Over the last few years, we have trialed two selections of the edible fig, Ficus carica, purported to be dwarf. The first, acquired as Ficus ‘Little Miss Figgy’ was purported to mature at 6′ tall x 4′ wide. Well, our 10 year-old specimen is now 25′ tall x 25′ wide. The second, Ficus ‘Fignomenal’ is reported to mature at 28″ tall x 28″ wide. Well, our 2.5 year old specimen is now 12′ tall x 12′ wide. At that rate, it should easily hit 25′ tall x 25′ wide also. I don’t know about you, but I’d raise hell if someone gave out information that was that incorrect. We’re also in a cold winter climate, so our growth rate is much less than in a climate with warmer winters. Perhaps they measured poorly grown container plants that had been pruned constantly for cuttings, and tried to pass that off as “mature size”. Geez, folks…did you think no one would notice?
Stunning
I’m looking for figs for containers and this is timely! Is there an honestly dwarf fig you would recommend? Now I don’t know a nursery to trust.
We have yet to see one that matches the dwarf size marketing hype.
…And then there is this exciting F. ingens, discovered at over 3000 m in NE Lesotho & up in the winter-cold Mpumalanga Mts., too,- along with a F. cordata discovered along the furthest NW part of South Africa’s Great Escarpment. And then in Asia, you start with a F. palmata, up in the Mts. of N. Pakistan & W. Himalaya, a F. semicordata in S.E. Tibet, a F. heteromorpha in N. Sicuan & S. Shaanxi, a F. sarmentosa over in Hubei & out atop the small Korean Soheugsan-do Isl.,,- and then a Ficus pumila in mainland S.E. Korea (along with an interesting type of the cauliflorous F. caulocarpa, probably introduced from Taiwan),- and then you have F. erecta sprinkled along Korea’s S. Coast & Isls., too…
Yes, there are many potentially winter hardy figs, but most have much smaller fruit. We introduced a cold hardy F. palmata ‘Icebox’, and a winter hardy form or F. gasperrima from China. We also have a very hardy Ficus pumila cultivar, F. ‘Monier’s Hardy’ coming soon, but have no idea where the genetics originated.
I wouldn’t discount climate change as having some influence. I’ve been around fig trees all my life, Texas to California to Tennessee, and I’ve never seen figs that large. TX & CA are dryer, of course.
Weather certainly affects the size of any plant in a particular year, but climate change effects plants over much longer geological times, not from year to year.
I believe plants are experiencing effects of climate change, as predicted & documented. I will look for references. One of the first predictions was “weaponization” of Poison Ivy, experienced here over past 30 years ;).
I believe plants are experiencing effects of climate change, as predicted & documented. I will look for references. One of the first predictions was “weaponization” of Poison Ivy, experienced here over past 30 years ;).
There are countless things that people believe, or are attributed to climate change without a shred of scientific evidence or backed by good research. Most media and sadly far too many scientists don’t understand the difference between causative and corelative effects. We’re not sure how poison ivy has been weaponized. It’s a regionally native plant that existed here long before non-native humans came to North America.
I understand most figs do fine without fertilizer and minimal watering. I’m near Raleigh in zone 8a and will be planting several varieties: LSU Purple, Turkey Fig, Jolly Tiger (variegated w_striped fruit), and an unnamed Celest fig selection from a local nursery. All are 2gal -3gal, 3-5ft tall, hope to harvest figs next spring.
Tony,
Haha! Perhaps the ‘fine print’ in the plant growing guidance for such plants reads, “Note: Mature size measured when grown in 5 gallon containers containing nutrient-poor potting media and watered sparingly”?
I just picked up some compact’ Li’l Annie Oakleaf Hydrangea that claim to max out at 4’H X5’W. I’m placing them in front of Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea (6’H X 8’W) and beside Ruby Slippers Oakleaf Hydrangea (4’H X 5’W). I’m keeping my fingers crossed on the purported size estimates.
Greg
My results here in zone 8 coastal Virginia match yours. ‘Miss Figgy’ went from a small, three gallon specimen to an eight foot ball in two years after planting it in the ground. A tropical storm split it in half.
I must cut it hard, to three feet, each March to attain a manageable size for fruit harvesting. I know some day I’ll have to remove it. Tasty figs, though. Abundant fruit set this season.
No, it’s not due to “climate change.”
Both supposedly miniature common fig cultivars are based on branch sports. According to the Fig Boss web site what they call “bud sports” of Ficus carica are highly unstable. Here is a link to a patent application description of ‘Fignomenal’. Comparison is made to ‘Little Miss Figgy’ and a patent number is given for that also. Which can be used to look up the history of that one as well (Fig Boss says it is a “bud sport” of ‘Violette de Bordeaux’):
https://patents.google.com/patent/USPP32537P2/en
You are correct. It’s our theory that there was probably a reversion mutation in the tissue culture process, back to the original clone, which almost certainly happened in F. c. ‘Little Miss Figgy’.
The way I read the Fig Boss commentary tissue culture does not have to be involved for such sports to revert.
That is correct, but in this case, this clone is produced by tissue culture, which dramatically increases the mutation rate. Also, size mutations occur in the lab that are unseen until a plant is grown out on a multi-year trial, which simply isn’t economical.