Female fig types.
Common: These figs are self-pollinating, so they don’t need the pollen from a capri fig to ripen fruit.
San Pedro: These figs need pollen to ripen the main crop but not the breba crop.
Smyrna: These figs need to be pollenated to ripen any fruit breba or main.
Capri figs.
Capri figs are male trees a few of them are pretty tasty but the majority are less than appetizing.
These trees have the pollen around the ostiole, normaly the fig wasp female would enter though the ostiole and lay her eggs, these would hatch and carry the pollen with them when exiting the figs.
Why Pollinate Figs?
There are many reasons, but there is mainly one of concern to those who just want a backyard fig orchard. Caprified figs are generally sweeter, have more seed crunch, better flavor, texture and looks no matter the type.
Now you can still ripen Smyrna figs if you don’t have the wasp, you can grow capri figs or buy pollen and pollinate each fig yourself by brushing the ostioles with pollen.