Black Genoa Fig Tree

Black Genoa Fig (Ficus carica 'Black Genoa') is the fig most Australian home gardeners end up with: self fertile, heavy cropping, and good for two harvests a season. Left alone it spreads to about 5m tall and 4m wide, but a winter prune holds it comfortably at 3m or in a large pot. The fruit is big, purple black outside and deep amber inside, sweet enough that most of it never reaches the kitchen.

Why you'll love it

• Two crops a season. An early summer crop forms on last year's wood, then the main crop follows from late summer into autumn.
• One tree is enough. Self fertile, so you need no pollinating partner and no second variety.
• Tough, and happy in a pot. Drought, heat and frost hardy once established, and untroubled by poor soil. Restricting the roots even curbs leafy growth and pushes the tree towards fruiting, so a container fig is a real crop.

Where it works best

The home orchard. A single fig near the back door earns its space twice a year and shades a seat in between. Allow room for a 4m spread, or espalier it on a north facing wall, where it ripens earlier, takes up almost no depth and is easy to net.

Pots and courtyards. Use a container of 50L or more with free draining mix. Potting settles any worry about the roots and suits a courtyard or a wide balcony.

Growing Black Genoa Fig in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and as much heat as you can give it, because heat ripens the fruit. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In cooler gardens use a north facing wall to bank up warmth. Humid summers bring some fruit splitting after heavy rain, a nuisance rather than a disease.

Soil, water and feed. Free draining and only moderately fertile, since rich ground gives a leafy tree and disappointing crops. On clay, plant on a raised mound and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk. Steady moisture while the fruit swells prevents splitting and early drop. Feed a potassium rich fertiliser in early spring and again after the first crop, and go easy on nitrogen.

Pruning. Prune in winter while dormant, taking out crossing wood and shortening the frame to the height you want. The early crop forms on last season's wood, so a very hard cut trades that first harvest for a bigger main one. The white sap can irritate skin, so wear gloves.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in two sizes: 200mm pots in a pack of six, and advanced 100L stock. The 200mm plants are young, single stemmed and quick to take off, suiting an orchard row or a frame you shape yourself. The 100L trees arrive with a formed trunk and branch structure, and are the ones to choose for fruit in the first or second season. Delivered in the cooler months it will be leafless, normal for a deciduous fig, with leaf within four to six weeks of the weather warming.

Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full fruit tree range
• Choose a large pot for a container fig
• Preparing a bed before planting a fruit tree
• See other trees for shade and feature planting

Common questions

Do I need a second tree for pollination?

No. Black Genoa is self fertile and sets fruit on its own, with no wasp or partner variety required.

How soon will it fruit?

An advanced 100L tree often fruits in its first or second summer in the ground. A young 200mm plant usually takes two to three years while it builds a frame.

Will the roots damage my paving or pipes?

They can. Fig roots are vigorous and go looking for water, so allow at least 5m of clearance from drains, pipes, slabs and paths. If you cannot, grow it in a container of 50L or more.