Common Fig
Ficus carica · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Fruit Tree
Plant Family
Moraceae
Tree Category
Fruit / Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
Indeterminate (Identification from young sapling bark only)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 7-11 (some cold-hardy cultivars survive in Zone 6 with protection).
About This Tree
A small deciduous tree or large shrub with a spreading, irregular habit. Known for its deeply lobed leaves and edible synconium fruit. The specimen in the image is a young sapling supported by a bamboo stake.
Leaf Characteristics
Typically large (12-25cm), deeply palmately lobed with 3-5 lobes, rough textured upper surface, and alternate arrangement.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth, silvery-grey bark that remains relatively smooth even as the tree matures, often showing prominent lenticels on young stems as seen in the photo.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Middle East and Western Asia; widely naturalized in Mediterranean climates and temperate zones worldwide.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; fruits develop in summer through autumn; enters dormancy in late autumn after frost.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate water needs with high drought tolerance once established; requires well-drained soil.
Mature Size
10-30 feet (3-9 meters) in height and spread; moderate growth rate; can live for 50-100 years.
Special Characteristics
Produces edible fruit without visible flowers (pollinated by specialized wasps in native range, though many garden cultivars are parthenocarpic); milky latex sap can be a skin irritant.
Wildlife & Ecology
Fruits are a high-energy food source for various birds, squirrels, and insects; provides dense nesting cover when mature.