Lilla Fig

Lilla is a rare Italian fig discovered by a collector known within the fig-growing community as Nikky, who found it growing out of a crack in a wall. Its exact regional origin is genuinely disputed among growers — some say northern Italy, others northern Sicily — and that uncertainty is part of why the variety remains so rarely grown. The tree produces two crops per season and has 3- and 5-lobed leaves, with growers specifically noting attractive purple tones along the stems and leaf veins. The fruit has notably shiny, thick purple-to-blue skin, reportedly even thicker than Black Madeira, and takes a long time to ripen. Once ripe, it is very sweet with a closed eye. It is considered a well-suited variety for colder climates.