Ficus carica 'Malta Black' (Fig) Unity Grown

Ficus carica 'Malta Black' is a highly productive, early-ripening Mt. Etna-type fig cultivar noted for its dark brown-purple skin and meat, raspberry-jam like internal flesh. Originally bright to market by Belleclaire Nursery in Long Island, 'Malta Black' is regarded as a stand-out among Mt. Etna-type figs, with improved flavor over many of the other cold-hardy varieties available. According to local fig aficionado and collector, Steve Hamblin, mature specimens of 'Malta Black' will develop more complex flavors as trees overwinter: while other Mt. Etna-type figs are popular for their hardiness and low maintenance habit, "'Malta Black' holds its own with peach flavor after year 3-ish... better tasting than the ubiquitous 'Chicago Hardy.'"

Ficus carica prefers full, intense sun and nutrient-rich, well-drained soil kept relatively moist throughout the spring and summer. As with many deciduous trees, figs require less water in fall and winter, more in the growing season. Though 'Malta Black' is considered one of the cold hardy Mt. Etna-type figs, it still benefits from a heavy mulch layer during the fall and winter for insulation against the elements.

Note: While ripe fruits are delicious and completely safe for consumption, many of the tree's parts, including leaves and branches, contain a mildly toxic compound, so care should be taken to keep fig plants away from areas where they might be chewed on by pets. In addition, care should be taken when choosing a planting location for Ficus carica as fruits can result in reseeding, and trees perform best with a bit of maintenance through the year, especially with a heavy mulch layer through the fall and winter.