Black Celeste
Ficus carica ‘Black Celeste’About
Black Celeste is a darker-skinned sport of the classic Celeste fig, widely cherished in the American South. The figs are small to medium with deep violet-brown skin and pale pink to amber flesh that is extraordinarily sweet — arguably sweeter than the standard Celeste. The closed ostiole (eye) makes it highly resistant to souring and fruit fly damage, a major advantage in humid climates.
Watch the Tasting
See the flavour for yourself. Here is my Black Celeste tasting from the collection:
Growing Notes
- Excellent cold hardiness — survives temperatures down to around −15 °C (5 °F) with mulching.
- Closed ostiole makes it one of the most sour-resistant varieties available.
- Compact, manageable growth habit — good for containers and smaller gardens.
- Prolific producer, particularly of the main crop.
- Tolerates a range of soil types; ensure adequate drainage.
My Notes
Bought for its cold hardiness and resistance to souring. It has lived up to both promises. The sweetness is unreal — almost dessert-like straight off the tree. Definitely one of the highlights of the collection.
Where to Find Black Celeste
Mislabeled figs are the collector’s oldest problem, and you usually don’t find out until the tree finally fruits years later. I list my own cuttings on Figstead — a marketplace I built and run, because I had been on the buying end of that problem too many times. That is also why the bar to sell there is where it is: 150+ verified sales at a 98%+ positive feedback rating before a seller is approved, and accountability for true-to-type accuracy resting on the seller personally. I sell under the same standard I set.
Black Celeste listings and sold prices →