🌿 Di Redo Fig Tree — A Rare Adriatic-Type Fig with Honeyed Fruit & Curious Kiwi-Pear Notes 🍐🍈

Ficus carica ‘Di Redo’

At GreenDreams, we grow and ship fig trees to gardeners all across the continental United States. Our nursery is based in Florida, so many of the varieties we select are chosen because they can handle challenging growing conditions like heat, humidity, and summer rainfall.

At the same time, we also love offering cultivars that are simply too interesting to leave out of a fig collection.

The Di Redo Fig is one of those varieties.

Originally developed through a California fig breeding program during the mid-20th century, this cultivar produces yellow to yellow-green fruit with amber flesh and a distinctive flavor profile that collectors often describe as sweet with subtle notes reminiscent of pear, kiwi, or creamy tropical fruit.

Growers in regions with drier summers and Mediterranean-style climates often find that figs like Di Redo perform especially well, where lower humidity can help maintain fruit quality near harvest.

Florida gardeners can certainly grow this variety as well, particularly as part of a diverse fig collection, though many growers in humid climates also pair it with varieties known for stronger rain tolerance.

For fig enthusiasts who enjoy exploring unique cultivars and the history behind them, Di Redo offers both a distinctive flavor and a fascinating place in the story of modern fig breeding.

🌎 A Fig for Growers Across Many Climates

Because we ship plants nationwide, our customers grow figs in a wide range of environments, including:

• Mediterranean climates of California
• temperate coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest
• continental climates of the Midwest and Northeast
• warm humid areas of the Southeast and Gulf Coast

Figs often perform differently depending on climate.

In regions with drier summers, cultivars like Di Redo may experience fewer issues related to excess moisture near harvest. In more humid climates, thoughtful site selection and proper irrigation can help maintain healthy growth and fruit quality.

Understanding your local climate is one of the most important factors in successful fig growing.

🌿 Quick Facts Guide

Feature	Details
Botanical Name	Ficus carica ‘Di Redo’
Plant Type	Deciduous fruit tree
Size at Sale	1-gallon container
Estimated Plant Age	Approximately 10–18 months
Mature Height (pruned)	8–12 ft
Mature Height (unpruned)	15–25+ ft
Mature Width	12–20 ft
USDA Zones	7–11
Sun Requirements	Full sun (8+ hours recommended)
Cold Hardiness	Dormant trees tolerate roughly 15–20°F
Growth Habit	Moderate vigor with upright branching
Spacing	12–20 ft
Wind Tolerance	Moderate once established
Salt Tolerance	Figs show moderate tolerance to coastal conditions

Like most figs, Di Redo is deciduous, meaning it naturally drops its leaves during the cooler months before pushing fresh growth each spring.

🍈 Fruit & Flavor Profile

Attribute	Description
Fruit Size	Small to medium
Skin Color	Yellow to yellow-green
Flesh Color	Amber
Flavor Profile	Sweet honeyed fig with subtle pear- or kiwi-like notes
Texture	Smooth, soft, and syrupy when fully ripe

Collectors often appreciate this cultivar because its flavor sits somewhere between the classic honey sweetness of Adriatic figs and a more unusual tropical fruit character.

The fruit is best harvested when fully ripe and slightly soft, when sugars are at their peak.

🌞 Fruiting Habits

In warm climates, Di Redo typically produces a main crop during the warmer months of the year.

Harvest timing can vary depending on climate, but generally occurs from mid-summer through early fall.

Fruit production improves when trees receive:

• full sun exposure
• consistent watering
• healthy soil biology
• moderate pruning to maintain airflow

As the tree matures, fruit production usually increases and harvest volumes improve.

Origin Story — A Piece of Fig Breeding History

The Di Redo fig originated from a California fig breeding effort during the mid-1900s, when researchers were working to develop improved fig varieties for commercial and home orchard production.

The cultivar was introduced during the 1950s and is believed to be related to the Adriatic class of figs, which are known for their light-colored skin and honey-sweet interior.

The tree was named after Joe DiRedo, who played a role in helping cultivate and evaluate the trees during the breeding program.

Although the variety never became a major commercial fig crop, it has remained in circulation among collectors who appreciate its unique flavor and its connection to early fig improvement programs in the United States.

🌞 Florida Performance Note

Because our nursery is located in Florida, we always try to be transparent about how different fig varieties perform in humid climates.

Di Redo can certainly be grown successfully in Florida, but we generally consider it more of a collector variety rather than one of the most humidity-adapted figs.

Growers in the Southeast often have the best success when they:

• plant in well-drained soil
• maintain steady irrigation
• encourage airflow through pruning
• grow several fig varieties together for reliability

This approach allows gardeners to enjoy the unique qualities of the cultivar while also ensuring consistent harvests.

🐦 Why Green Figs Are Useful in a Collection

Green and yellow figs bring an interesting advantage to a backyard orchard.

Because their color blends closely with the surrounding foliage, green figs can sometimes be less visually obvious to birds than darker figs that turn deep purple or black when ripe.

While this natural camouflage does not eliminate bird pressure entirely, many growers appreciate including at least one green-fruited fig in their orchard.

Di Redo pairs nicely with darker figs in a mixed collection.

🌳 Landscape Appeal

Fig trees are both productive and ornamental.

Distinctive features include:

• large lobed leaves with a tropical appearance
• sculptural branching as trees mature
• broad canopies that provide seasonal shade

They fit beautifully into:

• edible landscapes
• backyard orchards
• permaculture food forests
• Mediterranean-style gardens

Keep in mind that figs are deciduous and will naturally lose their leaves during winter dormancy.

🍂 Seasonal Growth Cycle

Winter

Leaves turn yellow and drop as the tree enters dormancy.

Late Winter / Early Spring

New buds emerge and fresh foliage appears.

Spring & Summer

Trees produce vigorous growth and begin developing fruit.

Late Summer / Fall

Main harvest period occurs before the tree gradually prepares for dormancy again.

This seasonal rhythm is completely normal for fig trees.

Culinary Uses

Figs are one of the oldest cultivated fruits in human history and remain incredibly versatile.

Common uses include:

Fresh eating

Enjoyed straight from the tree or paired with cheeses.

Preserves

Figs make excellent jams, spreads, and fruit butters.

Baking

Used in breads, pastries, and desserts.

Drying

Dehydrated figs develop a dense texture and concentrated sweetness.

The unusual flavor of Di Redo makes it especially fun for fig tastings and cultivar comparisons.

🌿 GreenDreams Fig Cultivar Comparison

Flavor, Fruit Color & Climate Performance

Cultivar	Flavor & Fruit Color	Tree Size	Performance in Humid Climates	Rain / Splitting Resistance	Best For
Alma	Honey-caramel sweetness; brown skin, amber flesh	Medium	Excellent	Good	Southern climates, dessert figs
Beers Black	Rich berry flavor; deep purple skin, red interior	Medium	Good	Moderate	Dark fig lovers
Belleaire	Sweet classic fig; bronze skin, amber flesh	Medium	Good	Moderate	Backyard orchards
Brown Turkey	Mild classic fig flavor; brown skin, amber flesh	Medium–large	Very good	Good	Beginner-friendly fig
Celeste	Sugar-sweet fig; violet-brown skin, pink interior	Compact–medium	Excellent	Excellent	One of the best figs for the Southeast
Deanna	Sweet dessert fig; brown fruit with amber flesh	Medium	Good	Moderate	Home orchards
Di Redo	Honey-sweet fig with pear/kiwi notes; yellow-green skin, amber flesh	Medium	Moderate	Moderate	Fig collectors, drier climates
Fignomenal	Sweet brown figs with red interior	Very dwarf (2–3 ft)	Good	Good	Containers and patios
Green Egg	Mild honey flavor; green skin, amber flesh	Medium	Good	Moderate	Honey-style figs
Green Ischia	Bright berry sweetness; green skin, strawberry interior	Small–medium	Very good	Good	High-quality green fig
LSU Purple	Rich sweet fig; purple skin with amber-pink flesh	Compact–medium	Excellent	Excellent	Top Gulf Coast fig
Little Ruby	Jammy sweetness; reddish fruit with ruby flesh	Dwarf (4–6 ft)	Good	Moderate	Small yards and containers
Olympian	Honey-peach sweetness; large fruit	Medium	Moderate	Moderate	Cooler climates
Texas Blue Giant	Large dessert figs; brown-purple fruit	Medium–large	Good	Moderate	Large fruit growers
White Kadota	Mild honey fig; yellow skin, amber flesh	Medium–large	Moderate	Lower	Preserves and drying
White Marseilles	Classic honey fig; green-yellow fruit	Medium	Good	Moderate	Honey figs
Yellow Long Neck	Sweet honey-melon flavor; elongated yellow fruit	Small–medium	Moderate	Moderate	Collector fig

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🌞 Tip for Building a Backyard Fig Collection

Many growers eventually plant multiple fig varieties because each cultivar offers a different harvest time and flavor profile.

A balanced collection might include:

Early Season

• Celeste
• Brown Turkey

Mid Season

• LSU Purple
• Green Ischia

Late Season

• Alma
• White Kadota

Collectors may also add specialty varieties like Di Redo to explore unique flavors and historical cultivars.

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🐦 Why Many Growers Include Green Figs

Green or yellow figs can provide an additional advantage in the garden.

Because their color blends with surrounding foliage, they are often less visually obvious to birds than dark figs that turn deep purple or black when ripe.

Green figs in the GreenDreams collection include:

• Green Ischia
• Green Egg
• White Marseilles
• Yellow Long Neck
• Di Redo

Adding one or two green figs to a collection can help create a more diverse and resilient fig orchard.

🌎 U.S. Climate Performance Chart

It shows which figs perform best in:

• Florida & Gulf Coast
• Texas & Southern Plains
• California & Mediterranean climates
• Midwest / Northeast

That chart is especially useful since you ship nationwide.

🪴 Container Growing

Figs adapt well to container culture.

Typical container progression:

Stage	Container Size
Starter	1 gallon
Intermediate	3 gallon
Developing	7 gallon
Mature container tree	15–25 gallon

Container plants require:

• well-draining soil
• consistent watering
• occasional pruning to maintain size.

Transplanting Guide

After shipping, allow the plant to recover and begin pushing new growth before transplanting.

Many growers wait around 30 days before moving the plant into a larger container or into the ground.

Typical container progression:

1 gallon → 3 gallon → 7 gallon → 15+ gallon

Signs a plant is ready to up-pot include roots circling the container or soil drying very quickly.

🌱 Ideal Soil Mix

Figs prefer soil that drains well while retaining moderate moisture.

A balanced container mix often includes:

• pine bark fines
• compost
• perlite or coarse sand

For in-ground planting, improving sandy soils with organic matter and mulch can significantly benefit root health.

🌿 Best Practices for Planting Di Redo Fig Trees

Follow the GreenDreams “High & Tight” planting method.

Where to Plant

Choose a location with:

• full sun
• good airflow
• well-drained soil

Planting Steps

1. Dig a hole slightly wider than the container.
2. Place the root ball slightly above grade.
3. Backfill with native soil and compost.
4. Apply a 2–4 inch layer of mulch.

Avoid placing mulch directly against the trunk.

🎥 Planting tutorial

https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI

💧 Watering Guidance

Young trees benefit from consistent watering during establishment.

Once established:

• water deeply during dry periods
• avoid extreme dry/wet cycles
• drip irrigation is preferred

Mulching helps maintain soil moisture and supports healthy soil life.

🔍 Troubleshooting Guide

Issue	Cause	Solution
Yellow leaves in winter	Natural dormancy	Normal seasonal cycle
Root stress	Poor drainage	Plant slightly elevated
Fruit splitting	Irregular watering or heavy rain	Maintain consistent moisture
Weak growth	Low organic matter	Add compost and mulch
Leaf spotting	Humid conditions	Improve airflow with pruning

🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?

Ideal for

• fig collectors
• gardeners building diverse orchards
• growers interested in historic cultivars
• those curious about unusual fig flavors

Less Ideal for

• growers wanting only the most humidity-adapted figs
• landscapes with poor drainage and limited irrigation

🚚 Shipping Information

This plant ships in a 1-gallon container.

Small plants ship best to:

• Florida
• the Southeast
• Texas

We ship across the continental United States, but longer transit times to northern or western states may require additional recovery time.

Orders ship every Monday via UPS Ground.

Shipping during extreme heat or cold is buyer discretion.

California shipments may be delayed for inspection.

Local Pickup

We also offer this plant and many others at our retail nursery location.

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy. 41

Spring Hill, FL 34610

Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM

Sat 8AM–3PM

🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

At GreenDreams, we do more than grow plants — we design and build edible ecosystems across Florida.

Services include:

🌳 edible landscape consultations

🚜 installation and project management

🚚 compost, mulch, and soil delivery

🌾 regenerative farm and garden solutions

Let our team help you create a thriving edible landscape.