Caprifig

Question

Just purchased property in Venice CA and there’s a giant fig that the elderly owners of past 40 years say never made edible fruit. They tried everything but nothing helped. I double checked with neighbors and the tree never produced fruit that could be eaten. I believe after searching internet that the tree is a caprifig. There’s tons of wasps that surround it every year. If I get a female tree will the caprifig make edible fruit? My husband wants to cut it down because he says figs are messy. I love figs and am fighting to protect this one. Thank you.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, Caprifigs are an all male variety. They are pollinators, and will never bear fruit. You will have to have a female tree that can receive that males pollen to produce fruit. This article will give you more information: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/figs/different-types-of-fig-trees.htm