Ischia Fig Tree

Scientific Name: Ficus carica 'Ischia'

Also Known As

Ficus carica 'Green Ischia'
Ficus carica 'Ischia Green'
Ficus carica 'Strawberry'
Green Ischau Fig
Ischia Green Common Fig
Strawberry Fig
Verdone Fig
Yellow Fig

Plant type

tree, shrub, fruit / vegetable

size

H: 3'-15'
W: 3'-15'

planting zones

7a-11

More Options

Ischia Fig Tree plant details

A marvelous plant with marvelous fruit. Figs are all around fantastic in the garden, and this one is especially handy as a fast dense grower that doesn't get too big and is quick to produce fruit without a cross-pollinator.

Ischia Fig Tree is a fast-growing broadleaf deciduous fruit / vegetable, shrub or tree with green foliage. and green and yellow fruit. Attracts birds. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and regular - low water. Does well in acidic, average, lean and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant, humidity tolerant and seaside / salt tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Ischia Fig Tree

Plant type: fruit / vegetable, shrub or tree
Plant family: moraceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 3 FT - 15 FT - wide, 3 FT - 15 FT - tall
Uses: bare root shipping available, compact, edible, self-fertile, tropical-looking

GROWING CONDITIONS for Ischia Fig Tree

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

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

‘Ischia’ is a productive green-skinned fig. The sweet, succulent fruit is large and can measure up to 2” in diameter with a deep red interior. Great for eating fresh or drying. A small tree to 15 ft. can be pruned to keep smaller. Full sun to part shade in well drained soil. Tolerates periodic drought but better fruit production with watering a few times of month in summer Frost hardy to USDA zone 7.

By: Cistus Nursery

Ischia' produces bright yellow colored fruit when ripe with a dark red interior. The fruit are similar in texture and flavor to dark figs such as Black Mission but are a little bit sweet. The main reason people grow yellow figs is that in the rare event you have bird problems with figs, birds don't tend to bother the yellow colored ones. We have never had problems with insects, birds, or other animals eating figs at our nursery, but if you know people in your area might have had issues yellow figs might be the way to go.

Like other figs, 'Ischia' produces fruit at a very young age and one gallon plants can start setting fruit in only 1-2 years. You can also keep your trees small, as short as four feet, and still get large yields. Because of this reason, fig trees make an excellent potted plant and can be grown indoors with enough light.

In colder regions, figs are deciduous but they will remain evergreen in tropical climates or indoors.

Pruning and Caring for Ischia Figs

Ischia is a medium to large size fig, so we prefer to prune the tops when young to ensure lots of branching down low to encourage fruit production where it is easily accessible. Prune in the winter down to three or four buds on each branch to encourage strong branching while leaving enough for fruiting the following season. As the trees mature, switch to pruning out branches that crowd other branches but no longer cutting back the main stems. You can top the tree to six feet to keep the plant smaller.

Figs prefer moist soils with lots of organic matter, consider adding shredded bark or compost when planting if your soil is poor. However, we have compact clay at our nursery and we still get at least 80% of the normal fruit production on un-amended trees so if you can't improve your soil it's not the end of the world. Fertilize with a slow release pelleted fertilizer in early spring, such as Osmocote Plus 18-18-18.

Propagating Ischia Figs

Figs are relatively easy to propagate from cuttings, especially in winter using hardwood cuttings. Cut stems five to eight inches long with the bottom cut just below a node, dip in rooting hormone and stick an inch deep in loose potting soil in mid winter.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Ischia is a medium-sized green fig with light green skin and very attractive strawberry flesh and excellent flavor. Very flavorful, productive variety. Birds don't attack this variety as the green fruit blends in with the foliage. Zones 7-10.

By: Florida Hill Nursery

Figs are well-loved as container plants because they bear fruit at a young age and are self-fruitful without the need of a cross-pollinator. 'Ischia' is a productive yellow-skinned fig. The sweet, succulent fruit is large and can measure up to 2" in diameter with a reddish interior. They can be eaten fresh or dried to enjoy later. This fig variety can produce two crops a year, especially if it's grown in a warm location during the fall months to give the second crop time to ripen. Give 'Ischia' plenty of sun and warmth and it will create figs of the finest quality.

By: Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

ISCHIA GREEN HARDY FIG - A fast growing bushy variety growing 8-12' tall in sun to lt shade. Hardy zone 7-10. No pollinator required. Likes poor soil and do not over fertilize. Produces large 2"yellow green figs with a reddish flesh. Produces 2 crops, early and late summer. Because of the color of the fruit, there is less bird damage. Sweet, delicious fresh or dried. Plants grown and shipped in 4.5" Pots with growth 10-12".

By: Accents for Home and Garden

The Strawberry Fig produces large crops of medium to large dark green rounded to flattened fruit that may be blushed with purple and has a medium, open eye. The flesh is white with a dark purple pulp of excellent flavor and the fruit can be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. Excellent quality and a good choice for drier Southern and Southwestern climates as well as cool climates as the fruit is only somewhat resistant to spoiling.According to Dr. Condit the Strawberry is also known by the following names: Verdone, Coeur, Figue d'Espagne, Verdae, Ischia Green. Of these Verdone is considered by Condit to be the most accurate.