Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' - Fig

Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' - FigSizes available: #1 (Trade gallon) Basics: zones 8 10 for species, 6 and 7 outdoors with winter protection sheltered spot, zone 5 if wintered over indoors (needs to be above 10 degrees for hardy cultivars), can grow up to 10 30' x 10 30', but in our climate is much smaller, wants full sun to ripen the most fruit, but as a foliage plant, can grow well in even part shade, fruit ripens in late summer (you are actually eating a kind of inside out flower),

Sizes available: #1 (Trade gallon)

Basics: zones 8-10 for species, 6 and 7 outdoors with winter protection/sheltered spot, zone 5 if wintered over indoors (needs to be above -10 degrees for hardy cultivars), can grow up to 10-30' x 10-30', but in our climate is much smaller, wants full sun to ripen the most fruit, but as a foliage plant, can grow well in even part shade, fruit ripens in late summer (you are actually eating a kind of inside-out flower), needs rich, neutral to acidic soil that is well-drained, but consistently moist. Does not like alkaline soil. 

Common names: Fig

Synonym: also known as 'Texas Everbearing'

Family: Moraceae

Origin/Distribution: the species occurs from the Mediterranean to central Asia

Habitat: sunny locations with rocky, (well-drained), but fertile soils

More: Yes, I am going to try to get fruit in Maine and you can try right along with me. I have been doing research and it seems possible even without high tunnels or heat. However, regardless of my success with that, I love the look of this multi-stemmed shrub. There are two ways to go with a fig in Maine. Plant in the ground near a protected south-facing wall or plant in a big pot that you hold over winter in a space that is just above freezing. 'Brown Turkey' can take temperatures down to -10, which means it is outdoor hardy to 6a. However, since it can take pruning and fruits on new wood, I am very curious to see what it is able to accomplish in my zone 5 garden with some help from me. I will keep you posted. Oh, by the way, this is also a potential houseplant. It probably won't give you fruit unless you allow it a winter rest and have a solarium, but it can be grown indoors, and since the ones on the nursery are young, this might be a fun thing to try. Although wild figs are pollinated by wasps, cultivars such as 'Brown Turkey' are self-pollinating. The leaves are so handsome! The sap of the fig has been used medicinally in the Mediterranean regions where it grows wild and may cause contact dermatitis in some people.

Source: Spring Meadow

Image credit: Spring Meadow Nursery; Wikimedia Commons