Fig 'Brown Turkey' (Ficus carica)
Reliable, Sweet Figs with a Classic Flavor and Heavy Yields
The Brown Turkey Fig is a time-tested favorite among fig growers for its abundant fruit, sweet flavor, and hardiness across a wide range of climates. It produces medium to large, pear-shaped figs with brown to bronze skin and rosy-pink flesh that’s mild, honeyed, and excellent for fresh eating, baking, and preserves.
One of the easiest and most forgiving figs to grow, Brown Turkey is self-fertile, fast-growing, and fruits reliably from an early age. It often produces two crops per year in warm zones—an early breba crop in early summer and a main crop in late summer to early fall.
It grows beautifully in containers or in the ground, with a mature height of 10–20 ft (easily kept smaller with pruning). Cold-hardy down to Zone 7, and drought-tolerant once established, Brown Turkey is an ideal fig for beginners and pros alike, especially for edible landscapes, orchards, and food forests.
Figs are packed with essential nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins A, B, and K, as well as minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Enjoy Brown Turkey Figs fresh from the tree, in salads, desserts, or as a sweet addition to cheese platters. They are also excellent for making preserves, jams, and dried snacks. With its attractive foliage and bountiful fruit production, the Brown Turkey Fig tree adds aesthetic value to any garden or landscape.
| Italian Honey | Yellow Long Neck | Violette de Bordeaux | Olympian | Royal Vineyard | Brown Turkey | Little Ruby | Celeste | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ficus carica 'Italian Honey' | Ficus carica 'Yellow Long Neck' | Ficus carica 'Violette de Bordeaux' | Ficus carica 'Olympian' | Ficus carica 'Royal Vineyard' | Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' | Ficus carica 'Little Ruby' | Ficus carica 'Celeste' |
| Common Names | Italian Honey, Lattarulla, White Marseilles | Yellow Long Neck Fig | Violette de Bordeaux, Negronne Fig | Olympian Fig | Royal Vineyard Fig | Brown Turkey Fig | Little Ruby Fig | Celeste Fig, Sugar Fig |
| Family | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae | Moraceae |
| Origin | Italy (Mediterranean) | Mediterranean cultivar | France | Washington State, USA | Mediterranean | Mediterranean | Cultivated variety | Southeastern U.S. heirloom |
| Plant Type | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Dwarf Deciduous Fruiting Tree | Deciduous Fruiting Tree |
| Life Cycle | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial | Perennial |
| Food Forest Layer | Low Tree / Shrub Layer | Low Tree / Shrub Layer | Shrub / Low Tree Layer | Shrub / Low Tree Layer | Shrub / Low Tree Layer | Low Tree / Shrub Layer | Shrub / Low Tree Layer | Shrub / Low Tree Layer |
| Mature Size | 10–15 ft (smaller with pruning) | 8–15 ft | 6–10 ft (smaller with pruning) | 8–12 ft (prunable) | 8–12 ft | 10–20 ft (prunable) | 3–6 ft (dwarf) | 8–15 ft (prunable) |
| Light | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun | Full Sun |
| Water Needs | Moderate; drought-tolerant | Moderate; well-draining soil | Moderate; well-draining soil | Moderate; well-draining soil | Moderate; well-draining soil | Moderate; drought-tolerant | Moderate; well-draining soil | Moderate; well-draining soil |
| Harvest Season | Early + Late Summer | Mid to Late Summer | Early + Late Summer | Mid to Late Summer | Mid to Late Summer | Early + Late Summer | Summer to Fall | Summer (main); early breba possible |
| Time to Fruit | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years | 1–2 years |
| Self-Fertile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Fast | Fast | Moderate to Fast | Fast | Moderate to Fast | Fast | Fast | Fast |
| Zones | 7–10 | 7–10 | 7–10 | 6–10 | 7–10 | 7–10 | 7–10 | 7–10 |
| Florida Native | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Propagation | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings | Cuttings |
| Seasonal Characteristics | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; cold-hardy to 0°F | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; fruits on new wood | Deciduous; winter dormant |
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