Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FY-kus KAIR-ih-kuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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This is one of the most popular figs grown in the United States. It needs protection in winter when the temperature drops below 10 degrees. There is little maintenance needed.
Heat tolerant and self-pollinating. Leaves and sap can irritate the skin.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ficus
- Species:
- carica
- Family:
- Moraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Edible fruit provided food source for Native Americans.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- E. Mediterranean to Central Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides food source for birds and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat tolerant.
- Edibility:
- The mild and sweet fruit is good eaten fresh or dried.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10b, 10a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The small fruit ripens in July. The fruit has bronze skin and amber pulp, tastes mild and sweet.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are unisexual and minute. Borne in leaf axils. Most commercially available figs are self-pollinating but wild figs require pollination by wasps.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rough
- Smooth
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large, thick, green leaves are 5-10 inches long and 4-7 inches across and deeply, palmately lobed with three or five lobes. The upper surface is green and rough with hairs and the underside is paler and smooth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Smooth
- Bark Description:
- Silver gray smooth bark becomes more bumpy with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds
- Stem Form:
- Straight
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
