Adam Fig Tree

Adam Fig Tree (Ficus carica 'Adam') is a backyard fig sized for a normal suburban block. It settles at about 3.5m tall and 3m wide, small enough for a courtyard corner or a large pot, and it starts carrying fruit within two or three years. The broad lobed leaves throw real shade over a seat through summer, then drop and let the winter sun back through.

Why you'll love it

• Fruit from a tree you can reach. At 3.5m you pick most of the crop standing on the ground rather than off a ladder.
• Very little work once established. No spray program, no pollinator partner, one prune a year.
• Heat, drought and frost are all fine. Drought and heat tolerant once away, and frost hardy through winter while the branches are bare.
• Shade in summer, light in winter. Being deciduous, it cools a north facing patio in January and gets out of the way in July.
• It takes to pots well. A restricted root run suits figs, and a pot solves both space and root worries.

Where it works best

Feature and shade planting. In an open position it forms a low spreading canopy that works as a small shade tree over outdoor seating. Allow about 3m of clear width.

Pots and containers. A pot 500mm or wider keeps it nearer 2m. Container figs need steadier watering, but they crop reliably and the roots stay put.

Small gardens. Keep it 4m to 5m clear of pipes and paving, because fig roots are vigorous and chase moisture.

Growing Adam Fig Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, and the more of it the sweeter the fruit. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens. Cold southern districts are no problem, since the tree is leafless when the frosts arrive. In humid subtropical gardens pick an open, airy spot so fruit dries quickly after summer storms.

Soil. Free draining above all else. Figs cope with ordinary and slightly limey soils but not with wet feet, so mound the planting hole on heavy clay. Mulch 75mm deep, kept off the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then reduce. Steady moisture while the fruit swells stops it splitting. A complete fertiliser in early spring and again after harvest is enough.

Pruning. Prune in winter while the tree is bare. Remove crossing wood, shorten the leaders to hold your height, and aim for an open vase. Wear gloves and long sleeves, because the milky sap irritates skin.

What to expect when it arrives

We grow this fig in one size, a 200mm pot sold in packs of six, which suits a small home orchard. Plants arrive as young single stemmed trees, roughly knee high and already branching. If yours turns up in winter it will be bare, and that is normal rather than a fault.

Figs establish quickly. Expect strong growth in the first warm season and a light crop in year two or three. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Compare varieties across our fig tree range.
• Read planting tips for fruit trees season by season.
• Browse the wider fruit tree collection.
• See what else is worth growing in our edible plants range.

Common questions

How long until it fruits?

Usually a light crop in the second or third year after planting, then a fuller one each season as the framework builds.

Will the roots lift paving or block pipes?

Fig roots are vigorous, so allow 4m to 5m of clearance from pipes, slabs and paving. If you cannot, grow it in a pot instead.

Can I keep it smaller than 3.5m?

Yes. An annual winter prune holds it at 2m to 2.5m without costing much fruit, since you are shortening leaders rather than removing the fruiting framework.

Does it need a second tree to pollinate?

No. Common figs of this type set fruit on their own, so one tree is all you need.