Common Fig

Common fig (Ficus carica, Moraceae) is a deciduous tree or large shrub from the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, reaching about 19 feet tall and wide. Three- to five-lobed leaves (10 to 20 centimeters) are dark green and rough-textured above. Smooth silver-gray bark becomes gnarled with age. The edible fruit develops inside a pear-shaped receptacle (5 to 8 centimeters), ripening greenish to brownish-violet in late summer to fall.

Common fig grows in full sun on moist soil with moderate water needs, hardy in Zones 7a to 8b. It has weed potential and has naturalized in some regions. Documented diseases include canker and dieback, fig mosaic disease, fruit rot, leaf spot, and leaf drop. Sap and half-ripe fruits are potentially poisonous, and sap can be a serious eye irritant. Cultivars include 'Brown Turkey' (cold-hardy), 'Chicago Hardy' (northern selections), and 'Desert King.'