Fig ‘Preston Prolific’

Fig 'Preston Prolific' (Ficus carica 'Preston Prolific') is a heavy cropping white skinned fig with sweet pale flesh, and it lives up to its name in a warm Australian summer. Left to grow it makes a spreading tree of about 5m tall and 4m wide, but a winter prune holds it near 3m and keeps every fig within reach from the ground. It also crops well in a large pot.

Why you'll love it

• Reliable, heavy crops. It was selected for yield, and an established tree in full sun carries fruit in numbers most backyard figs do not.
• You decide the size. Five metres if you let it run, an easy 3m with one winter prune, or a large pot on a paved courtyard.
• Shade in summer, sun in winter. The broad leaves cast dense shade through the hot months, then drop to let winter light back through.
• Tough once established. Frost hardy while dormant, drought tolerant, heat tolerant and comfortable with coastal salt.

Where it works best

Backyard fruit tree. One tree feeds a household. Give it a warm, sunny, sheltered position, ideally with a wall or paving nearby to hold heat and ripen the fruit.

Shade tree. The wide, low canopy makes useful summer shade over a seat or a lawn, and the bare winter frame lets the sun back onto the house.

Pots and courtyards. Figs crop willingly with restricted roots, so a large container is a genuine option rather than a compromise, and it solves the root problem outright.

Growing Fig 'Preston Prolific' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, at least six hours a day. It suits cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens, and it is frost hardy while dormant, though a late frost can knock back new spring growth.

Soil. Free draining and not especially rich. Fig roots are vigorous and travel a long way, so plant at least 5m clear of pipes, paving and foundations, or grow it in a container.

Water and feed. Water deeply and evenly while the fruit is swelling, because erratic watering splits figs and drops them early. A potassium rich fertiliser in early spring beats a high nitrogen one, which pushes leaf at the expense of fruit.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare. Shorten the previous season's growth, take out crossing branches and open the centre to light. It tolerates hard renewal cuts, so a neglected tree can be brought back over two winters.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in 200mm pots sold in packs of six, single 300mm pots and advanced 100L stock. The 200mm and 300mm plants are young and crop lightly from their second or third season. The 100L trees carry a formed framework and fruit much sooner.

Figs are deciduous, so a plant delivered between late autumn and early spring arrives bare of leaves. That is normal, and it is the best time to plant. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to grow and care for figs
• Browse the full fig range
• Compare backyard fruit trees
• More edible plants for the garden

Common questions

How long until it fruits?

A 200mm or 300mm plant usually carries its first small crop in its second or third summer. An advanced 100L tree can fruit in its first full season after planting.

Does it need another tree to pollinate it?

No. This is a common fig, which sets fruit without pollination, so a single tree crops on its own.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, and it is a good idea in a small garden. Use the largest container you can manage, water consistently through summer, and top dress with fresh mix each spring.

Will the roots damage my paving?

They can. Fig roots are vigorous and surface feeding, so keep the tree at least 5m from pipes, slabs and foundations, or plant it in a container.