Do you want to sink your teeth into a fruit that tastes like pure honey? Make this dream a reality and try the Peter’s Honey Fig.

This unique fruit variety tastes extremely sweet, and it’s also easy to cultivate at home. This fast-growing tree adds ornamental value to your backyard with little maintenance work.

Intrigued to know more? Below, you’ll learn all about this uber-sweet fig, including why it’s called Peter’s Honey.

So read on to discover everything you need to know about the Peter’s Honey Fig, including the physical attributes, flavor, and how to grow your own.

Looking to buy a Peter’s Honey fig tree? Check availability.

Yellow figs resembling Peter's honey figs.

Characteristics of the Peter’s Honey Fig

Before we dive into eating and growing the Peter’s Honey Fig, let’s look at some key characteristics of this species.

What Does the Plant Look Like?

The Peter’s Honey Fig is a medium-sized tree variety that grows in a round formation. It has lobed leaves with chartreuse veins that pop against the emerald color.

While the leaves are sought-after for their ornamental qualities, this tree doesn’t change color in the fall, so it’s mostly used for summer landscaping.

Fruit Attributes

During the warmer months, the tree starts developing green pomes that blend in with the foliage. These baseball-sized fruits eventually turn yellow, which signals that it’s time to harvest.

After cutting through the leathery skin, you’ll find a spongy interior with a white pulp and amber core. The part closest to the skin has a creamy texture but it gets more syrupy towards the center.

History of the Peter’s Honey Fig

The Peter’s Honey Fig tree was introduced to the US by the late Peter Danna. He brought it from his birthplace of Sicily to his home in Portland, Oregon, where the locals hailed it as the superior fig variety.

Danna was an important figurehead in the produce business and is considered to be a green-thumb trailblazer by the Portland gardening community. This fig variety is appropriately named after him to celebrate his legacy in horticulture.

Ways to Enjoy

The Peter’s Honey Fig is made to be deliciously savored. Whether you consume it raw or use it in cooking, you’ll have equally fantastic results.

Two yellow figs, one cut in half, similar to the Peter's honey fig.

What Does It Taste Like?

As the name suggests, this fig variety bursts with a honey-like sweetness. Some enthusiasts even claim that it tastes like pure, unadulterated honey. This sugary fig melts in your mouth and is a must-try if you love syrupy fruit.

You do have to get through the tough, leathery skin before enjoying the fruit, but it’s a small price to pay for near perfection.

How Can I Use It in Cooking?

While the Peter’s Honey Fig is delectable on its own, you can use it in cooking and baking in many delicious ways.

Imagine how good the Peter’s Honey Fig would taste when caramelized with honey and butter and then served over ice cream. If this sounds like heaven, try making these honey-roasted figs.

If you’re a fan of charcuterie boards, try whipping up a batch of this fig and walnut jam. The sweetness of the Peter’s Honey Fig will enhance all the savory accoutrements.

For a real culinary adventure, try our recipe for fig pizza!

A fig and gorgonzola cheese pizza. — Fig and gorgonzola pizza.

Health Benefits

Figs pack a mean punch in the nutrition department, and the Peter’s Honey Fig is no exception.

Like all figs, this variety can aid in healthy digestion thanks to the fiber content. It also helps increase healthy bacteria in your gut, which benefits long-term colon health.

Since figs are rich in antioxidants, they may contain properties that help prevent diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke. At the very least, eating a diet rich in figs can help improve blood pressure and vascular health.

The benefits don’t stop at just eating the Peter’s Honey Fig, it’s also good for your skin. Infusing a cream with fig extract is a promising natural remedy for those who suffer from itchy skin.

Growing Your Own Peter’s Honey Fig

Are you tempted to add this sugary-sweet fig to your edible garden? Below, you’ll learn how to grow your own Peter’s Honey Fig tree.

Where to Plant

The Peter’s Honey Fig will grow in US hardiness zones between 6-9. While it thrives in warmer areas, you can still grow this fig in cooler climates if it receives enough sunshine. Choose a sunny area in your yard that receives 6-8 hours of light.

Try to locate a spot close to a wall or fence to prevent wind damage. If you’re planting multiple trees, be sure to keep them at least 12 feet apart for the best results.

When to Plant

The best time to plant your Peter’s Honey Fig tree is during the late winter or early spring. Choose a time after the last frost has hit since this tree won’t survive temperatures below 20 degrees.

Soil & Watering

Person planting a young fig tree sapling.

The great thing about Peter’s Honey Fig trees is that they thrive in many different types of soil. Just plant them in soil with ample drainage to encourage below-ground development.

You can also add a balanced fertilizer before planting your tree, but avoid using one rich in nitrogen since this will encourage leaf growth at the expense of fruit.

Aim to water your Peter’s Honey Fig tree every two weeks with a heavy pour. A good rule of thumb is to place a handprint in the soil. If it sticks, your tree is well-watered.

When Does it Harvest Fruit?

The best feature of the Peter’s Honey Fig tree is that you can expect fruit just after 1-2 years. However, this only happens if your tree receives 6-8 hours of sunlight and isn’t exposed to frost.

Container Planting

If you live in an area with heavy winters or have a small yard, consider planting your fig tree in a container. With proper pruning, it can grow up to 10 feet tall.

Be sure to bring it inside when the weather freezes and place it in a sunny warm spot. While your container tree probably won’t produce fruit, it will still provide ornamental value to your surroundings.

Where to Buy a Tree

Have we convinced you to try growing your own Peter’s Honey Fig tree? If so, you won’t be sorry!

You can purchase this sweet species at various retailers, but we recommend Nature Hills for superior quality.

Check Price

Wrapping up the Peter’s Honey Fig

Green yellow figs with pale pink centers like Peter's honey figs.

We must thank Peter for bringing this uber-sweet fig variety to the US!

It goes big on the flavor and is easy to grow and maintain, so you can enjoy fresh figs straight from the source.
If you want to learn more tips for growing fig plants, check out our Fig Trees page before you get started.