Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: Ficus
Species: Ficus carica

General Info

The Common Fig is a large shrub or small tree native to southwest Asia and the eastern Mediterranean region.

It grows to a height of 3-10 m tall, with smooth grey bark.

The leaves are deciduous, 12-25 cm long and 10-18 cm across, and deeply lobed with three or five lobes.

The fruit is the well-known fig, 3-5 cm long, green ripening purple.

Figs can be eaten fresh or dried, and used in jam-making. Most commercial production is as dried or otherwise processed forms, since the ripe fruit does not transport well, and once picked does not keep well.

Plant on 15 ft. centers. Plant on south side of a building for winter protection. Figs are a warm-temperature fruit, but under optimum conditions will withstand temperatures down to 10 degrees F. Little maintenance required. All varieties are self-fruitful.

Pruning

Figs require minimum pruning. Prune to maintain size and to remove damaged wood. If desired, figs can be pruned to single trunk for tree form or multiple trunks for a bush form. In the South, the most prevalent shape is the bush form.

Planting Info

Spacing  10' x 10'

Soil PH 6.0

Moisture Requirement High

Pruning Requirement Low

VARIETIES

BROWN TURKEY - Developed from Celeste. Very prolific, bears on young wood. Fruit is medium in size, bronze skin with white flesh. Fruit good for making preserves, very sweet. Long ripening season is from mid-July through mid-September.

CELESTE - Large tree. Most widely planted variety in this area. Bears on two-year-old wood. Excellent fruit quality, good for fresh eating and preserves. Medium fruit is resistant to souring and splitting. Begins ripening in June and continues to produce fruit for 3 - 6 weeks.

LSU PURPLE - Newest LSU release. Fruit are medium in size with a glossy, purple skin. Fruit may be produced on young trees one-two years old. Variety is considered ever bearing with potentially three crops a year, but heavy crop peaks in early July. Tree is vigorous, upright growing, and has shown above average cold tolerance.