Last updated on November 19th, 2025 at 05:41 am
Fig Trees for your backyard landscape.
Fruit Fig Trees. Did you know fruiting figs in the right conditions can live up to 200 years? The fig fruit will typically ripen from August to late October depending on the cultivar and climate. Most trees come in 5 Ga. containers. They are deciduous and do give out some shade. The fruit can be eaten right off the tree or dried up.
Fig trees are not drought-tolerant, so they will require consistent, regular watering even after they become well established in your landscape. Young fig trees, in particular, need deep and frequent irrigation to develop a strong root system and produce healthy growth. However, once they reach about 4–5 years of age, they become a bit more resilient. At this point, you can gradually reduce their watering schedule to approximately 2–3 times per week during the hottest summer months. This is usually enough to keep the soil evenly moist without overwatering. Just be sure to monitor the tree during extreme heat or windy conditions, as it may need an extra soak to prevent stress and maintain good fruit production.
Fig Tree Types
There are many types of fig trees the common ones that do well in and around the Southwest.
Peter’s Honey Fig A very sweet-tasting fruit. It does well in full sun but even better with a little shade in the late afternoon. A greenish-yellow fruit will produce this fruit every year.
Brown Mission Fig (Ficus Carica) Grows to about 25 ft. tall with dense foliage. Well adapted to the Southwest sun. It will beat fruit in mid-to-late summer. Water 2-3 times per week after it has been established usually around the 3rd year. More often during the first 1-2 years after planting.
Brown Turkey Fig (Ficus Carica) – A great fruit fig tree for the Southwest if planted in the right location. It can tolerate heat if planted in the morning sun and late afternoon shade. Produces a very good-tasting brownish-purple fruit. Fruit can be harvested in mid-summer. It will grow to about 15-or 20 ft. tall and wide. Perfect for a small backyard.
Large Fig Tree with loads of Figs.
The USDA Zone for Fig Trees is 8 – 10
Growing Fig Trees
One thing you’ll want to watch for is Alternaria rot, a fungal disease that can affect fig trees. This fungus is most common in areas with frequent rainfall, high humidity, or landscapes that stay consistently wet, especially when the soil doesn’t dry out between waterings. Early symptoms include small green specks and yellowish lesions appearing on the fruit—both are strong indicators that Alternaria may be present. If left untreated, the spots can expand, causing the fruit to rot prematurely.
Fig trees can also attract spider mites, especially during the hot, dry periods of the year. These tiny pests feed on the underside of leaves, causing stippling, leaf drop, and overall stress to the tree. Regular monitoring is important, and if an infestation occurs, spraying with a high-quality spider-mite insecticide or miticide will help bring the problem under control. Make sure to apply it thoroughly and repeat as needed according to the product instructions.
Go organic and use neem oil to kill these pests. Learn more about insects and diseases on plants.
Planting fig trees are the same as most fruit or ornamental trees. Here are some great tree-planting tips.
Learn more about Fruiting figs right here. What you need to know about Figs.
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