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Fruit tree

Fig

Ficus carica

One of the easiest fruit trees for Adelaide: drought hardy once established, self-fertile and almost pest-free. Most varieties give a small early crop and a main crop in late summer and autumn. The main job is protecting ripening fruit from birds and keeping it watered as fruit swells.

When to plant where you live

Checking your area…

Add fig to my garden

Planting times for other areas

Varieties (4)

  • Black GenoaLarge dark fruit with rich red flesh; popular in South Australia
  • Brown TurkeyReliable, hardy, heavy cropper; good all-rounder
  • Little Ruby (dwarf)Compact, suits large pots
  • White AdriaticGreen skin, strawberry-red flesh; excellent for drying

Neighbours

Grows well with

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    500 cm apart. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Deep water while fruiting.

  3. Feed

    Little needed.

  4. Pick

    Pick soft, drooping fruit.

Good to know

  • Pick figs when they droop on the stem and feel soft; they don't ripen once picked
  • Prune in winter to keep the tree low and open
  • The milky sap can irritate skin; wear gloves when pruning

Common problems

  • Birds and possumsnet trees or bag fruit as it starts to soften
  • Fruit splits or dropswater deeply and regularly while fruit swells
  • Fig rust (orange spots, early leaf drop)rake up fallen leaves, prune for airflow
  • Root rot in waterlogged soilplant in free-draining ground

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about figAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing figQuestions, tips and harvests from the community

Guides

Safety: Sap irritates skin.

Where this information comes from
  • ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, medium confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia: Fruit Guide (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
  • ABC Gardening Australia: Fig Trees (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
  • Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) (planting time, medium confidence)
  • Poisons information centre plant guidance (Australia) (toxicity, low confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.