Chicago Hardy Fig
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' · Moraceae
| Type | tree (canopy layer) |
|---|---|
| Mature size | 12 ft tall × 10 ft wide |
| Sun | FS (full sun) |
| Water | M (moderate) |
| Deer resistance | low |
| Drought tolerance | medium |
| Hardiness | 5-9 |
| Maintenance | medium |
| Edible | yes |
| Nitrogen fixing | no |
| Bloom | Jun |
| Harvest | Aug, Sep |
| Expected yield | 15 lb/yr |
| Source | Profile request; Stark Bros and regional nurseries |
Planning price
$35.00 per plant estimated
cpi · Fig - Chicago Hardy
Also Olympian fig. Candidate for the 10-12 ft plant between the Zone D windows; wrap in winter.
Design notes
Ripe fruit develops in Zone 6b with a warm wall or season extension. Deer browse the fruit, so net in season.
Historic uses
Ancient Mediterranean food and medicine; leaf decoctions used for constipation, fig latex for warts and skin lesions.
Scoring
| Ornamental | 8/10 |
|---|---|
| Disease resistance | 6/10 |
| Sweetness of harvest | 8/10 |
| Complexity of care | 8/10 |
| Medicinal value | 4/10 |
Shared plant library
These records are stored once at /home/chris/.gardenway/plant-library.json and
reused by every design and project on this machine, so the same species does not have
to be researched again.
Where this is used
| Draft | Zone | Qty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft 1 - Balanced Food Forest | A | 1 | Fig on the house side of Zone A; wrap the trunk in winter until it is established. |
| Draft 1 - Balanced Food Forest | D | 1 | The 10-12 ft plant between the two windows - Chicago Hardy fig, as the owner suggested. |
| Draft 2 - Deer-Proof Berries and Kitchen Herbs | D | 1 | Chicago Hardy fig between the windows, as suggested - the single most protected spot on the property. |