What hardiness zones is Ficus carica suitable for?

Ficus carica is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 7, 8, 9.

What are the sun requirements for Ficus carica?

Ficus carica requires Full Sun.

How much water does Ficus carica need?

Ficus carica has Low water needs.

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Broadleaf Deciduous Trees

Ficus carica

common fig

Moraceae

Western Asia and eastern Mediterranean; cultivated for 11,000+ years

At a Glance

TypeShrub

HabitSpreading

FoliageDeciduous

Height10-20 feet (3-6 m)

Width10-20 feet (3-6 m)

Maturity4 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

7 - 9

Zone 7

Zone 8

Zone 9

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Drought Tolerant

Container Friendly

Maintenancemoderate

Overview

Ficus carica (common fig) is a deciduous large shrub or small tree native to western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, reaching 10–20 feet (3–6 m) tall and 10–20 feet (3–6 m) wide with a broad, multi-stemmed, spreading to rounded form and distinctive smooth gray bark on sculptural gnarled branches. It is one of the oldest cultivated fruit plants in human history — figs have been grown for food for at least 11,000 years. The botanical structure of the fig fruit is unique: what we call a 'fig' is technically a syconium — an enclosed, fleshy receptacle containing hundreds of tiny flowers on its inner surface. The flowers are never visible externally; the fruit and flower are effectively the same structure turned inside out. Large, deeply 3–5-lobed leaves 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) across with a rough texture and distinctive fig scent when bruised give the plant a bold, subtropical appearance through summer. The milky white latex sap present in all cut stems and leaves can cause skin irritation and phytophotodermatitis (chemical burns intensified by sunlight) — wear gloves when pruning. In the Pacific Northwest, figs thrive in warm sheltered microclimates — south- or west-facing walls, urban heat islands, and protected courtyards — where summer heat accumulates. 'Brown Turkey' and 'Desert King' are the most reliable PNW cultivars. Root restriction (growing in containers or planting in confined spaces) encourages fruiting. In warm PNW sites, two crops are possible: a breba (early) crop on previous year's wood ripening in July, and a main crop on current year's wood ripening August through October. Great Plant Picks endorsed.

Native Range

Native to western Asia and the eastern Mediterranean, from Turkey and the Middle East west to the Canary Islands. One of the earliest cultivated food plants, with evidence of cultivation dating back 11,000 years in the Jordan Valley.

Suggested Uses

Grown for edible fruit production and bold ornamental foliage in warm PNW microclimates — Great Plant Picks endorsed. The large deeply-lobed leaves provide a lush, Mediterranean or subtropical effect through summer; the gnarled gray sculptural stems are striking in winter. 'Brown Turkey' is the most widely recommended for reliable fruit in the PNW; 'Desert King' (green skin, red flesh) is outstanding for the breba crop in cooler locations. Fan-trained against a warm south or west wall is the most productive and space-efficient approach for PNW gardens. Container growing allows overwintering in a frost-free garage in colder inland areas. An outstanding plant for courtyard gardens where it connects culinary and ornamental horticulture.

How to Identify

Identified by large, deeply 3–5-lobed leaves 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) across with a rough sandpaper texture and a distinctive fig scent when bruised or crushed. Smooth pale gray bark on gnarled, sculptural multi-stemmed trunks and branches. Milky white latex sap bleeds immediately from any cut stem or leaf — wear gloves. Distinctive teardrop-shaped to pear-shaped figs (technically syconia) develop directly on the branches — green ripening to brown, purple, or black depending on cultivar. In winter: the smooth gray gnarled bare stems are architecturally distinctive.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 20'

Width/Spread10' - 20'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

dark green

Fall Foliage Colors

yellow

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Summer

Flowers are never visible — they are enclosed inside the developing syconium (fig fruit). The breba (early) crop develops on previous year's wood and ripens in July in warm PNW locations. The main crop develops on current year's new growth and ripens August through October. Not all PNW sites are warm enough for the main crop to ripen fully — the breba crop is more reliable in cooler locations. Figs for Pacific Northwest cultivation do not require pollination (parthenocarpic varieties), so the fig wasp (Blastophaga psenes) present in Mediterranean fig production is not needed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

not visible (enclosed inside syconium fruit structure)

Foliage Description

dark green, rough-textured, bold; yellow in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loamsandchalkrocky

Drainage

well drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plant against a south- or west-facing wall, fence, or in a sheltered courtyard to maximize summer heat accumulation — this is the most important siting decision for PNW fig production. Well-drained soil of moderate to low fertility is preferred; rich soil promotes excessive leafy growth at the expense of fruit. Root restriction encourages fruiting: planting in a large container (15+ gallons / 57+ liters) or in a confined planting pocket restricts root spread and promotes fruiting. Water moderately through summer; deep, infrequent watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering. Hardy to approximately USDA Zone 7b when established; in Zone 7 and colder, stems may die back in hard winters but the plant typically resprouts vigorously from the base. Wear gloves when pruning — the milky latex sap causes skin irritation and phytophotodermatitis (chemical burns intensified by sunlight contact).

Pruning

Prune in late winter (February through March) when dormant, before new growth begins. Remove dead, frost-damaged, or crossing stems. Preserve the breba crop by retaining as much of the previous year's wood as possible — the breba figs form on last year's growth. To train as a fan or espalier against a wall (the most productive PNW method), tie new growth into position in summer and remove unwanted stems in winter. Established plants pruned hard will resprout vigorously but at the cost of that year's crop. Container figs benefit from annual root pruning and repotting every 2–3 years.

Pruning Schedule

early spring

Maintenance Level

moderate

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 15 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Toxic to pets