Celeste Fig, Honey Fig, Blue Celeste Fig, Malta Fig, Sugar Fig, Violette Fig

Description

Celeste is the standard by which all other figs are judged on sweetness and flavor. If you've ever eaten one you know why it is also called the Honey or Sugar fig. It produces small to medium sized pear shaped violet to light violet fruit with red pulp and white to amber flesh. Very reliable for the South and Southeastern US and excellent cold tolerance. Small productive and hardy trees for the home orchard. A tight to closed eye provides good resistance to spoiling and the fruit is unlikely to split. Caterpillar host: Ruddy Daggerwing
Celeste is excellent fresh, dried, or preserved, fruit may occasionally dry on the tree. The delicate ripe fruit droops when ripe and the skin may check once fully ripe. It is known to produce a small breba crop but it seems that it does this where winters are mildest. Celeste is known by many names but according to Dr. Condit it is probably most accurately named Malta. Considered to be second only to Brown Turkey for cold hardiness.