Fig 'Chicago Hardy' (Ficus carica)
Sale price $22.95Cold-Hardy, Sweet-Fruited, and Built for Backyard Bounty
The Chicago Hardy Fig is a cold-tolerant fruit tree that combines resilience and rich flavor, making it one of the best fig varieties for northern growers and subtropical gardens alike. Also known as Bensonhurst Purple Fig, this hardy cultivar is celebrated for its ability to survive winter temperatures down to 10°F and regrow from the roots even after heavy frosts.
What truly sets Chicago Hardy apart is its delicious fruit—medium-sized figs with deep purple skin and lush, strawberry-colored flesh that’s sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor. Perfect for fresh eating, drying, jams, and preserves, these figs ripen from mid-summer through fall, often producing two crops per year in warmer climates.
This self-fertile, fast-growing variety can be grown in-ground in USDA Zones 6-10, or in large containers for gardeners in colder regions. Its attractive lobed foliage, compact form, and productive habit make it an excellent choice for edible landscapes, urban gardens, and food forests.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’ |
|---|---|
| Common Names | Chicago Hardy Fig, Bensonhurst Purple Fig |
| Plant Type | Perennial Deciduous Tree or Shrub |
| Life Cycle | Perennial |
| Food Forest Layer | Small Tree / Shrub Layer |
| Mature Size | 10-15 ft tall (can be kept smaller with pruning) |
| Light | Full Sun |
| Water Needs | Moderate; drought-tolerant once established |
| Harvest Season | Summer through Fall |
| Time to Fruit or Harvest | 1-2 years from planting |
| Self-Fertile | Yes |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Native Region | Mediterranean origin; adapted for U.S. climates |
| Florida Native | No |
| Zones | USDA Zones 6-10 |
| Propagation Method | Cutting |
| Pot Size | 1-Gallon Plantable Biodegradable Coconut Coir Pot |
| Seasonal Characteristics | Deciduous; drops leaves in winter; frost-hardy |
| 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 |
Wondering about your USDA Growing Zone and what you can grow? 🌎🌿 Learn how to find your Zone and grow tropical plants anywhere—Florida to Alaska! 👉 Read the full blog here!
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