Jolly Tiger Fig Tree
*This tree does not have variegated foliage!!!* We have found that the variegation on Jolly Tiger to be incredibly unstable and have found almost all cuttings we’ve ever received of it to revert to non-variegated foliage. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great variety! The figs and branches are still very striped even when the foliage is not variegated and the figs are some of the largest of any striped fig we’ve seen. They start out looking like a Panache fig with vibrant stripes that eventually fade to be nearly invisible once the skin ripens to being a deep black and a bright red flesh. So far we’ve only received main crop figs from Jolly Tiger that ripened mid season and were incredibly delicious.
One of the easiest fruits to grow, and a true gourmet delight, you should not live your life without feasting on this sweet, delectable fruit. To fully enjoy fresh Figs you must grow your own. When fully ripe and at their tender, shipping them long distances is virtually impossible. Another plus for Figs – deer don’t like them (most of the time)!
Click here to read our Fig Growing Guide.
Latin Name: Ficus carica
Site and Soil: Figs do well in a variety of soils, but require at least 8 hours of sunlight during the growing season.
Pollination Requirements: Self-figful.
Hardiness: Hardy to between 0° & 5° F.
Bearing Age: 1-2 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 10-20 ft in height, smaller with pruning.
Taste: Sweet
Fruit Skin: Striped yellow and green ripening to deep purple/black
Fruit Flesh: Red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Main crop late September
Yield: 10-15 lbs. or more per plant.
Pests & Diseases: Figs are not bothered by pests or diseases in our region. Cover plants with netting if birds are a problem. Fig Mosaic Virus is a benign virus that exists in all cultivated fig trees. Yellow spotting of the leaves is a cosmetic symptom that shows more in container culture, but is quickly outgrown once trees are planted in the ground. The presence of FMV in all cultivated figs has become widely accepted, as even the national germplasm repository for figs maintained by the USDA has Fig Mosaic Virus. If the presence of FMV is a concern, then purchasing fig trees may not be the best option for you.
USDA Zone: 7
Sunset Western Zone: 4-9, 12-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31, 32