Fig Trees

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The answer to this question is up to the individual. But, there are some varieties of fig trees that have stood up to the test of time and are easy to acquire. Any of the fig tree varieties listed below do not require pollination, will perform great in a container, and can be easily trained into a tree or bush. If you’re new to fig trees you can’t go wrong with:

• Celeste - Cold hardy variety for the northeast but one of the best growers in the southeast. It’s great for hot and humid locations because there’s no splitting and a tight eye. Figs are brownish/purple and may vary by location to violet and blue. Light fig flavor and very, very, sweet; like sugar cubes. Very prolific. It’s easy to dwarf this variety in a pot and keep it growing in a tight bush.
• Hardy Chicago - The name says it all; this variety has been around for decades and longer and is as cold hardy as they come. Good inground to USDA zone 6. Produces figs later in the season in a colder climate. Great mid-season producer in warmer zones. Medium sized brown/purple figs with a strong, sweet berry flavor. Great variety for potted culture. Very easy to propagate.
• Marseilles Black VS - AKA, MBVS, Marseilles VS.  Maybe slightly more cold hardy than Hardy Chicago and might be a good choice inground for USDA zone 5 in a protected location. Otherwise, MBVS is one of the best for potted culture and a reliable producer of figs.  Very prolific.  Produces medium-sized dark purple to black figs with tiny white spots and bright red pulp.  Strong berry flavor.
• Black Mission - As one of the first domesticated fig varieties introduced to the US, this variety packs a lot of history. Large dark purple figs with smooth skin and red pulp. Produces 2 nice crops of very sweet figs. Great for cooking. This is one of the few figs chosen by commercial growers because of its wonderful qualities. Commercial growers will pick the figs a little too early, though.  Let this one hang on the tree to soften and you'll be rewarded with one of the sweetest treats.  This variety does great in a pot but will perform better in-ground.
• Brown Turkey - Widely available so it’s overlooked by many collectors. The Brown Turkey fig has been around since the late 1800’s for a reason. It’s just a great fig! Cold hardy. Produces 2 similar crops. Brown to brown/purple in color. Very sweet! Easy to propagate, so this is a great variety to learn with. Great in a pot but will perform better in-ground.
• Ronde de Bordeaux - AKA, RdB.  One of the first fig varieties to put on figs for the season. Ronde de Bordeaux produces 1 crop of dark purple to black, small-sized, round figs with red pulp. Great for eating fresh, making jam, baking, drying, and cooking. Thin skin, jammy texture, light seed crunch, sharp berry flavor that lingers, and very sweet. Extremely prolific. Be prepared for hundreds of figs, even when growing in a pot.  Tight eye. Insect and moisture-resistant. Resists splitting even during times of heavy rains. Ronde de Bordeaux is a top-10 variety for potted culture.
• Violette de Bordeaux - AKA, VdB.  This is another fig variety whose history may date back to the 1600’s. At one time it was considered the best-tasting fig in the world. Cold hardy. Produces 2 crops of medium-sized dark purple/black figs with strawberry-colored pulp. 2nd crop is very heavy. The figs are juicy with strong berry flavors and a medium amount of sweetness. VdB has a small eye that resists insects. No splitting.
• Atreano - Discovered and introduced in the late 1990’s. Atreano produces 2 crops of golden yellow to pale green, medium-sized figs with unique pink to amber-colored pulp that is juicy with a pleasing texture. Strong Honey/Berry flavor with light melon undertones. Very sweet. Thin skin and very easy to bite into. Small eye. Insect and moisture-resistant. Resists splitting even during times of heavy rains. Atreano is another top-10 variety for potted culture. Very prolific.
• Desert King - If you’re in a cooler climate and can only get one or two fig trees, please consider Desert King. Desert King produces one early crop of large, dark green figs with tiny white spots and strawberry red pulp.  The figs are simply sweet and delicious!  Great for eating fresh and cooking. Vigorous grower and prolific. Very cold hardy variety.
• English Brown Turkey - AKA, EBT.  This is another cool-climate fig variety. English Brown Turkey is very cold hardy and is recorded to be growing in-ground and unprotected as far north as Buffalo, NY. Wow!  That’s cold! Brown skin with strawberry red pulp and flavor similar to Brown Turkey. Produces medium to large-sized sweet figs.
• Improved Celeste - Very cold hardy and one of the earliest to produce figs. This is definitely a top-5 pick for container growers and should be on everyone’s cool climate list. Improved Celeste comes from the LSU breeding program. Similar to Celeste in color with a bit of a longer neck. Pink/amber pulp and very, very sweet.
• Nero 600M - Cold hardy. Fruit ripens perfectly in cooler temperatures. Nero 600M produces 2 crops of black, small to medium-sized high-quality figs with dark red-colored pulp. Very juicy with a pleasing texture. Wonderful fig flavor with hints of berries. Sweet through and through. Small eye. No souring or splitting. Very prolific. This is another reliable fig variety that will give you hundreds of delicious figs every season, even when growing in a pot.  Easy to propagate and easily in the top-5 fig varieties for potted culture. 
• Strawberry Verte - AKA, Verte.  This variety can’t help but make you smile. Strawberry Verte produces 2 crops of green, medium-sized figs with deep, strawberry-red pulp. The figs are a beautiful contrast of colors. Very jammy, pleasing texture, and a wonderful, rich fig flavor with hints of berries. Sweet through and through. Small eye and a high resistance to insects, souring, and splitting. Not as cold-hardy as some others but does well in-ground in USDA zone 7.
• Green Ischia - Green Ischia is a vigorous and easy-to-root variety. Prolific and produces bowls of delicious, medium-sized green figs with jammy ruby-red pulp. Green Ischia has a nice fig flavor with deep strawberry undertones and a medium amount of sweetness. Very small eye. Rain and insect tolerant. Produces 2 crops of delicious figs. Great in-ground in USDA Zone 7a/b with winter protection.
• Smith - Heirloom variety. There’s not enough that can be said about Smith and it should be included in every fig collection. Smith produces one (1) crop of high quality, blushed purple/red with streaks of yellow to light green colored, medium-sized turbinate shaped figs. The deep red-colored and juicy pulp has a pleasing texture and is usually filled with delicious sweet syrup. Very rich and complex flavors with strong berry undertones and an even amount of sweetness. Small to medium-sized eye that oozes a drop of clear honey when the fig is just ripe. Insect resistance and high rain tolerance. Moderate vigor with an average amount of growth every season. Not prone to splitting. Reportedly does well in-ground with no splitting and winter protected in USDA Zone 7b and below.
• Yellow Long Neck - Yellow Long Neck is a prolific variety that produces 2 crops of large to extra-large, yellow figs with amber pulp. Light sweetness. Light and refreshing flavor with melon undertones. The solid pulp interior looks coarse but has a smooth, juicy texture. Small eye for such a large variety. Very filling; one or two figs are a meal. Very vigorous and prolific.  Outgrows a pot very quickly.  Great variety for inground.
• Sal’s Corleone - This is another variety that should be in every fig collection. Sal’s Corleone produces 2 crops of roundish, blush to blood red and dark purple to black medium to large sized high-quality figs. When cut open there is a small cavity in the light strawberry-colored pulp. Very, very juicy with a pleasing texture. Nice fig flavor with hints of berries and a light amount of sweetness. Medium eye. Will develop a ‘star’ pattern split around the eye with too much rain. Split usually will not spoil the fruit and the occurrence decreases with age and will eventually disappear. Sal's Corleone is definitely a top-10 fig variety for potted culture.
• Col de Dame Gris - AKA, CdDG.  If you want to add a fancy variety to your collection at a moderate price, add Col de Dame Gris. Produces one (1) crop of high quality, purple(ish)/grey (heather purple?) colored figs. Small to medium-sized figs with thin, firm skin that does not damage easily. Easy to bite into. Deep red-colored pulp with no cavity. The pulp is dense and jammy with a pleasing texture and small seed crunch. Rich flavor with strong berry undertones and an even amount of sweetness.  Very small-sized eye. Insect resistant, resistant to souring, and very rain tolerant. Moderate vigor with an average amount of growth every season.
• Italian 258 - AKA, I258.  One of the Italian numbered figs introduced to the fig-collecting community in the 1980’s. Considered one of the finest figs in the world for taste and looks. Italian 258 has a moderate amount of cold hardiness. Produces medium to large-sized dark purple and green figs. Figs will start to turn slightly bluish as the tree matures. Deep strawberry red, jammy pulp with a wonderful and complex figgy flavor. Strong berry undertones. Very sweet. Very prolific. With a little extra care, cool climate growers will be handsomely rewarded.
• Violette de Sollies - AKA, VdS.  Cold hardy. Violette de Sollies produces 2 crops of dark purple to black large-sized, round(ish) high-quality figs. When cut open the deep strawberry red-colored pulp contains a small cavity that is usually filled with a delicious amount of syrup. The pulp is very juicy with a pleasing texture. Rich flavor with strong non-acidic berry undertones and an even amount of sweetness. Ripens perfectly with a drop of honey appearing at the small eye. Very insect resistant. VdS is a top-10 fig variety for potted culture but will split with heavy rains. Does very well in-ground with no splitting and winter protected in USDA Zone 7.

Of course. Fig trees are very well suited for potted culture. Growing a fig tree in a pot is very easy and the choice for most fig tree collectors.

This depends on your growing zone. USDA zone 8 and above won’t have to protect their fig trees during the winter. USDA growing zone 7 may have to. USDA growing zone 6 and below should winter-protect their fig trees.

If left alone a fig tree can grow up to 30 feet high and wide. Thankfully, all fig trees can be kept under control by pruning or growing in a pot. There are also some varieties of fig tree that stay compact and dwarfed.

Fig trees should be planted 10-15 feet apart.  If fig trees will be heavily pruned every season you can plant as close as 8-12 feet.  

A fig tree is one of the easiest fruits to grow. Fig trees grow well in-ground and they’re exceptionally tolerant of container culture. Growing a fig tree in a container will keep it smaller in size and your fig tree will still produce loads of delicious figs.

Fig trees are well adapted for potted culture and can be grown anywhere in the US.  Potted figs can be stored in a shed, garage, or basement during the winter months.

A fresh fig can have many subtle flavors. Generally, fresh figs are sweet with undertones of berry, melon, and sugar.

Some varieties of fig trees will require pollination. Most varieties of fig trees do not. If you are unsure, please remember to ask before buying.  Most fig trees found on figBid will not require pollination.

Generally, a small tree will grow and be able to produce delicious fruit in 2 to 3 years.

Most fig trees will produce 2 crops of edible figs. Some varieties of fig trees will only produce one crop of figs.

If you are new to growing fig trees do not overspend. New growers can expect to spend up to $50 to $60 on a fig tree variety they like. Many fig tree varieties are less expensive and some are much more expensive. More experienced fig collectors will spend much more to buy a rare or exotic variety.

It takes about 80-90 days for a fig to properly ripen.

A fig is ripe when it swells, becomes soft, develops a pronounced color, begins to droop from the stem, and the skin barely starts to wrinkle.  Some fig varieties will develop long cracks in the skin.  Other fig varieties will develop a drop of honey at the eye.  There should be no fig sap released from the stem when you pick it.  You will become better at picking ripe figs when you have your own fig tree.  You'll learn to pick the figs at peak ripeness or your own preferred taste.

Fig trees can be purchased live, growing in various sizes and ages.  You can also purchase fig cuttings.  Fig trees must be cared for to mature and produce fruit. Fig cuttings must be propagated and grown into a tree or grafted. Purchasing a fig tree is faster and propagating a fig tree from cuttings is more rewarding.

New fig tree growers can’t go wrong with Celeste, Hardy Chicago, Nero 600M, Improved Celeste, Marseilles Black VS, Black Mission, Brown Turkey, Ronde de Bordeaux, Violette de Bordeaux, Atreano, Desert King, English Brown Turkey, Strawberry Verte, Green Ischia, Smith, Yellow Long Neck, Sal’s Corleone, Col de Dame Gris, Italian 258, Violette de Sollies.

The best place to buy fig trees in the US is figBid.com.

NO! Importing fig trees anywhere from outside of the US comes with the possibility of introducing invasive pests or noxious weeds into the environment and is illegal. figBid does not allow sellers from outside of the US to sell on figBid for this reason. When you buy fig trees from figBid you can be assured your seller is located within the US.

Choose a sunny location that gets 6-8 hours of sun per day. Make sure the soil in the planting area is loose and free of rocks or other debris. Mix in some compost or aged manure to help enrich the soil. Dig a hole that's twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball of the fig tree. Add a slow-release fertilizer to the bottom of the hole, following the package instructions for how much to use. Carefully place the fig tree into the hole, making sure the top of the root ball is level with the ground. Backfill the hole with soil, gently tamping it down as you go. Give the fig tree a good drink of water to help settle the soil around the roots.  Add mulch around the base of the fig tree to help preserve moisture and deter weed growth.  To deter rot and other diseases, keep the mulch at least 6 inches away from the trunk of the fig tree.  

Generally, a small fig tree will produce fruit in 2-3 years.

Fig trees prefer the sun, at least 6-8 hours per day.

When fig trees are not pruned they can reach heights up to 30 feet tall and wide.

Yes, there are many dwarf or compact varieties of fig trees.