Mislabeled Brown Turkey fig ID (forum)

SproutMeKate1 starts with ...
hi there fig lovers,

I purchased a Brown Turkey fig from Daleys about 15 months ago while it was still dormant. being quite new to growing figs - I just assumed it was a BT. however I've been growing a couple of mystery fig cuttings recently and researching leaf shapes etc to begin the identification process, when I realized my BT didn't look like anyone elses ;-) I've included 2 pictures - one of the parent plant and one of 2 cuttings that I've propagated from suckers. the leaves are 3 and 5 fingered with 2 thumbs, and they're around 11cm along the center line. the parent tree is still quite spindly and quite compact, and I doubt I'll be getting any figs off it for another couple of years.

after lots of googling - I've got a list of possibilities, which includes Celeste, Brunswick and Violette de Bordeaux. would any of the experienced fig growers be able to help narrow down the identification?

Kate
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2

Time: 11th October 2017 2:51pm

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Lissa says...
Why not ask Daleys themselves to identify it seeing as you bought it off them in the first place?

This is just their forum where the general public can come share stories.

Time: 12th October 2017 6:55pm

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About the Author Lissa
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SproutMeKate1 says...
hi Lissa,

thanks ever so much for your helpful reply. I considered contacting Daleys via their mail contact form, however I saw no facility to upload images. so then I thought - the Daleys staff have better things to do with their day than to answer individual plant identification emails when they have an excellent community forum full of members with a wide variety of knowledge and experience.

in fact, there are many plant identification questions and discussions on this forum. every time someone asks a plant identification question and gets a constructive answer - it adds to the body of knowledge that benefits many countless people in the future. people learn what to look for when identifying a plant, and once identified they can learn what its specific growing needs are so they can become better gardeners. this information is all woven into the stories that gardeners share.

I had hoped the story of my little fig tree and discussion regarding its identification would have added to the fabric of the forum, because the identification of fig cultivars is an extremely fascinating process.

Kate

Time: 13th October 2017 5:25pm

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Lissa says...
Then go for it Kate :) Hope you get some good responses.

Time: 15th October 2017 6:29am

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Pademelon1 says...
Considering Daley's sells Violette de Bordeaux, I'd say that is the most likely option, and it does resemble that cultivar very closely.

However, it should also be noted that while fig cultivars may have specific leaf shapes, they can be very variable in some cultivars and you may find that as it grows it may resemble brown turkey - but I think you are right that it is something else.

Regards,
Pademelon1

Time: 15th October 2017 12:48pm

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Original Post was last edited: 15th October 2017 12:48pm
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SproutMeKate1 says...
hi Pademelon1,

thanks so much for adding your thoughts on the issue. it helps me greatly to know that it may or may not be what it seems depending on how it grows out. figs are so fascinating. I'll just have to watch it over the next year or two as it matures and fruits.

Kate

Time: 16th October 2017 10:23am

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peter30001 says...
Hi Kate,
it is very difficult/ nearly impossible
to id figs by there leaves,
if going by leaves it is better to
determine what they are not.

having said that though those leaves
dont look like celeste or vdb,
brunswick leaves are said to be long
fingered like the ones pictured but
that would be odd because i dont think
daleys is selling brunswich.

as you said youll have to wait for fruit to get a proper id.

ive taken cuttings from trees and have had them fruiting the next season.

dont let that fig bug get you''


Time: 17th October 2017 10:48pm

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Original Post was last edited: 17th October 2017 10:49pm

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SproutMeKate1 says...
too late peter30001 - the fig bug has already bitten me ;-) problem is I'm on acreage and have lots of room for fig trees, and I really do enjoy growing fig cuttings for some reason.

this little fig tree will just remain a mystery for now, and that's ok as we all need a little mystery in our gardening lives. I'll post updates at a later stage when it has ripe fruit.

thanks so much for taking the time to let me know your initial opinion on the leaf shape.

Kate

Time: 18th October 2017 7:56pm

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peter30001 says...
yea figs are fun, lol (figs4fun forum)

i started with eight trees a few years ago and now have about seven hundred,
and am in the process of starting another hundred or so.


Time: 19th October 2017 10:18pm

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About the Author peter30001
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WazzaMort says...
Hi peter30001, I was wondering if you sell any rooted figs or cuttings? I am starting to get a collection now and was wonder if you would send me a list of your collection? Happy to pay for ones I don't have. My email is w_mortensen @ hotmail . com just delete the spaces.

Regards
Warwick


Time: 14th November 2017 1:55pm

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Original Post was last edited: 14th November 2017 1:56pm
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NothoKoji says...
Hi Kate,

I don't know if you are still interested in this topic, but I wanted to share with you because I have exactly the same concern about Brown Turkey fig available in Australia.

I bought &quote;Brown Turkey&quote; fig from Yalca fruit tree few years back and it looks very similar to the one you have(the unique fingers like thin shaped leaf).

As you mentioned, however this is not the typical leaf shape of so called Brown Turkey from rest of the world.
Plus Brown Turkey picture on Daley shop also shows very different leaf shape than yours or mine.
As far as I saw figs labeled as &quote;Brown Turkey&quote; in local stores had same thin leaf shape, so I am pretty sure this is the fig availabe as &quote;Brown Turkey&quote; in Australia.

After I did lots of googling and research, this finger like shaped leaf is typical for &quote;Brunswick&quote;, and it seems one time this was available in Australia.
According to fig4fun information page, Brunswick can be synonym for Brown Turkey too.
I am guessing that &quote;Brown Turkey&quote; in Australia is &quote;Brunswick&quote; for rest of the world.

I am still looking for the true &quote;Brown Turkey&quote;, like the one from picture Daley shop shows.

Sorry for my messy English.

Regards
Koji


Time: 17th February 2018 10:57pm

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Cliff Hogan says...
It is few years after the original post but I have just found a reference mentioning 2 different varieties of fig named Brown Turkey in Australia. One is from Daley's which I believe is a hybrid for which I lost the reference and the other one might be the typical English Brown Turkey. The point is that the Daley's Brown Turkey is not mislabelled, at least not intentionally and is sold commonly under the same name by other reputable nurseries.
Watch this video from an Australian who has a huge collection and generally worth following.
I bought ALL THE FIG CUTTINGS in AUSTRALIA so you dont have to. A full cutting tour and updates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxckrtnxABQ
The mention of the 2 Brown Turkey varieties are around min 11.

Time: 3rd October 2024 11:30am

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