Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’

Ficus carica, referred to as common fig, is a deciduous shrub (to 10-15′ tall) or small tree. It is noted for its spreading habit, attractive foliage and edible fruit. Old trees with smooth silver gray bark (sometime gnarled with age) are ornamentally attractive. Large, palmate, hairy, 3-5 lobed leaves (to 10″ long) are rough dark green above and smooth light green beneath. Non-showy greenish flowers form in spring inside hollow receptacles near the branch growing tips. The fruit (edible fig) develops within each receptacle. The main fruit crop ripens in late summer on new wood. In some areas, a lesser crop may appear in spring on new wood. Species plants as well as most fig cultivars are parthenocarpic (fruits develop without cross pollination).

While not quite as cold hardy as ‘Celeste’ , ‘Brown Turkey’ will produce a fair to good crop on new growth following severe freeze injury. In addition, ‘Brown Turkey’ ripens fruit over an extended period of the summer from June through August, making it prized as a reliable producer almost every year. The fruit is
medium to large, with a reddish-brown skin and a reddish-pink pulp. The fruit has a mild sweet flavor. The fruit is plump with a short stem and moderately closed eye which reduces fruit souring on the tree. In very wet years, however, the fruit can sour or crack.