Rhonda de Bordeaux Fig — Zone 7b Cold Hardiness Performance Reference

Overview

Rhonda de Boureaux is a dark-fruited fig variety added to the Giles County Figs collection in Fall 2025 for structured evaluation under Zone 7b growing conditions. The variety has circulated in some collections under the abbreviated name R d B, which is retained here as an alias. For clarity and consistency, this reference uses the full name while preserving continuity through a stable reference ID.

This page documents how Rhonda de Boureaux behaves in Pulaski, Tennessee, with emphasis on establishment, cold response, recovery behavior, and orchard suitability over time. Observations are grounded in direct experience and interpreted within the context of environment and management. This reference does not assume performance based on reputation alone and is intended to evolve gradually as additional seasons of data accumulate.

Why We’re Trialing This Fig in Zone 7b

Rhonda de Boureaux was selected for trial because it represents a category of figs that are often under-documented yet potentially valuable: dark-fruited varieties that circulate outside mainstream commercial channels. In Zone 7b, uncertainty around winter response and recovery behavior can make such varieties difficult to evaluate without direct observation.

The purpose of this trial is to determine whether Rhonda de Boureaux can function reliably within the constraints of a cold-edge orchard. Key questions include how the plant responds to winter stress, how quickly growth resumes in spring, and whether recovery supports timely fruit development rather than extended vegetative rebuilding. These questions matter more than minimum temperature claims when assessing long-term orchard value.

Plant Size & Establishment Status

This plant was grown from a fall cutting and advanced under controlled nursery conditions before orchard evaluation. Growth from a six-inch, four-node cutting to approximately 24 inches in height reflects both varietal response and the growing environment. During establishment, plants were up-potted three times to support root development, and long terminal growth was intentionally topped to encourage lateral branching. Watering was consistent at approximately one gallon per plant twice weekly using collected rainwater, with a very dilute fertilizer solution applied throughout. Drainage was immediate, and excess water was captured and reused. Observations are interpreted in the context of these conditions rather than as fixed indicators of in-ground performance.

At this stage, emphasis is placed on structural development and root establishment rather than productivity. Container growth provides context for early behavior but does not define how the plant will perform once exposed to winter conditions and unrestricted root expansion.

Growth Habit & Vigor (Early Observations)

Early observations suggest that Rhonda de Boureaux exhibits moderate to strong vegetative vigor under nursery conditions. Growth has been upright, with internode spacing remaining within a moderate range. Following topping, the plant responded by producing lateral branches rather than reasserting a single dominant leader, indicating flexibility in growth distribution.

These characteristics are useful for understanding how the plant responds to early management decisions such as topping and spacing. However, early vigor is not treated as a predictor of long-term orchard performance. Growth habit will be reassessed after winter exposure, when recovery patterns and shoot balance become clearer indicators of functional resilience.

Orchard Use & Placement Strategy

Rhonda de Boureaux is being evaluated primarily as an in-ground orchard candidate rather than a container-dependent variety. Initial placement considerations favor a bush-form structure, which allows multiple renewal points in the event of winter dieback. This approach often provides greater flexibility in Zone 7b than a single-trunk form.

Site selection emphasizes full sun exposure, adequate airflow, and some protection from prevailing winter winds. Final spacing and training decisions will be informed by how the plant responds to its first winter and how evenly growth resumes in spring. A fig that reestablishes balanced growth across multiple shoots is more easily integrated into a low-intervention orchard system.

Cold Hardiness Considerations (Zone 7b)

Cold hardiness is a central concern for Rhonda de Boureaux in a Zone 7b orchard. In this reference, hardiness is not defined by a single temperature threshold. Instead, it is evaluated as a functional system response that includes the depth of dieback during winter stress, the speed of spring recovery, and the plant’s ability to return to productive growth within the local season.

At this stage, Rhonda de Boureaux is not assumed to be either highly cold-hardy or cold-sensitive. Its behavior will be observed across multiple winters to determine whether it tolerates dieback in a way that supports reliable recovery, or whether it requires more deliberate protection to maintain consistency. Survival alone is not considered sufficient; functional reliability is the standard applied here.

This reference evaluates recovery behavior and orchard suitability, not fruit quality comparisons.

Winter Protection Strategy (Zone 7b)

Initial observation of Rhonda de Boureaux will occur under standard Zone 7b winter conditions with minimal intervention. This allows natural dieback patterns and recovery timing to be documented without masking behavior through heavy protection. Root zones may be mulched for protection, but above-ground structure will be evaluated based on natural exposure.

Future protection strategies may be adjusted if observations indicate that moderate intervention improves consistency without adding unnecessary complexity. The goal is not to eliminate winter stress entirely, but to understand whether Rhonda de Boureaux can tolerate it while maintaining a productive growth rhythm.

Expected Ripening Window (Local Estimate)

At present, the ripening window for Rhonda de Boureaux under Zone 7b conditions remains undetermined. Based on general characteristics of similar dark-fruited figs, it may fall within the mid-season range, but this estimate is intentionally cautious.

Ripening behavior will be evaluated once fruiting occurs and compared directly with established orchard references. Timing is considered alongside reliability, as a fig that ripens consistently within the available season may prove more valuable than one with an earlier but inconsistent window.

Flavor & Fruit Notes

Fruit quality has not yet been evaluated under local conditions. Characteristics such as size, sweetness, texture, seed presence, and overall eating quality will be documented once Rhonda de Boureaux begins producing fruit in the orchard. Flavor notes will reflect fruit grown in this environment rather than descriptions drawn from external sources.

Consistency across seasons will be considered alongside peak quality, recognizing that environmental stress can significantly influence fruit expression in dark-fruited figs.

What Early Growth Can — and Cannot — Tell Us

Early vegetative growth provides insight into how a fig responds to controlled inputs, but it does not determine long-term orchard value. Strong early growth may reflect favorable nursery conditions rather than inherent resilience, just as slower establishment does not preclude later productivity.

For this reason, early observations of Rhonda de Boureaux are treated as contextual information rather than conclusions. Each season adds data, allowing interpretation to evolve without contradiction or revision of earlier observations.

How This Fig Fits Into the Giles County Orchard Plan

Rhonda de Boureaux contributes to the broader effort to understand how a diverse range of dark-fruited figs perform at the colder edge of fig cultivation. Its behavior will inform decisions about cultivar selection, orchard spacing, and winter management strategies for similar varieties.

Whether this fig ultimately becomes a core orchard planting or remains a comparative reference, its documented performance adds clarity to how less-common fig varieties respond to real-world Zone 7b conditions.