Ficus carica (Fig Tree)

Ficus carica (Fig Tree) cut purple fruit close up showing pink juicy seeded interior pulp.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) cut fruit showing purple skin and pink center filled with tiny seeds.

Botanical name: Ficus carica

Common names: Fig Tree, Brevo

Family: Moraceae

Origin: Southwest Asia

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

USDA Zone: 7-10

Plant type: Fruit
Fruit type: Fig
Small tree 10-20 ftPlant used for bonsaiPlant form: Small tree; suitable for bonsai
Plant mature sizeMature height: 10-20 ft
Full sunSun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor
Subtropical plant. Mature plant cold hardy at least to 30s F for a short timeCold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.
Watering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Moderate
Suitable forSuitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing
Ornamental foliageFoliage color: Ornamental foliage
Deciduous plantFoliage: Deciduous
Flood tolerant plantFlood tolerance: High

A small tree native to southwest Asia. Widely grown for its fruit and is commercially grown in the United States in California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. The fig was one of the first plants ever to be cultivated by humans. Fossilized figs dating to 9400-9200 BC were found in an early Neolithic village in the Jordan Valley.

The lovely lobed green leaves make it valuable in the landscape even without its fruit. They are very large, prominently veined and deeply lobed and may be 8 to 10 inches long. Most figs are deciduous during the winter months and drop their leaves in late December and resume growth in February and early March.

The fig fruit is actually a hollow receptacle with hundreds of small fleshy flowers facing each other on the inside. In their native habitat, figs are pollinated by a tiny gall wasp that enters the flower cluster through a small opening in the apex. Each flower then produces a small fruit containing the seeds. The wasp is not present in most of North America, so seeds are not produced.

Figs are prized for their delicious fruit, which can be one to three inches in length, violet, brown or black. There are even varieties with yellow fruit. Most fruits are borne from early summer to late fall on new growth, and the fruits generally mature very quickly.

Figs grow nicely and will bear fruit when grown in containers where they can be artfully pruned to create a living sculpture to decorate deck or patio. The fig makes a splendid patio or indoor plant that grows with little attention, save for constantly moist soil and bright light. Prefers alkaline, well-drained soil, but can tolerate wet conditions (waterlogging). Drought tolerant, once established. Mulch heavily with organic materials to conserve moisture, improve soil structure and reduce root knot nematode levels. Responds well to pruning and can be espaliered or pruned heavily in the dormant season for size control and to increase the main crop.

Trees are very sensitive to frost when actively growing, but can withstand 10F when dormant. Young fig trees should be watered regularly until fully established.

Figs will shade out anything growing beneath. Repeated pruning to control size causes loss of crop. Roots are greedy, traveling far beyond the tree canopy. For container grown plants, replace most of the soil in the tub every three years and keep the sides of the tub shaded to prevent overheating in sunlight.

See article about Fig Tree.

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Image gallery: 44 images
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit close up on a plate with amber interior pulp.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) fruit halves on a plate reveal a juicy amber center and green skin.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves seedling sprout in a close up plant photo.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) seedling with small green leaves starting to grow in dark soil.
Ficus carica purple fruit cross section close up showing pink interior and seeds
Ficus carica fruit sliced open on a plate reveal pink inner texture
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves on a plant, close up of foliage.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves spreading outward from the stems against textured stone.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves on a plant, close up view of branches.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green foliage covering branches in a dense cluster of growth.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves and small fruit on a dark brown stem.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) includes palmately lobed green leaves and developing immature fruit on stems.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) dark purple fruit on a plate, close up.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced open to reveal inner red pulp on a plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves with small purple fruit growing in round pots
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green lobed leaves and ripening purple fruit in terracotta pots
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves and small fruit on a potted plant top view
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with broad green lobed leaves and small fruit in a plastic container
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) dark purple fruit close up against a blue background
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) fruit in dark purple skin resting on a blue surface
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) dark purple skin with pink interior fruit close up
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced open on a plate alongside whole dark purple fruit
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) dark purple fruit close up resting on a blue surface.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) whole fruit and cut section on a surface with pulp visible.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple skin fruit close up on blue surface
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced open exposing pink interior pulp on blue surface
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves in plastic pots, small plant close up.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with broad green lobed leaves planted within individual grey plastic containers.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple and pink fruit close up on a plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) whole and halved purple fruits arranged on a blue plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green yellow striped fruit on a wooden table close up
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) fruit whole and sliced with textured pink pulp on a wooden table.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit close up on a table
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced open to reveal soft pink pulp among whole green fruit.
Ficus carica purple and green fruit on a plate, close up view
Ficus carica purple and green fruit resting on a checkered plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple pink fruit close up sitting on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) showing a cross section of purple fruit resting on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple fruit, close up on a plate with sliced halves.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple fruits sitting on a plate including a cut open half.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple yellow fruit close up, textured skin, ripe round food
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple yellow round fruit sitting on a plate for close inspection
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple pink fruit close up split on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) split fruit halved on a plate with purple skin and pink pulp.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) dark purple fruit on blue background, close up of fruit
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple fruit resting on a plate, including one sliced open portion.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit on branches close up, natural sunlight hitting round skin
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green fruit ripening on wooden branches amidst wide lobed leaves
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple and yellow fruit close up resting on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple and yellow fruit sitting on a white plate after harvest
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit hanging on a branch in a close up.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) heavy with round green fruit ripening among large lobed foliage.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit and leaves on branches under clear sky.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) heavy with small green fruit among lobed leaves on branches.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow green striped fruit close up lying flat on wooden surface
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow green striped fruit cut open revealing deep red interior flesh
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with round green fruit on a plate, close up shot.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) ripe fruit halves and whole pieces sit on a plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced red fruit close up lying on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced red fruit arranged with a knife on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple and red round fruit close up on a plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) fruit resting on a plate showing deep purple and reddish skins.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) purple skin red pulp fruit close up on white plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) halved fruit revealing red pulp and purple skin on white plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves close up showing deep lobes and palm shaped foliage
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with broad green leaves and deeply lobed edges on the branch
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) white trunk and green leaves forming dense canopy tree
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) trunk with smooth white bark supporting wide canopy of green foliage.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green fruit with pink interior, close up on a plate.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) cut open on a plate revealing pink pulp inside green skin.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves close up showing deeply lobed foliage on a branch.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green foliage showcasing long lobes held near a textured stone surface.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green leaves on a plant against a textured stone wall
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with deeply lobed green leaves growing against a rough stone wall
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) green plant with dark purple round fruit close up view
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green foliage and dark purple ripening fruit in small containers
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with purple fruit and green leaves in a close up view
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with round purple fruit and lobed green leaves in terracotta pots
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with green lobed leaves on a young woody plant structure.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with broad lobed green leaves growing from a brown woody stem.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow fruit cut in half close up on a plate
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) sliced open to reveal light yellow pulp and small seeds inside
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow fruit close up split open revealing juicy inner pulp sections.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) split open yellow fruit held within human hands for a close look.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow fruit and green leaves close up held in hand
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) yellow fruit attached to a branch with lobed green leaves
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with purple and yellow fruit, a close up image.
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) with purple and yellow fruit growing from a wooden stem.


Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/ficus_carica.htm
Ficus carica (Fig Tree) cut purple fruit close up showing pink juicy seeded interior pulp.

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