Fig trees are common backyard trees and shrubs in the warmer Southern and Western United States. Hardier varieties have become available for colder areas, and with protection, the tree will resprout as a multistemmed shrub the following spring. Potted fig trees can be stored over winter in a frost-free location to ensure their longevity.
Fig trees add a decided Mediterranean feel to any garden. They grow well with other Mediterranean plants in a mixed border or container garden. Figs prefer full sun and well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Water young trees regularly until fully established, and continue to water mature trees during fruit development to ensure a healthy crop.
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Shrubs To Plant With Fig Trees
A fig tree makes a wonderful centerpiece to a small kitchen garden filled with perennial berries and nut trees. For a wide range of interesting fruits, try pairing figs with currants, gooseberries, honeyberries, and blueberries. The compact growth habit of these berries makes seasonal maintenance easy and relatively quick. In addition, these plants are not likely to compete with each other for water and nutrients.
Native deciduous trees and shrubs like serviceberry, multi-stemmed hazelnut, mock orange, and red elderberry also grow well with figs. The deciduous plants provide seasonal interest with ornamental flowers and can be planted under larger trees.
Perennials To Plant With Fig Trees
A wide range of herbaceous and woody perennials share the same growing preferences as fig trees. Mediterranean plants like rosemary, lavender, thyme, and sage thrive in well-drained soil and full sun exposure. These herbs are also ornamental and attract masses of pollinating insects and other animals when in bloom. For a hard-working ground cover, white clover, lupines, chamomile, and Russian comfrey grow well with fig and help improve the soil either by fixing nitrogen or mining nutrients from deep in the soil. Include meadow flowers like coneflowers, shasta daisy, perennial baby’s breath, yarrow, camas lilies, and clumping ornamental grasses for added texture and color.
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Annuals To Plant With Fig Trees
Edible and ornamental annuals are ideal to plant near a fig tree due to their shallow root systems and long-term interest. Sunlovers like basil and marigolds are great for feeding pollinators and deterring pests in the garden. Nasturtium is a brilliant catch crop for drawing aphids away from more susceptible plants like young fig trees. Make sure to plant the Nasturtiums a few feet away from the canopy of a fig tree. In smaller gardens, ongoing crops of lettuce, spinach, and other tender salad plants will happily grow in shaded areas under fig trees during the hottest part of the summer.
Best Companion Plants For Fig Trees in Containers
Fig trees grow easily in pots, especially the smaller dwarf types. Figs can be planted in a 1-2 gallon pot with a filler plant to help shade the soil and absorb any excess moisture for the first few years. Choose shallow-rooted annuals like calibrachoa, petunia, sweet alyssum, or euphorbia to add color and attract beneficial pollinators. Once your fig tree has matured, use it as a single specimen plant to anchor a container garden on a deck or patio. The added height is a great backdrop for other potted perennials or small shrubs and trees.
Make sure the fig tree is hardy to at least two zones colder than your location. Fig trees in pots are less hardy than those growing in the ground and will benefit from some winter protection in cold climates.
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Plants Not To Grow With Fig Trees
Edible plants with deep root systems like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, or eggplants will compete with fig trees for nutrients and moisture in the soil. These nightshade family members can also transfer certain garden diseases, such as leaf curl and bacterial canker. DIsease transmission could result in the loss of a fig crop.
Best Plants To Grow With Fig Trees
The best companions for fig trees not only benefit the planting visually but also functionally, by attracting pollinators and deterring pests for instance. Create an edible lower story with non-suckering fruit bushes (currants, gooseberries, or blueberries) and perennial herbs (thyme, oregano, or chives). Add a third layer of interest with a mix of perennial and annual pollinator plants (coneflowers, cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, and agastache). Finally, include groundcovers to smother weeds and improve soil fertility, such as perennial or annual clover, perennial sweet peas, or self-seeding borage. The resulting planting will provide a high yield while remaining low-maintenance.
Sources: “Home Garden Figs.” University of Georgia Extension. www.extension.uga.edu