Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' (Fig)

Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' is an excellent fig cultivar noted for its relatively compact size of only 10 to 15' tall and its improved cold-hardiness over the other common cold-hardy cultivar 'Brown Turkey.' In early spring, 'Chicago Hardy' begins producing inconspicuous green flowers, which turn to tasty, medium-size, brownish purple fruit in late spring and again in late summer if provided with enough fertilizer and care. A beautiful specimen for garden or landscape, 'Chicago Hardy' requires only light annual pruning and produces a heavy fruit set once established; it additionally makes an excellent seasonal border or screen when grown as a shrub.

Ficus carica prefers nutrient-rich, well-drained soil kept relatively moist throughout the spring and summer. As with many deciduous trees, figs require less water in fall and winter, more in growing season; though 'Chicago Hardy' has some cold hardiness down to Zone 5, the best planting location is one that provides some shelter from cold winds during the winter months, as too cold of a winter may cause the plant to die back and re-sprout from roots in spring, slowing the production of fruit.

While fruits are delicious and completely safe for consumption, many of the tree's parts, including leaves and branches, contain a toxic compound, so care should be taken to keep fig plants away from areas where they might be chewed on by pets.