White Madeira Fig Tree
As delicious and infamous as Black Madeira is, we think White Madeira should be ranked right up there with it for its delicious and unique flavor. While we are somewhat partial to the darker skinned figs, White Madeira has a flavor that reminds us of strawberry jolly ranchers! Intensely sweet with an almost artificial berry flavor, but in a good way! One of the tastiest white/green figs we’ve ever tasted, though just like the other famous fig from Madeira, this one is a late ripener for us. Light green skin with a bright and full strawberry flesh. Plant in an intensely hot microclimate in the PNW or grow as a greenhouse treasure.
Given to us as White Madeira #1 for those of you who are interested in that information. We just don’t have any other White Madeira’s in our collection so we dropped the “#1”.
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-fruitful.
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: Strawberry jam, jolly rancher, concentrated fig deliciousness
Fruit Skin: Yellow/green
Fruit Flesh: Bright red
Bloom Time: Flowers are not noticeable as they are inside the fig.
Ripening Time: Late August-October
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: 7b
Sunset Western Zone: 4-9, 12-24
Sunset Northeast Zone: 31, 32