Desert King Fig Tree

Cool climate choice, the Desert King Fig (Ficus carica 'Desert King') is a good choice for cooler climates. It is a large, deep-green fig with strawberry-red flesh. Sweet and juicy, these are decadent gems loaded with healthy benefits.

The white flowers of Desert King are unusual and usually fairly inconspicuous. Because it ripens in mid-summer, Desert King is a great variety for gardeners in coastal, high-elevation, and other cool regions! Hardy throughout USDA growing zones 5 to 9, these fruit trees grow 10-15 feet in height and 6-8 feet wide.

Figs are wonderful for fresh eating and make delicious jams and as dried fruit. Even the Fig leaves are useful for your savory recipes! Not to mention, beautiful! The lobed foliage of Desert King is impressive indeed! With a rounded crown, the green-gray foliage is a vigorous grower and fills out quickly.

This is a heavy producer of excellent quality, sweet open-eyed Figs. The tree sets a large early crop from June to August, then sets a secondary crop. Known as a Breba crop, these tasty fruits develop on last year's growth.

The fruit is truly unique! Unlike most fruit in which the edible structure is matured ovary tissue, a Fig's edible structure is actually the stem tissue! The Fig fruit is an inverted flower with both the male and female flower parts enclosed in stem tissue.

Planting and Application:

Versatile ornamentals, these prolific edible landscape trees are also fantastic landscaping gems! Desert King makes a good container tree in colder climates! In warm climates, they grow larger. In-ground trees can be used as a marvelous backdrop along a fence line.

In Zones 5 to 7, in-ground plants may die back to the ground each year. They'll become a shrubbier plant with new growth from the roots each year. Consider them a landscape shrub that needs winter protection.

A Fig tree hedge for privacy and screening is just as lovely as a stand-alone focal point! Use this modestly sized tree as a unique and tropical-looking specimen or accent. Perfect for both front and back yard garden beds! Shade a patio or seating area with lush foliage without taking up precious space!

You can even prune these smaller and keep them as a beautiful container tree on your sunny balcony or porch! Adding an exotic flair to any setting! In growing Zones 5 and 6, just cover it well, or bring your container into an unheated garage or shed to go dormant over the winter. When you bring it back outside, the show begins again!

• Unusual Green Skin & Strawberry-Colored Flesh
• Lush Sweet Flavor - Succulent Jam-Like Texture
• Heavy Producer & Partially Self-Fruitful Open-Eyed Fig
• Ripens Mid-Summer - Followed by Second Breba Crop
• Fresh Eating, Jams, Sauces & Dried
• Edible Landscaping, Screening/Privacy, Containers, Specimens

#ProPlantTips for Care:

You don't need to have a green thumb to grow a Fig tree! Provide a full sun area on your property and you’ll reap juicy rewards! Versatile in poor soil and alkaline conditions, Desert King is also a low-maintenance tree that gives so much, while requiring so little from you! Plant in enriched soil that is very well-drained and water moderately throughout the growing season. Becoming drought tolerant once established, be sure to give your container plants extra attention.

Give Fig trees an even amount of water on a regular basis to avoid splitting fruit. They'll appreciate a thick layer of mulch over their root systems, and you'll appreciate the savings on your water bill. Pull mulch back 6 inches back from the trunk.

Prune Desert King in winter while your tree is dormant for shaping and size control. This is one of the best to Espalier; a pruning technique that has been popular in Europe for generations.

These partially self-fruitful trees tolerate the occasional late spring frost and cooler summers than most other Figs but do need a second similar Fig to maximize pollination.

• Cold Tolerant & Great for High Elevations
• Best In Full Sun
• Well-Drained Enriched Soil
• Low Chill - Open Eye Variety
• Prune During Dormancy
• Low 100 Chill Hours
• Wonderful for Pacific Northwestern US

Order your own richly flavored Desert King Fig Tree today from NatureHills.com! This unique green-skinned sweet variety won't last long!

Fig Tree FAQ

At what age do Desert King Fig Trees bear fruit?

Nature Hills ships Fig trees with mature root systems that are already 2-3 years of age and the typical Fig tree will begin producing fruit at 3-5 years in optimal conditions.

Where is the best place to plant a Desert King Fig tree?

Fig trees, like nearly all fruiting trees and shrubs, need enriched, well-drained soil in a full sun location to flower and fruit the best.

Are Fig Trees Self-Pollinating

Fig Trees are partially self-fruitful but do best with a pollination partner. The Desert King is an open eyed-type of Fig and should have another similar Fig Tree planted nearby to maximize pollination chances.

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants. Find your Fig Trees for sale here at NatureHills.com!