Brown Turkey is a small, hardy fig with medium purplish-brown fruit, and it is probably the most popular fig in the southeastern United States (UF/IFAS). The California Rare Fruit Growers say it does best in southern California, and describe good flavor that is best when the fruit is fresh. It bears only a light breba crop. The catch is the name: it covers different figs on the East and West Coasts, so buy from a nursery in your own region. This page covers Brown Turkey only. For planting and care, read our fig tree guide, and to compare it with other types, see the fig varieties guide.
- USDA zones
- 8–11 in ground · any zone in a pot
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Origin
- Provence per CRFG; the name varies by region
- Container friendly
- Yes
- Tree size
- Small, hardy, vigorous (CRFG)
- Fruit
- Medium, purplish-brown skin, pinkish amber flesh
- Flavor
- Good, best when fresh
- Breba crop
- Light
- Cold hardiness
- Reported more hardy than many figs (UF)
- Best region
- Popular in the Southeast (UF) · does best in southern California (CRFG)
- Other names
- Brunswick, Eastern Brown Turkey, Harrison, Lees Perpetual, Ramsey, Texas Everbearing
- Pollination
- None needed (common type)
Brown Turkey fruit and flavor
The California Rare Fruit Growers describe a medium fruit with purplish-brown skin, pinkish amber flesh and good flavor, best when fresh. Fresh figs keep only 2–3 days in the fridge (CRFG), and they do not ripen once picked, so check the signs in how to tell if a fig is ripe before you harvest.
Brown Turkey bears a light breba crop in spring on last year’s wood, and the main crop in fall on new growth (CRFG). If you garden in a humid area where souring is a risk, ask your nursery about the eye, because Clemson says a tight or closed eye is the only control.
The Brown Turkey tree and how big it gets
The California Rare Fruit Growers describe a small, hardy, vigorous tree. They add that you can prune severely for the heaviest main crop. Because Brown Turkey’s breba crop is light, you give up little by cutting it back hard. That is different from a variety with prolific brebas, where heavy pruning removes a lot of fruit.Final size depends on your pruning and climate.
Growing Brown Turkey: zones, pots and the ground
In the ground, UF/IFAS reports that Brown Turkey and Celeste are more cold hardy than many other fig cultivars. Treat zones 8–11 as the safe range. Dormant fig branches are damaged somewhere around 15–20°F (−9 to −7°C) (UF/IFAS), and the California Rare Fruit Growers put the figure at 12–15°F. In colder places, mulch the base and wrap the tree, or choose Chicago Hardy. Our guide to overwintering a fig tree covers the methods.
In a pot, a small tree is easier to manage. Use a pot at least 18 inches (45 cm) wide and move it into an unheated garage for winter. See our fig tree in a pot guide.
Sun and soil. Figs perform best in full sun (UF/IFAS), in well-drained soil.
Pollination. Brown Turkey is a common-type fig, and UF/IFAS says the common types recommended for Florida are parthenocarpic, so the fruit develops without pollination. One tree is enough.
Which Brown Turkey are you buying?
The name is the biggest trap. UF/IFAS gives a long list of Brown Turkey synonyms (Brunswick, Eastern Brown Turkey, Harrison, Lees Perpetual, Ramsey and Texas Everbearing) and calls it probably the most popular fig in the southeastern US. The California Rare Fruit Growers describe a Brown Turkey that originated in Provence and does best in southern California. UF/IFAS, meanwhile, lists “California Brown Turkey” as a synonym of Black Spanish. Clemson warns of considerable confusion over fig variety names.
In practice, a Brown Turkey bought in Georgia may not be the same tree as one bought in California. Buy from a nursery in your region and expect regional differences in fruit and hardiness.
How Brown Turkey compares with other fig varieties
| Variety | Tree | Fruit | Breba crop | Cold hardiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Turkey | Small, hardy, vigorous | Medium, purplish brown, pinkish amber flesh | Light | Reported more hardy than many figs |
| Chicago Hardy | 10–15 ft tall, 9–12 ft wide; can be kept at 6 ft | Deep purple or brown when ripe | — | Most cold-tolerant fig |
| Celeste | Small, productive, hardy | Small to medium, light violet to violet-brown | Light | Fairly cold hardy (UF) |
| Black Mission | Very large | Large, black-purple, reddish-pink flesh | Prolific | — |
Choose Brown Turkey over Chicago Hardy if you garden in the Southeast or southern California and want a small tree with a good fresh flavor. Choose Chicago Hardy if your winters are cold. Celeste has a closed eye and a very sweet, small to medium fruit that is usually dried, while Brown Turkey is best fresh. Black Mission is a very large tree and the California Rare Fruit Growers call it the best all-round variety, so it needs far more room.
Where to buy a Brown Turkey fig tree
Buy a potted plant from a nursery in your region, or from a plant sale run by your county extension office or a local fruit-growers club. A local source reduces the risk of the name mix-up above. Ask what the nursery knows about the tree’s hardiness and eye, check that the label says Brown Turkey, and plant in spring so the tree has a full warm season before its first winter.
Once you have the tree, our fig varieties guide can help you decide whether a second variety is worth the space.
Frequently asked questions
Is Brown Turkey fig self-fertile?
Yes, in the sense that matters. UF/IFAS says the fig cultivars it recommends for Florida, which include Brown Turkey, are common types that are parthenocarpic, meaning the fruit develops without pollination. You need only one tree, and no fig wasp.
Is Brown Turkey a cold hardy fig?
UF/IFAS says Brown Turkey and Celeste are reported to be more cold hardy than many other fig cultivars. The California Rare Fruit Growers call it a small, hardy, vigorous tree. In cold zones, protect it for winter as you would any fig, or choose Chicago Hardy.
Why do different nurseries sell different Brown Turkey figs?
Because the name is used for different figs. UF/IFAS lists California Brown Turkey as a synonym of Black Spanish, while the California Rare Fruit Growers describe a separate Brown Turkey from Provence. Clemson warns of considerable confusion over fig names. Buy from a nursery in your own region.
Does Brown Turkey have a breba crop?
A light one, according to the California Rare Fruit Growers. Brebas are the spring crop on last year's wood, and the main crop comes in fall on new growth.
Sources
- The Fig (HS27/MG214), UF/IFAS Extension
- Fig Fruit Facts, California Rare Fruit Growers
- Figs: How to Grow and Care for Figs in South Carolina, Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC