3 are confirmed persistent Capri. Not sure how many others made it out that greenhouse

 

[ETXfigs]

I heard that JFE Black Madeira (Not) might really be LSU Scott's Black. If someone confused Scott's Black for Black Madeira, then is Scott's Black really that good?

 

[ETXfigs]

Nevermind. I just read up on JFE BM Not. Apparently there are two of them. One that is just like BM, and one that is just like LSU Scott's Black. One has top tier figs and the other one, not so much.

 

[Schoenie]

Anyone growing LSU weeping? Not a joke. Real.

I read that "LSU Weeping" is synonymous with "LSU Purple"...

 

[Schoenie]

SO... Do I understand correctly that LSU Hollier, and LSU Strawberry (sold by Trees of Joy, a couple of years ago, I believe, and suggested by some to actually be Green Ischia) were never officially released by LSU? Interesting!

BTW: There has been an interesting discussion onthe LSU breeding program on "the other forum" in 2023 and 2024:

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/1385136-lsu-strawberry-fig-anyone-growing-this-info

https://www.ourfigs.com/forum/figs-home/1531219-lsu-strawberry-and-lsu-cherry-bomb

 

[Tim58]

Thanks for the article…

 

[bushdoctor82]

Is there any documentation (or anecdotes) on how and when all the other assumed LSU fig varieties were found?

 

[Figless]

LSU Weeping, that is a new one on me since

 

[CDGfig]

Is there any documentation (or anecdotes) on how and when all the other assumed LSU fig varieties were found?

Documentation? Not really. Anecdotes? Plenty. They range from plausible to totally contrived (for profit).