‘Brown Turkey’ fig is a multi-stemmed, woody, deciduous shrub with edible fruit in the mulberry family (Moraceae). This fig cultivar was bred to be more cold hardy than other fig cultivars and quickly grows to a mature size of 10 to 30 feet tall and wide. Grow figs in full sun in organically rich, well-drained, moist soils that are neutral to acidic. Figs do not tolerate alkaline soils. Light pruning each winter may be necessary to maintain an attractive shape. Flowers and fruit will appear on either old or new growth. Mulch roots to maintain moisture and especially in the fall to protect them throughout the winter. 'Brown Turkey' requires protection from winter temperatures below 10 degrees F. This plant produces fruits without the need of pollination, so multiple plants are not required. It is one of the most popular figs grown in the United States with two harvests of its edible fruit each year, one in the late spring to early summer, and the second in the late summer to early fall. The fruits are enjoyed fresh or dried. Consider planting against a south or west wall or solid fence to take advantage of radiant heat or in other protected areas if planted in hardiness zones 5 to 7. Plant in a children’s, pollinator, winter, or edible garden. Plant it as a specimen and keep it close to a patio to more easily enjoy the fruit harvest and the interesting winter form. This plant grows well in containers, but containers must be overwintered indoors. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, mealybugs, root knot nematodes, and spider mites are occasional problems. Blight, leaf spot and rust are occasional diseases. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Ficus carica .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
12-24 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in. | Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Multi-stemmed; Rounded; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Palmatifid
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed
Leaf feel
Leathery; Rough; Smooth; Soft
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Large, thick, green leaves are 5-10 inches long and 4-7 inches across and deeply, palmately lobed with three or five lobes. The upper surface is green and rough with hairs and the underside is paler and smooth. Yellow to brown fall color.
Fall color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow
Flower color
Brown/Copper; Purple/Lavender
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flower is not visible as it blooms inside a hollow receptacle that forms near the end of branches in leaf axils. The flowers small, green, and form in the spring.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Pink; Purple/Lavender
Fruit value
Edible; Showy
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Small fruit ripens in July with purple bronze skin and pink pulp, tastes mild and sweet.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Silver gray smooth bark becomes more bumpy with age.
Stem color
Brown/Copper
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
E. Mediterranean to Central Asia
Wildlife value
Provides food source for birds and small mammals.
Attracts
Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Edible fruit; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Edibility
The mild and sweet fruit is good eaten fresh or dried.