Common Fig

Common fig is the Mediterranean fruit tree that produces some of the most satisfying homegrown fruit in Western Washington, soft, honey-sweet, warm off the tree in August and September. The leaves are large, deeply lobed, and coarsely textured, giving the tree a distinctly Mediterranean character. It grows to about nineteen feet with an upright, spreading form, and the fruit forms inside a fleshy receptacle that ripens to purple, brown, or green depending on the variety. Native to the eastern Mediterranean and western Asia, fig has been cultivated for at least five thousand years, and it grows here with more success than most people expect.

The key to growing figs in Western Washington is heat. Plant it against a south-facing wall where reflected heat and stored warmth create a microclimate several degrees warmer than the surrounding garden. Full sun is non-negotiable. Five diseases are tracked, including fig rust and root rot, but well-sited trees in good drainage rarely show serious problems. Choose varieties that ripen in our shorter, cooler season, 'Desert King' and 'Lattarula' are among the most reliable in the Puget Sound lowlands. The tree is rated Zone 7a through 8b, and in most years it sails through our winters. In the coldest winters, stem dieback can occur, but figs resprout vigorously from the base. For a productive fruit tree that also provides bold ornamental foliage and a Mediterranean atmosphere, fig is one of the most rewarding things you can plant.