Ficus carica 'Magnolia'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- FY-kus KAIR-ih-kuh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Ficus carica 'Magnolia,' or magnolia fig, is a small, deciduous, fruiting shrub and cultivar found commonly in the southeastern United States, and has one of the largest fruits. It grows 4 to 10 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide, and its leaves are large, glossy, lobed, and green. The fruit is large, brown to bronze-red, and has pink to amber flesh, tiny seeds, and an "open eye." Typically, the figs ripen from mid-July through August. They need to be harvested quickly once ripe because the open eye allows insects to enter, which causes the fruit to sour. Magnolia fig is a popular canning fig.
Prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil, with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. This shrub is drought-tolerant once established. It is winter hardy in zones 7 to 11. Place mulch at the base of the tree to protect the roots during cold weather, or bring the plant indoors in colder climates. Prune in late winter to maintain size, increase crop production, and remove dead or dying branches. It is self-pollinating.
The magnolia fig can be espaliered on a wall or fence, and it grows well in containers. The large fruits are best used for preserving.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Generally, this shrub is insect and disease-resistant. Birds can be a problem, targeting the fruit, and netting may be required. Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, nematodes, scale, and spider mites. Fruit creates messy litter if they are not harvested quickly. Wear protective clothing and gloves when handling this shrub due to the risk of phytophotodermatitis. This plant is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants", a plant identification course developed 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
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Layering
- Stem Cutting
- Wildlife Value:
- Insects, wasps and birds eat the fruit
- Play Value:
- Easy to Grow
- Edible fruit
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- This is probably the largest fig available on the market. The asymmetric fruit has a bronze skin and pink or amber flesh. Ripens from mid-July through August. Pick fruit as early as possible because of the open eye (ostiole), or if it splits open, the fruit will turn sour easily. Magnolia fig is best suited for preserving.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 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:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Good Dried
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The infructescence (fruiting stage) is a ripened receptacle (syconium), not an ovary, that forms in late summer or fall on new wood. The large, asymmetric fruit has a brown or bronze-red skin and a pink to amber flesh with tiny seeds. Ripens from mid-July through August. Fruits develop without the need for cross-pollination.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Magnolia fig has minute, apetalous flowers at the stem tip in the leaf axils.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Smooth
- Soft
- 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:
- The green leaves are large and thick, are 5-10 inches long and 4-7 inches across and deeply, palmately lobed with three to five sinuses lobed. 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:
- 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:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
