Edible Fig
Ficus carica
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Cyprus, Greece, Guam, Iran, Iraq, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, North Caucasus, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands
Etienne
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Moraceae
- Genus:
- Ficus
- Species:
- Ficus carica
- USDA Symbol:
- FICA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
almond moth (Cadra cautella), Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), Carob moth (Ectomyelois ceratoniae), Dried fruit moth (Cadra calidella), Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Fig moth (Cadra figulilella), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), Vitula serratilineella, White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), ruddy daggerwing (Marpesia petreus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from roots and crown after fire or severe pruning.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to Mediterranean regions with hot, dry summers
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Fresh seeds germinate more readily than dried seeds.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI