The Christmas Fig is an evergreen fig tree or shrub in the Moraceae family that produces showy summer fruits that turn red and last until winter. It is a cultivar of the Willow-leaf fig, but is often labeled as a separate plant because of its larger form and distinct leaves and fruits. Christmas Fig is a small tree, reaching a mature height after 5 years of 6 feet. The Christmas Fig does well in heat and humidity and, if grown indoors, should be kept in a sunny, warm location with consistent moisture. The Christmas Fig will stop growing at temperatures below 60 degree F., but it does tolerates pruning and is easily shaped. Fruit will appear on either new or old growth. Christmas Fig produces aerial roots and the dark green, oak-leaf shaped foliage tends to be dense with sharp edges. Humidity encourages the plant to produce aerial roots. Use this shrub in the winter garden, a container or as a specimen. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Fungus or root rot from overwatering can be a problem. The plant produces a sticky sap when cut which can be messy and irritate skin. More information on Ficus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheAlocasia sarawakensis 'Yucatan Princess'Buxus 'Green Mountain'Laurus nobilis
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Houseplant; Perennial; Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Dense
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery; Rough
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Dark green random shaped leaves have a rough sandpaper texture (scabrous).
Flower color
Green
Flower shape
Radial
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Like other Ficus species, the flower is inverted. The reproductive structures are located within the teardrop shape.
Fruit color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Long-lasting; Showy
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
Snow pea-sized axillary, green fruit form in early summer and turn red in July, remaining showy until Christmas. The fruit develops from the same structure that the flowers are held in. The figs can be rounded, oval, or cylindrical and grow in pairs off older branches.
Bark color
Dark Gray; Light Gray
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Uses (ethnobotany)
Foliage is used as animal fodder and the wood as fuel.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Landscape theme
Winter Garden
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#interesting leaves #rough leaves #tropical shrub #winter interest #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #container plant #winter fruits #pruning tolerant #evergreen tree #small tree #accent
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Banded Greenhouse Thrips; Fern Scale Insect
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses