Fig 'Little Ruby' (Ficus carica)
Dwarf Fig Tree with Deep Red Fruit and Big Flavor
The Little Ruby Fig (Ficus carica 'Little Ruby') is a dwarf fig variety that delivers extra-sweet, ruby-red fruit on a tree that’s perfectly sized for containers, patios, and small-space gardens. Despite its compact size, this powerhouse fig produces loads of small to medium fruit with burgundy flesh, rich, jammy flavor, and dark bronze to purple skin.
Little Ruby is one of the smallest and most ornamental fig trees, reaching only about 4–6 feet tall, making it a top pick for urban growers, edible landscapes, and balcony orchards. It’s self-fertile, fast-growing, and known to fruit in the first or second year—with harvests beginning in early summer and continuing through fall in warm zones.
This variety is not just adorable—it’s also resilient and low-maintenance, thriving in full sun and well-draining soil, and tolerating a range of climates from Zone 7 through 10. Whether you’re tight on space or just love sweet, snackable figs, Little Ruby will quickly become your go-to.
| 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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