Desert King Fig

Scientific Name: Ficus carica 'Desert King'

Also Known As

Ficus carica 'King'
Charlie Fig
White King Fig

Plant type

tree, shrub, fruit / vegetable

size

H: 10'-15'
W: 12'-15'

planting zones

7a-11

More Options

Desert King Fig plant details

Desert King Fig is a fast-growing broadleaf deciduous fruit / vegetable, shrub or tree with green foliage. In spring cream flowers emerge followed by brown, green and yellow fruit. Features glossy texture. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and regular - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, clay, gritty and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Desert King Fig

Plant type: fruit / vegetable, shrub or tree
Plant family: moraceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 12 FT - 15 FT - wide, 10 FT - 15 FT - tall
Flowers: cream blooms in spring
Uses: edible, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Desert King Fig

USDA Zones: 7a - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: deer, heat, humidity and seaside / salt
Soil needs: average, clay, gritty and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

This fig is a pure delight, producing abundant yields of large, yellow-green fruits which have a pretty strawberry-pink flesh. The figs are sweet and so richly flavored that this fig should be called 'Dessert King'! Its best attributes are that it ripens early (producing two crops in warm climates) and it withstands spring frosts making it especially adapted to coastal, high elevation and NW climates. S/M

By: Forestfarm

‘Desert King’ Fig is a premium quality fruiting fig variety originally identified near Madera, California. This is a fast growing tree with long, upwards branching and large palmate leaves. Known for producing large fruit in its productive breba crop, ‘Desert King’ fruit have a soft and melting texture with dark red flesh and high sugar. Green fruit becomes pale yellow when ripe and is resistant to splitting and spoiling. One of the best producing fig varieties for cooler summer climates . Cold hardy to zone 7b and above, or to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. For sale are bundles of five (5) dormant, mature wood cuttings between six and eight inches in length sealed with wax tape on the growing end.

By: Wanderlust Nursery

An excellent fig for the western US, the Desert King Fig produces high quality, rich large breba figs with a white flecked, thin green skin and a strawberry flesh. The second crop figs are medium sized with an amber to strawberry flesh and are of good quality. Winter tip pruning is not recommended as this removes the highly desirable breba crop. The figs are excellent dried or fresh.

By: Almost Eden

Desert King is a fast growing fig with heavy yields of bright green fruit. Unlike other types of fig this var stays green even when fully ripe.

By: Florida Hill Nursery

We love 'Desert King' for its ability to produce a large early crop of figs. The first crop is called the breba crop where the figs form on the mature wood from last year's growth. The breba crop ripens in mid-summer, while the second crop ripens in September. The yellowish-green figs have a sweet, strawberry-colored center and they are larger than most other figs (about the size of an extra-large egg). This variety does well in cooler climates like coastal regions or high elevations where intense summer heat is often absent.

By: Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

Desert King' is very productive and reliable, producing abundant, yellowish-green figs with sweet and richly flavorful, strawberry colored flesh.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Yellow-green figs w/ sweet pink flesh, Aug-Sept. Mulch in winter. Self-fertile. USDA zone 7-10

By: Lael's Moon Garden

Very productive and reliable, this fig has green skin with strawberry colored flesh and is good for drying. Only produces one crop in July but is a good variety for the coast and cool areas.