10 Rare Tomatoes with Unbelievable Looks

10 Rare Tomatoes with Unbelievable Looks

The tomato, a star fruit in our gardens, hides an incredible and often unknown biodiversity. Beyond the classic varieties found in supermarkets, there are hundreds of rare and heirloom tomatoes that stand out with their unique shapes, colors, and flavors. These heritage varieties, true treasures of agricultural heritage, are a testament to the genetic richness found in the plant world. Growing these rare tomatoes is a way to preserve this diversity while bringing originality to your garden. Discover 10 exceptional varieties that, with their unusual appearances, will take you on a journey through the fascinating world of tomato biodiversity.

1. Tulip Yellow: The Banana-Shaped Tomato

The Tulip Yellow astonishes with its elongated shape, reminiscent of a banana. Its bright yellow, streaked with red, catches the eye. Firm, with a high dry matter content, it’s perfect for cooking or for making confit tomatoes.

2. Curly Kaley: The Kale-Leafed Tomato

The Curly Kaley is a fascinating tomato with unusual foliage that looks like kale leaves. This variety also stands out for its ultra-compact growth and small oval tomatoes. Hard to germinate, tricky to grow, low-yielding, and somewhat tasteless... yet, it's still an incredibly charming tomato. We love it!!!

Note: We tried grafting the Curly tomato onto an F1 rootstock with spectacular results! Highly recommended!

Don’t hesitate to check out our article on tomato grafting.

3. Cote d’zébra: A Green Zebra But… Brown!

If you’re familiar with the famous Green Zebra, let yourself be surprised by the Cote d’zébra With its distinctive stripes and “terra cotta” color (a green turning towards orange/brown), this tomato combines aesthetics with a unique flavor. Its flesh is juicy, sweet with a pleasantly acidic touch, perfect for salads packed with character.

4. Babylon’s Glow: The Mango-Flavored Tomato

The Babylon’s Glow is a dwarf variety (tomato Dwarf) with terra cotta-colored fruits and a tropical flavor. Its special feature? An extremely sweet taste reminiscent of mango, offering a unique taste experience. It’s ideal for adding an exotic note to your recipes.

5. Smiley Worms: The "penis" Tomato

The Smiley Worms is probably the most amusing variety in this selection. Nicknamed (by my 5-year-old son) the "penis tomato" due to its fun and quirky shapes. It’s sure to make your guests smile. Both playful and tasty, it’s perfect for livening up appetizers and creative salads. Excellent for making confit tomatoes.

6. Stick: The Feather Duster Tomato

The Stick is an astonishing tomato, also known as the "feather duster" tomato due to its peculiar appearance. Its upright growth and tiny fruits make it a must-cultivate curiosity. While not particularly flavorful, newer varieties have recently emerged, which are much better (stick yellow, stick bronze, mooncalf, stick blue)

7. Lucinda: The Carrot-Leafed Tomato

The Lucinda catches the eye with its fine, delicate leaves that resemble those of a carrot. In addition to its unique foliage, this tomato produces round fruits similar to Green Zebra. Perfect for those seeking tomatoes with a distinctive aesthetic.

8. Nimu: The Albino Tomato

The Nimu is an albino tomato that stands out due to its variegation (a depigmentation of the foliage) Potatoes leaf . This rare variety is perfect for those looking to step outside the norm with tomatoes that have a surprising look. A dwarf tomato, it can be grown in pots and produces beautiful, sweet-flavored fruits.

9. Primary Colors Angora: The Wooly Tomato

The Primary Colors Angora is a botanical curiosity with its fuzzy fruits, stems, and leaves, hence its nickname "the fuzzy tomato." Its vibrant colors, ranging from blue to yellow, make it a true rainbow in your dishes. Unfortunately, the taste doesn’t quite live up to its appearance.  (for a better alternative, try the Extravagante Rouffiange ).But it’s certainly the fuzziest of them all. 

10. Purpura Rits: The Instagram Tomato

The Purpura Rits is a social media star thanks to its purple stripes and photogenic appearance. Sadly, in the real world, it’s a different story… Nonetheless, it remains an enjoyable tomato to grow, if only for its beauty in the garden.

Bonus: Voyage, the Shareable Tomato

The Voyage is a unique, ancient variety, made up of small tomatoes fused together. Easy to separate and share, it’s ideal for appetizers and picnics (or to share on a “Voyage”, hence the name). Recently, new varieties derived from this lineage have appeared: Phil’s One and Phil’s two

Conclusion

These 10 rare tomatoes are more than just visual curiosities. Each brings unique flavors and textures that will turn your garden into a true gem of biodiversity. By cultivating these heritage varieties, you’re helping to preserve plant diversity while adding a touch of originality to your recipes. Whether you’re a passionate gardener or a creative cooking enthusiast, these rare tomatoes are sure to pique your curiosity and delight your taste buds.