What is a black mission fig tree?

Black mission fig trees are fig cultivars that originated in the Balearic Islands in the Western Mediterranean Sea. Their figs have purple-black skin and pink flesh that can be eaten fresh or dried. They do best in tropical or subtropical climates and can be grown in large pots.

The fig is one of the oldest cultivated plants known to man. There is evidence of fig cultivation dating back 11,200 to 11,400 years. Fig trees are indigenous to the Middle East and Asia. In 1979, black mission figs were brought to America via Mexico, where they were a favorite in the Catholic missions. They are now the most popular fig grown in California.