Mission Fig
Best fruit-bearing tree for home gardeners seeking edible urban harvests.
The Mission Fig is an attractive, medium-sized deciduous tree celebrated for its sweet, edible fruit. Harvest purplish-black pomes from mid-summer to mid-fall, perfect for fresh eating, cooking, or preserves. Its dark green, lobed foliage offers ornamental appeal without significant fall color change. Reaching about 25 feet tall and wide with a rounded form and medium growth rate, this deer-resistant tree also attracts birds, making it a versatile addition to any garden. Pruning in late winter helps manage its size.
$24.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
7
/ 1209
#7 in Trees
Price vs Category Average
-77%
Below average
Mature Height
25
/ feet
Who it's for
- Foodies prioritizing rich, complex flavor for culinary use
- Beginners wanting an easy, self-pollinating fruit tree
- Gardeners seeking a high-yield, multi-season harvest
Who should skip it
- Urban gardeners with limited yard or planting space
- Cold-climate residents without space for container protection
- Growers in regions with unpredictable, heavy rainfall
Performance breakdown
Fruit Yield
Reliable harvests of sweet, dark fruit from mid-summer through fall.
Ornamental Appeal
Lobed foliage provides a lush, rounded silhouette for garden landscapes.
Urban Adaptability
Thrives in city environments despite pollution and limited space constraints.
Maintenance Ease
Simple annual winter pruning keeps the tree size manageable and healthy.
Wildlife Integration
High deer resistance paired with strong appeal for local bird populations.
Container Versatility
Well-suited for patio pots or smaller urban garden footprints.
Key Specs
Mature Height
25 feet
Mature Width
25 feet
Growth Rate
Medium
USDA Hardiness Zone
7a
Light Needs
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Water Needs
Moderate
Foliage Type
Deciduous
Deer Resistance
High
Features
- Produces sweet, edible purplish-black fruit.
- Attractive dark green lobed foliage.
- Deer resistant and attracts birds.
- Medium growth rate, reaches 25 ft.
- Suitable for containers and urban settings.
- Versatile for fresh eating, cooking, or preserves.
- Rounded form, multi-stemmed deciduous tree.
- Tolerant of urban pollution.
What customers say
The sentiment surrounding the Mission Fig is overwhelmingly positive, centered on exceptional plant quality and reliable fruit production. Customers frequently note the robust health of the trees upon purchase, ensuring successful establishment in the home garden. This reliability translates directly into superior yields of delicious, dark figs, confirming the tree's strong value proposition for serious home growers.
Know before you buy
Yes, the Mission Fig is well-suited for container gardening. Because it has a medium growth rate, you can manage its size with regular pruning to keep it happy in a large pot on a patio or balcony.
For the best fruit production, plant your tree in a spot that receives full sun. While it can tolerate partial shade, more sunlight will result in sweeter fruit and a healthier, more robust tree.
Pruning should be done in late winter while the tree is dormant. This is the ideal time to manage its size, remove any dead wood, and shape the tree to maintain its rounded form before new growth begins in the spring.
Yes, this variety is considered highly deer resistant. While no plant is entirely deer-proof, the Mission Fig is generally ignored by deer, making it a reliable choice for gardens where wildlife pressure is a concern.
The Mission Fig is hardy in USDA zones 7a and above. If you live in a region with colder winters, you may need to provide winter protection or keep the tree in a container that can be moved indoors during extreme freezes.
Mission Figs typically begin producing fruit once the tree is established, usually within a few years of planting. You can expect to harvest the purplish-black fruit from mid-summer through mid-fall.
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$25