I would advise you to learn more before a "collection" where you end up with the same figs with different names or generally not suitable for your needs. Sellers mismark figs and sometimes know zero about them. Some sellers I consider shady sell the same fig under different names showing either fignorance or intentional deception. An example is the Blanche fig is also sold as White Marseille, Lattarulla, Italian Honey and even Lemon sometimes. And often the one labeled White Marseille is still being sold and is actually a Tena fig. Either way I do not buy from them. Growing zones are often wrong and every fig sold is wonderful according to the seller.
Learn that the university developed figs were developed for specific purposes. For example all figs introduced by the University of California (UC) were created by Ira Condit at UC to provide the California commercial growers common fig alternatives to the Smyrna type Calimyrna for dried figs. As example, the UC Tena fig will grow in many places but is not known as a great fresh eating fig, dried is where it shines. Another example is the LSU Gold was a processing fig and was to be picked "firm ripe" to ship for fig paste where sugar is added. So it also is not a great fresh eating fig. Kadota was a found sport of the Dottato and is a great sugar added canned fig but also not a great fresh fig. Louisiana State University developed 6 released figs with the goal of commercial figs for LA. The LSU Purple, Champagne and Tiger were home garden/ u-pick-em farm figs, consistent, reliable and sweet plus the important "pretty" figs. The star is the LSU Scott's Black in taste and a very good fresh fig. One of my fav's.
What other requirements do you have, size? Some figs can be had in a so called dwarf versions like the Little Miss figgy (LMF) is just a smaller sport of the Violette De Bordeaux (VDB) fig and a really good fig in either. Also don't buy what you can get cheap or free during cutting rooting time. Most of us trim our trees to keep them at a pick able height. Some sell or give away and some just chunk the trimmings.
Rooting fig cuttings is simple as pie! That is a boldfaced lie.......once you learn HOW it is simple. So get free or low cost cuttings to kill in the learning process. And you will, we all did. Patience is the key here, just because you read of folks that have a crop in a miracle year don't expect it. From cutting you can see a few figs early. Don't count on a substantial crop early, on average 4-5 years for my 29 in ground trees. Some plants like my Emerald Strawberry in ground has never made a fig in 5 years, yet 2 cuttings from it have figlets on them in only 6 months. Will they be a fruit representing the mature fruit? No, they will be in a technical term yuckie! Tissue Cultured (T/C) fig are something many of us have had disastrous results with. At 6 years in I still have 1 unknown and one that has never fruited. 50% of my T/C's were NOT what they were labeled. So much to learn so slow down and spend more time learning than spending unless unlike me you not constrained with other needs for $$, like cars, audio, guns, remodeling house, grandkids and travel. Then comes figs! OH! Add wife to the list!
Watch for my annual cutting give away for newbies in February for new members in the previous year. Last year folks received about 20 cutting of a six types for under $10 postage. Looking like LSU Purple, Scott's Black and Champagne. VDB, Tena, Celeste and others.
Fig on and ask questions, you will find many people with lots of good advice on the fig forums.
