While vacationing in Washington state this summer I noticed for the first time that my relatives have two fig trees on their property on the Olympic Pennisula. They told me they've never had any figs, altho' a neighbor down the hill with a similar looking plant harvests tons. Given the expertise on this forum, I want to ask your advice. Let me give you the facts, ask my questions and then post the pictures.

The property is on the Olympic Pennisula, but in the rainshadow, so they get less than 20 inches of rain a year, all in the winter. Dry, very sunny summers, and the trees are on a well drained slope, maybe 1/4 from the shore of the strait. Enviably even temperatures; almost never gets below freezing, rarely gets as high as 90.

No idea what variety they are; Pappy bought the plants in Southern California and planted them at Diamond Point some 40 years ago. They are multi-trunk shrubs 6-7' tall and about 4' wide. The individual leaves are large, 12-14". I honestly doubt anyone has ever done anything special for the plants since they've been planted in the yard other than to shoo away the deer. (Who seem to ignore it for the most part, even in tough years.)

Does anyone have any ideas on what type of fig it is? I know you folks get a lot of "name this fig" questions from newbies; I'm more interested in just finding out what type it is so I know what it needs.

And any ideas on what can be done to help it produce fruit? My folks love figs, and have a huge old, flourishing fig at their home in southern California -- they'd love to have figs up north, too. I know some figs need special pollination -- is there anything that can be done or should they just be pleased with the fact that it's gren, it grows, and the deer don't munch it to the ground?

Thanks for any advice!

One of the figs, big picture:

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Closeup of a leaf:

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