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Kampala Tree and Palm Directory

Tree Species

Common Name

Tree Description

Tree Uses

English: Fig, Edible fig, Fig Common.

Whole tree

Bark

Leaves

+ Tree Species

Ficus carica

+ Tree Family

Moraceae

+ Ecology

Common fig is a small tree native to southwest Asia but widely planted in North America. It flowers from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is monoecious and is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

+ Description

A deciduous tree growing to 6 m by 6 m at a medium rate.

BARK: smooth, greyish bark.

LEAVES: Large, palmate, hairy, 3-5 lobed leaves (to 10” long) are rough dark green above and smooth light green beneath.

FLOWERS: Small and inconspicuous. Non-showy greenish flowers form in spring inside hollow receptacles near the branch growing tips.

FRUITS (FIG): medium fruit the size of a light bulb or a little smaller. Some figs have a clear green colour and others are black or purplish.

+ Uses

Edible: fruit. http://www.tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Ficus+carica

Medicine: Leaves, latex, young branches, fruit. http://www.tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Ficus+carica

The wood is used for hoops, garlands, ornaments etc.

An ornamental plant.

+ Propagation

Seeds.

+ Management

Pruning, pinching young trees, adding fruit tree fertilizer.

+ Remarks

Common fig occurs only in non-wetland areas. The presence of the species has a positive impact on human health and livelihoods, as it has been cultivated for human consumption, wood material, and health-related uses for thousands of years (Hanelt et al, 2001; Weber, 2003; USDA-ARS, 2014). F. carica may pose a negative environmental risk in non-native places where it has naturalized and become established; however this risk is currently considered low (PIER, 2014).