The Col de Dame Mutante is widely regarded as one of the most visually spectacular and gourmand-tier figs in existence. A stable mutation of the prestigious Col de Dame Negra, this variety is famous for its "reverse rimada" ripening process: while most striped figs lose their variegation as they mature, the Mutante starts as a solid lime green and develops striking, dark purple stripes that appear almost hand-painted as the fruit reaches its peak. True to its name, which translates to "Collar of the Lady," it features the classic elongated neck and a teardrop shape that signifies its elite Spanish lineage.Inside, the fig reveals a deep, ruby-red pulp with a texture so dense and pasty it is frequently compared to thick pancake batter or heavy fruit preserves rather than a typical fresh fruit. The flavor is an unapologetic explosion of concentrated dark berries—specifically wild strawberry and black currant—balanced by a sophisticated acidity and a rich, honeyed finish. 2 qt pot. FREE DELIVERY to Essex and Hudson County NJ.
We do not sell FIG WASP fig varieties, and YES, you can grow figs trees in-ground in the Northeast. We only sell self-pollinating (parthenocarpic) figs. Globally, over 90% of varieties are self-pollinating. In the USA, only a small region of California has the fig wasp (introduced by fig growers). Almost all dried figs come from Turkey, Greece and Spain and therefore contain the infamous fig wasp; Fig Newtons use imported dried figs.
Because figs have been breed for over 10k years, the distinct flavor universe of figs rivals that of any other food. You can have figs with brown sugar, honey, peach, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, melon and apricot flavors! Ripe figs are a rare pleasure that you usually cannot get from a grocery store because figs are very perishable and only ripen on the tree. Did you know that figs are actually inverted flowers!
From Wikipedia: The edible fig is one of the first plants that were cultivated by humans. Nine subfossil figs dating to about 9400–9200 BC were found in the early Neolithic village Gilgal I (in the Jordan Valley, 13 km north of Jericho). The find precedes the domestication of wheat, barley, and legumes, and may thus be the first known instance of agriculture. It is proposed that the desirable fig was planted and cultivated intentionally, one thousand years before the next crops were domesticated (wheat and rye). Figs were widespread in ancient Greece, and their cultivation was described by both Aristotle and Theophrastus. Aristotle noted that as in animal sexes, figs have individuals of two kinds, one (the cultivated fig) that bears fruit, and one (the wild caprifig) that assists the other to bear fruit. Figs were also a common food source for the Romans. Rome's first emperor, Augustus, was reputed to have been poisoned with figs from his garden smeared with poison by his wife Livia. For this reason, or perhaps because of her horticultural expertise, a variety of fig known as the Liviana was cultivated in Roman gardens. It was cultivated from Afghanistan to Portugal, also grown in Pithoragarh in the Kumaon hills of India. From the 15th century onwards, it was grown in areas including Northern Europe and the New World. In the 16th century, Cardinal Reginald Pole introduced fig trees to Lambeth Palace in London. In 1769, Spanish missionaries led by Junipero Serra brought the first figs to California. The Mission variety, which they cultivated, is still popular. The fact that it is parthenocarpic (self-pollinating) made it an ideal cultivar for introduction.
