Ficus carica ''Paradiso Genova JM'

Paradiso Genova (JM) Fig

Paradiso (JM) is the Paradiso selection associated with Joe Morle, and is an important cultivar to distinguish from the numerous unrelated figs circulating under the Paradiso name. Also known as Paradiso Genova and Joe Morle Paradiso, this selection is reported to trace to Genoa, Italy and is generally classified with the Brunswick family of figs.

The fruit is notably large, with green to golden-bronze skin that can develop darker bronze or brown coloration with sun exposure. The interior is pink to strawberry-colored, soft and juicy. Its flavor leans toward sweet, rich sugar and honey notes rather than the intense dark-berry character of cultivars such as Black Madeira. Fully ripened fruit can be excellent, particularly when warm and dry weather allows it to reach peak ripeness on the tree.

Paradiso (JM) is also capable of producing an impressive breba crop on overwintered wood. This has been one of its standout characteristics in our Northeast Ohio collection: harvesting Pear-size large breba fruit in late July, providing substantial fruit well before the main crop begins. Our main crop begins ripening around mid-September, giving Paradiso (JM) a surprisingly useful season for a fig capable of producing fruit of this size.

The cultivar does have an important weakness: wet-weather performance. Its relatively open eye, short stem, and large fruit can make ripe figs susceptible to taking on water, splitting, or developing spoilage around the eye during rainy or humid weather. We have observed this tendency ourselves in Northeast Ohio. 

The cultivar has produced repeatedly in a Zone 6 climate, with documented first ripe main-crop fruit around late August to early September in multiple seasons. Our Northeast Ohio experience similarly demonstrates that Paradiso (JM) can produce both a useful breba crop and ripe main-crop fruit in the Great Lakes region.

Paradiso (JM) is therefore a fig with a genuine tradeoff: very large, attractive fruit and excellent northern cropping potential, balanced against below-average rain resistance. In containers or protected locations where moisture can be controlled, its weaknesses become much easier to manage. For northern growers willing to watch the weather and harvest promptly, the combination of large breba, substantial main-crop fruit, and proven regional performance makes Paradiso (JM) a particularly interesting cultivar.

Type: Common fig (Ficus carica)
Synonyms/Associated Names: Paradiso Genova; Joe Morle Paradiso; Paradiso Morle; Paradiso Genoa; Bronze Paradiso; Paradiso Bronze; Paraiso
Origin: Reported from Genoa, Italy
Introduced/Distributed By: Joe Morle
Family/Type: Brunswick group
Fruit: Large to very large; green, yellow-green to bronze skin
Pulp: Pink to strawberry-colored; soft and juicy
Flavor: Rich sugar and honey; sweet, mild fruit character
Eye: Open
Breba: Yes; large and worthwhile when overwintered wood is preserved
Season: Breba in summer; relatively early-to-mid main crop for a large-fruited fig
Growth: Vigorous and productive
Rain Resistance: Below average; susceptible to splitting and spoilage around the open eye
Pollination: Not required
Commercial SKU: FIG-PGEN
Cold-Climate Notes: Paradiso (JM) has performed surprisingly well for us in Northeast Ohio. Our accession has produced large breba in late July and main-crop fruit beginning around early to mid-September, demonstrating that it can deliver two useful crops when previous-season wood survives the winter. Its primary northern limitation is not necessarily season length, but wet autumn weather: large fruit and an open eye make it considerably more susceptible to splitting and spoilage during prolonged rain. Preserving overwintered wood for breba production and providing a warm location with some protection from late-season rain can play particularly well to this cultivar's strengths.