White Genoa Fig

White Genoa Fig (Ficus carica 'White Genoa') is a fig sized for a real backyard, about 4m tall and 4m wide, bearing fruit within a few seasons of planting. Frost hardy at one end of its range and heat tolerant at the other, it suits most Australian gardens. One quirk: you never see it flower, because fig flowers sit inside the fruit.

Why you'll love it

• Fast to establish. Strong growth means a young tree builds a picking framework quickly.
• A tree you can pick from. At roughly 4m by 4m it stays within ladder reach, and pruning holds it lower again.
• Coastal and dry country tolerant. Drought tolerant once established, and salt tolerant enough for a coastal block.
• Genuinely happy in a pot. A large container keeps the vigorous roots where you want them and holds the tree at picking height.

Where it works best

Feature planting. The broad lobed leaves give a Mediterranean look through summer, and the pale twisting branches carry the garden through winter.

Pots and containers. Use a pot 500mm or wider with free draining mix. This is the best way to grow it in a courtyard, and it keeps the roots contained.

Small gardens. Allow the full 4m of width. The roots are vigorous and water seeking, so keep the tree well clear of pipes, drains and paving despite the modest canopy.

Growing White Genoa Fig in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in the warmest spot you have. Warm temperate, Mediterranean, cool temperate and subtropical gardens all suit it, and being frost hardy it handles cold southern winters while dormant. Constant tropical humidity is not its territory.

Soil. Free draining soil matters more than fertility. Work compost through a wide planting area, mound the bed on heavy clay, and keep 75mm of mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep water weekly through the first summer, and keep the water up while fruit is swelling even on an established tree, since a dry spell then costs fruit size. Feed a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, and go easy on nitrogen, which builds leaf instead of figs.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while the tree is bare. Take out crossing and inward growing branches to open the centre, and shorten the leaders to hold it at picking height.

What to expect when it arrives

This fig is sold in one size, a 200mm pot in packs of six. Each plant is young and lightly branched rather than a formed tree, so the pack suits an orchard row, a shared order with neighbours, or a couple of trees for pots.

It is deciduous, so plants sent over winter may arrive bare stemmed and looking lifeless. That is normal, and they shoot as the soil warms. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete fig and ficus care guide
• Compare the full fig tree range
• Browse fruit trees for Australian gardens
• More edible plants for the backyard

Common questions

Will it fruit in a pot?

Yes, and it is one of the better fruit trees for containers. Use a pot at least 500mm wide, water more often than you would in the ground, and expect it to settle nearer 2m than 4m.

Are the roots a problem near the house?

They can be. Fig roots are vigorous and water seeking, so this is not a tree for planting beside drains, water pipes or paving. A pot or an open lawn position solves it.

Does it lose its leaves in winter?

Yes. The leaves turn yellow and fall through late autumn, leaving a bare tree until spring. That dormancy is what lets a fig cope with frost in cool temperate gardens.

How long until the first crop?

From a 200mm plant, expect a light crop within two to three seasons and useful pickings after that. Full sun, steady water and a light winter prune bring it on faster.