About

This compact, bushy, deciduous shrub to around 2.5m tall, with large deeply lobed, dark green leaves. Yellow green fruit, ripens from late summer with sweet red flesh. An early ripening, compact cultivar suitable for small gardens and containers.

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
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand, Clay
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4

Plant details

Plant typeFruit Edible, Shrubs
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height1.5-2.5 metres
Spread1.5-2.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants
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 fan-trained against a warm wall or fence. It may require winter protection. Root restriction helps to control size and improves fruiting. Suitable for container cultivation. For further details see fig cultivation
PruningIn mid-spring remove a proportion (1/4 to 1/3) of older branches.
PropagationPropagate by hardwood cuttings, by layering or from suckers
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus