Magnolia Fig Ficus carica 'Magnolia'

• 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:

  Edible fruit

  Wildlife Food Source

  Edibility:

  This is probably the largest fig available on the market. The asymmetric fruit has a bronze skin and an amber flesh. Ripens from mid-July through August. Pick fruit as early as possible because of the open ostiole or it would split and turn sour easily. Magnolia is best suited for preserving.

  Dimensions:

  Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.

  Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.

• 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

• 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

  Piedmont

  USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:

  7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b

• 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 is a ripened receptacle (syconium), not an ovary, that forms in late summer or fall on new wood. The large, asymmetric fruit has a bronze skin and an amber flesh. Ripens from mid-July through August. Fruits develop without the need for cross pollination.

• Flowers:

  Flower Color:

  Green

  Flower Inflorescence:

  Insignificant

  Flower Bloom Time:

  Spring

  Flower Size:

  < 1 inch

  Flower Description:

  Magnolia Fig has minute, petalless flowers that are in the stem tip on the leaf axils.

• 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.

• Bark:

  Bark Color:

  Light Gray

  Surface/Attachment:

  Smooth

  Bark Description:

  Silver gray smooth bark becomes more bumpy with age.

• Stem:

  Stem Color:

  Brown/Copper

  Stem Is Aromatic:

  No

  Stem Bud Terminal:

  Only 1 terminal bud, larger than side buds

  Stem Form:

  Straight

• Landscape:

  Landscape Location:

  Coastal

  Container

  Naturalized Area

  Walkways

  Woodland

  Landscape Theme:

  Edible Garden

  Design Feature:

  Specimen

  Attracts:

  Songbirds

  Resistance To Challenges:

  Salt

  Problems:

  Contact Dermatitis

  Problem for Cats

  Problem for Dogs

  Problem for Horses

• Poisonous to Humans:

  Poison Severity:

  Low

  Poison Symptoms:

  Phytophotodermatitis from the white, milky sap.

  Poison Toxic Principle:

  Furanocoumarins

  Causes Contact Dermatitis:

  Yes

  Poison Part:

  Sap/Juice