Mission
Ficus carica ‘Mission’About
Mission is the classic Californian variety, introduced by Spanish missionaries to the California missions in the late 18th century and now one of the most widely grown figs in the western United States. The figs are medium to large with dark purple-black skin and rich, dark red flesh that is intensely sweet with a jammy, wine-like depth. It is the fig most often found in dried form in supermarkets and remains a benchmark variety for productivity and flavour.
Growing Notes
- Very vigorous — can become a large tree in open ground; prune annually to manage size.
- Exceptionally productive with both breba and main crops.
- Thrives in hot, dry climates; one of the best varieties for arid regions.
- Excellent for drying — the high sugar content makes outstanding dried figs.
- Cold hardiness moderate; protect below −8 °C (18 °F).
My Notes
A true classic and a reference point for comparing other dark varieties. The breba crop is particularly generous. Also drying some of the harvest this year — the flavour intensity once dried is extraordinary.
Where to Find Mission
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.
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