About
A compact, deciduous small tree or shrub and an ancient variety of fig with round, dark green leaves. Bright striped yellow and green fruit with crimson, strawberry flavoured flesh appear in late summer.
About the genus
Ficus can be evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or climbers, with often leathery, simple, entire or lobed leaves and tiny flowers borne within a hollow receptacle which enlarges to form the fruit
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeFruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height4-8 metres
Spread4-8 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesSpecimen planting, large borders, parkland settings.
ToxicityHumans/Pets: Harmful to skin with sunlight. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationBest grown as a fan-trained against a warm sunny wall or fence, using a root restriction method such as a box of paving slabs with the bottom filled with a layer of rubble or broken crocks. Also suitable for growing in a container. See fig cultivation
PruningPrune in march removing a proportion (1/4 to 1/3)of older branches
PropagationPropagate by hardwood cuttings
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus