Growing Guide: Fig Trees

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