Common fig Ficus carica
Common fig (Ficus carica) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Moraceae family. It grows 3–5 m (10–16 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -10 °C (14 °F). Space plants about 3.5 m (11 ft) apart.
Plan Common fig in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Common fig at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Moraceae |
| Mature height | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3.5 m (11 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -10 °C (14 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 40 °C (104 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: ripe fruit |
| Common in gardens of | 🇫🇷 France, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇲🇦 Morocco, 🇮🇱 Israel, 🇮🇷 Iran |
Is Common fig toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: sap, leaves
Milky sap irritates skin and can cause stomach upset if leaves are eaten.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Common fig
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Common fig in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Desert Botanical Garden (2 plants)
Questions about Common fig
- How far apart should I plant Common fig?
- About 3.5 m (11 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Common fig need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Common fig need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Common fig?
- It tolerates about -10 °C (14 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- Is Common fig poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Milky sap irritates skin and can cause stomach upset if leaves are eaten.
- What grows well with Common fig?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Common fig. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Common figs set fruit without pollination; flowers are hidden inside the fruit.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- White mulberry Morus alba
- Rubber fig Ficus elastica
- Chinese banyan Ficus microcarpa
- Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Sacred fig (peepal, bodhi tree) Ficus religiosa
- Indian banyan Ficus benghalensis
- Sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus
- Moreton Bay fig Ficus macrophylla