Italian 258 and Genovese Nero are two excellent figs we grow. They are very similar and some assert that they are the same. That might be the case but it is impossible to say for sure. Usually the Genovese Nero fruit seem to have a more syrupy texture than the Italian 258, though that was not the case when this video was recorded yesterday. Italian 258 was imported by Todd Kennedy from Dr. Giorio Grassi in Italy who had reportedly collected figs in southern Italy. I had met Dr. Grassi at a chestnut conference in 2001 and communicated with him by email in 2015, but he had no further information regarding these numbered varieties as his notes were lost when he moved his office to Rome. Genovese Nero was introduced to collectors by Adriano Ferreira of Canada and the Genovese portion of the name would indicate that this fig originated from Genoa in northern Italy. If you have room grow at least one tree of each!
