This hardy fig tree can take subfreezing temperatures, dying back in the fall and resprouting in the spring. The medium-size fruit ripens to a delicious, sweetness in late summer and early fall. For northern growers, give Fig Chicago Hardy a heavy mulch with hay or leaves when dormant. An excellent candidate for pot culture, this easy-to-grow fig is also known as ‘Bensonhurst Purple.’ Its origins are from Sicily.