Ficus carica 'White Marseilles'
(Fig 'White Marseilles')

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 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. This cultivar is self-fertile so wasp pollination is not required for fruit production. The fruit is produced from late summer into early autumn and has green skin with white to yellow flesh.

Synonym - Ficus carica 'White Genoa

Flower:

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. This cultivar is self-fertile so wasp pollination is not necessary for fruit production. The fruit is produced from late summer into early autumn and has green skin with white to yellow flesh.

Flower shape: Apetalous flowers held in receptacles

Flowering time: April, May

Foliage:

Large, dark green leaves have rounded lobes with Dentate margins. The leaves are Alternately arranged on the upright stems.

Foliage Senescence: Deciduous

Foliage Shape: Lobed leaves

Fruit:

Green skin with yellow to white flesh.

Fruit Type: Fig fruit

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.