Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
(Fig 'Brown Turkey')
Family - Moraceae
Category - Shrub
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H4
Height - 3m or more
Width - 4m
Location - The Spring Garden
Description: A large, Deciduous Shrub with an upright, bushy habit. The stems can be trained against a wall. Large, decorative leaves have three to five rounded lobes and coarsely toothed margins. The Apetalous flowers are contained within receptacles that resemble small, undeveloped fruit. The flowers can be pollinated by small wasps that crawl through a tiny orifice at the base of the receptacle and fertilise the flowers with pollen carried from another plant, which will then develop into the well-known fig fruit. This cultivar is self-fertile, so wasp pollination is not required to produce fruit. The fruit is produced from late summer into early autumn and is purplish-brown when ripe.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Flower:
Small, apetalous flowers are held within structures (receptacles) that resemble small, undeveloped fruit. The flowers are produced in spring and can be wasp-pollinated. The small wasps crawl through a tiny orifice at the base of the receptacle to fertilise the flowers which will then develop into fruit. This cultivar is self-fertile, so wasp pollination is not required for fruit production. The fruit is produced from August to September and is deep purplish-brown when ripe.
Flower shape: Apetalous flowers held in receptacles
Flowering time: April, May
Foliage:
Large, dark green leaves have three to five, rounded or finger-like lobes with Dentate margins. The leaves are Alternately arranged on the upright stems.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Three to five-lobed leaves
Fruit:
Fruit Type: Fig
Ripening Time: August - September
Pest and Diseases:
Fruit may require protection from birds and wasps.
Propagation:
Cuttings.
Cultivation:
Best in a sheltered position in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil that is well-drained.