What I've read is that the CA Brown Turkey and Black Jack are very similar in fruit, but that the CA BT is a much larger tree, and the BJ is much smaller and does well in pots. My BJ has certainly stayed small. Don't have a CA BT to compare.

A number of sources equate the Blackjack with California Brown Turkey but it isn't so. My Blackjack produces some of the largest dark purple-black figs I have ever seen. In the fall, a number of stores here sell California Brown Turkey figs. They don't look nor do they taste anything like my Blackjack figs. My personal opinion is that the CBT tastes inferior compared to the Blackjack fig. On the other hand, my Blackjack is a small tree and is not a prolific bearer.

Leon_Edmond: Is your Blackjack potted or outdoors/inground?
Gene, may I ask you the same question? Just wondered how prolific an outdoor/inground Blackjack would be.

If left to their own devices, fig trees can grow to be quite big. The BT down the street from me is about 18' in diameter and probably about 13-15' tall. However, you have some control over their size through pruning and root management... more so when they are in containers. It does take effort, but it is possible. I have attached a link to a pic of a 40 year old tree in a container at Belleclare Nuresery.

Here is a link that might be useful: 40 Year Old Tree

That 40 year old potted Belleclare fig tree looks awesome,
what kind is it?
George (NJ).

I don't know what variety it is, but it is my inspiration when I prune my trees.

I've got a BlackJack planted in the ground. Had it for five years. Transplanted it once. Will probably replace it this year with another fig tree. Has little vigor. Fertilized the heck out of it this year, got about 25-30 fruits, very little growth (about 6"), but a lot of leaves. The fruits are large and purple and taste good. Seems like the hotter the weather, the better the flavor.

California Brown turkey is sold and grown a lot around here. The trees I've seen grow to about 12-15 feet and produce a lot of fruit. A colleague of mine from coastal Orange county brings some excess harvest to the office. The fruits are edible but not real sweet. At my son's school in the San Gabriel Valley (~25 miles inland) there is a Brown Turkey tree that gives some of the sweetest fruit. However, they get consistent 80-90 deg temps. It's problably true for most figs that you need good hot weather to ripen figs to their sweetest.

Here's a web site that might give some good ideas about varieties suitable for a coastal environment. Good luck. http://home.att.net/~oc_crfg/fig-2.htm

Here is a link that might be useful: Best Figs for Coastal Southern California