Garden Quiz - ID this shrub, bush, thingy - what ever it is

[kev]

This "thing" will get about 20 feet tall, produces a large amount of fruit and it popular with the local wildlife. The bush, shrub, tree (whatever it is) is popular in the southern part of the USA. Its also a favorite with the local wildlife.

Location: East Texas
Date: July 19, 2008

YouTube - Garden Quiz - ID this bush thingy

[coleman91501]

Is it a fig tree?

[RosesInWinter]

Fig. Attracts June bugs, too. Which fly down the back of your shirt, and cause you to jump around, scream, and curse at the dog for not protecting you.

[Straight Razor]

Looks like a mission fig, sometimes called turkey fig. Pick them when they turn brown. You might want to put some ant traps at the base of the tree, too. Calamata figs are picked green, in comparison. I have two fig trees: a Calamata, near and dear to my ancestral home, and the mission fig... well.... not really. It is from the Azores and is a clone well over 100 years old.

I had a girlfriend in the dark ages long ago whose great grandmother was from the Azores. Back when such things weren't checked she brought in a sprig to Florida. I got several starts off it and still have one in my yard.It produces wonderful small brown figs, an easy way to know when they are ripe. The Calamata, in the back yards, produce much larger figs but they are still green when ripe, but, dried they are great.

[AAPEXX]

are these the type of figs they use for fig nutons? i know it sounds like i stupid question, but i've always wondered & have never had a real FIG, just the cookies

[CountryBoy71]

Figs .... yum! I love figs right off the tree. BTW, a new tree can be started by transplanting cuttings from the tree ... no need to try and figure out how to salvage seeds from those things!

[baytovin]

Fig trees are popular here in the northwest, too. Just be sure to get a variety that will ripen before winter.

[jfountain2]

Fig tree. I picked figs on a tree at my Grandparents house every year when I was growing up, they would make fig preserves out of them. Damn good preserves, or right off the tree when ripe like the brown one in Kev's second pic.

[jfountain2]

Originally Posted by AAPEXX

are these the type of figs they use for fig nutons? i know it sounds like i stupid question, but i've always wondered & have never had a real FIG, just the cookies

Yes they are.

[awildchipmunk]

I remember the neighbor had a fig tree looked just like that, us kids would get into a fig fight, when they are green there as hard as a rock and hurt like the ****ens.

[gardener guy]

i grew up eating figs off the tree and my mom would make fig preservs

[olddude]

nothing like that up here,

[Belladonna]

It's a fig tree. My Granny had two in her backyard.

[Irishwarlord]

Where I am from, N.W. we never saw Figs grow, or if we did never realized the great snack we were missing. I don't think they were in our area wild.
Now I know. Thanks.

[Lady Bug(ging)]

Yup, a fig, though there are none of them in MA. Unless of course someone is growing it in their home.

[American ME!]

Originally Posted by kev

This "thing" will get about 20 feet tall, produces a large amount of fruit and it popular with the local wildlife. The bush, shrub, tree (whatever it is) is popular in the southern part of the USA. Its also a favorite with the local wildlife.

Location: East Texas
Date: July 19, 2008

YouTube - Garden Quiz - ID this bush thingy

Can you buy them at Lowes/Home Depot?.....plant them from seed?...do they grow wild? I'm sure here in Texas it would be easy to have them. Let me know please.

[dalebelle]

I have a fig bush and they make great preserves and many recipes have you add strawberry jello and they taste like strawberry preserves. I have never seen them at Lowe's etc. but you might try online sources like Miller's Nursery.