Figs: The Ancient, Delicious, Slightly Weird “Fruit” (That’s Not Actually a Fruit)
If you’ve ever bitten into a fig and thought, “Wow, this feels like eating a little pocket of nature’s candy,” you’re not wrong. Figs are sweet, mysterious, ancient, and weirdly misunderstood.
And if you’re growing a Chicago Hardy fig (like I am!), welcome to the club. Whether you’ve got one in a pot or a whole backyard orchard, figs are one of the coolest plants you can grow!
But here’s the kicker: figs aren’t actually fruit. Yup. They’re technically inverted flowers, which is already blowing most people’s minds. Let’s talk about it.
What Is a Fig?
Okay, get ready for some botanical nerding out. A fig isn’t a fruit in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a structure called a syconium…basically, a hollow fleshy sac lined with tiny flowers inside.
When you eat a fig, you’re technically eating hundreds of tiny inverted flowers that bloomed inside the syconium. Wild, right? The crunchy bits you feel? Those are seeds, each one connected to a little flower that bloomed out of sight.
Think of it as a garden you eat from the inside out.
A Figgy History
Figs have been around forever.
Seriously, humans were cultivating figs even before wheat or barley. Archaeologists found fig remains in the Jordan Valley dating back over 11,000 years!! That’s longer than most crops we know and love today.
In fact, figs might be the first domesticated plant. Ancient people probably noticed wild fig trees popping up from cuttings or dropped fruit and figured out how to encourage them to grow near settlements.
By the time the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans rolled around, figs were already famous.
Figs show up in Egyptian tomb paintings, Greek myths (hi, Dionysus), and Roman feasts. Pliny the Elder even wrote about figs as a health food, which makes sense, since they’re packed with fiber, minerals, and antioxidants.
The Romans spread figs all over Europe, and from there they made their way to the Americas. Spanish missionaries planted them in California in the 1700s…hence the name “Mission fig.”
So… How Do Figs Reproduce?
Here’s where things get super weird. Most figs rely on a special relationship with fig wasps. Yep. Tiny wasps crawl inside the fig to pollinate it. In return, the fig provides a safe place for the wasp to lay its eggs.
Without the wasp, the fig can’t develop seeds. Without the fig, the wasp can’t complete its life cycle. It’s a delicate, specific dance between plant and insect.
(But don’t worry…you’re probably not eating a wasp when you bite into a fig. Commercial varieties like Chicago Hardy are parthenocarpic, they don’t need pollination to produce fruit. No wasp required!)
If you’re fascinated by plant symbiosis, check out my post on glowing plants and bioluminescence, because nature has a knack for crazy partnerships!
Why Grow Figs?
Honestly? Because they’re awesome. Figs are:
Low maintenance (especially varieties like Chicago Hardy)
Cold-hardy, yep, even if you live up north
Beautiful plants with big tropical-looking leaves
Productive, one tree can give you pounds of fruit
Self-pollinating (again, no wasps needed for many varieties)
Plus, homegrown figs taste nothing like store-bought. They’re juicier, more flavorful, and you get to pick them at peak ripeness, which grocery stores can’t replicate.
Fun Fig Facts You’ll Want to Drop at Parties
Want to sound like a plant genius? Try these on for size:
The word “fig” comes from the Latin ficus
Figs are mentioned in the Bible over 40 times
The Buddha achieved enlightenment under a fig tree (specifically a Bodhi tree)
Figs were used as a natural sweetener before sugar cane was widely available
Cleopatra’s favorite fruit? Figs. Same, girl.
There are over 700 species of fig trees worldwide
Pretty impressive for something that grows so quietly in the backyard.
Growing Your Own: Meet the Chicago Hardy
Okay, let’s talk specifics. The Chicago Hardy fig is one of the best varieties for northern growers. It’s called “hardy” for a reason…it can handle temps down to -10°F with some protection.
It grows fast, produces plenty of medium-sized, dark purple figs, and is super forgiving if you forget to water it every once in a while (guilty).
Best part? Even if it dies back to the ground in winter, it’ll regrow from the roots in spring. Total comeback kid vibes.
If you’re ready to add one to your garden, you can grab a live Chicago Hardy fig tree on Amazon and get growing. Trust me, watching that first fig ripen is the most satisfying thing ever! My tree is 4 years old now and I get so much fruit!
How to Grow a Happy Fig Tree
Fig trees aren’t high-maintenance, but they appreciate a few basics:
Full sun: at least 6–8 hours a day
Well-drained soil: they hate soggy roots
Moderate watering: deep but infrequent works best
Fertilizer: a balanced fertilizer in spring and midsummer
If you’re growing in a pot, go for a big container (15+ gallons) so the roots have room. And if you’re in a really cold zone, bring the pot into an unheated garage or basement for winter.
Chicago Hardy figs fruit on new growth, so even if your tree dies back in winter, you’ll still get fruit the same year it regrows!
(While you’re diving into growing edible plants, check out my post on how hydroponic tomatoes work, it’s another fun way to bring food production home.)
How to Eat a Fig (Spoiler: Any Way You Want)
Fresh figs are one of those rare seasonal treats. When they’re ripe, they’re tender, jammy, sweet, and floral all at once. You can:
Eat them whole and raw
Slice them over yogurt or oatmeal
Pair them with cheese and prosciutto
Roast them with honey and balsamic
Bake them into tarts and cakes
Use them in jam or chutney
They also freeze beautifully if you get more than you can eat fresh (although honestly… good luck not devouring them all).
Preserving the Harvest
If you’re lucky enough to get a bumper crop, figs are easy to preserve:
Freeze: Lay whole figs on a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then store in freezer bags
Dry: Slice and dehydrate for homemade dried figs
Jam: Simmer chopped figs with sugar, lemon juice, and pectin for a sweet spread
Pickle: Yep, pickled figs are a thing, and they’re fantastic with cheese boards
Are Figs Healthy?
Oh, absolutely. Figs are packed with:
Fiber (hello, gut health)
Potassium (great for heart health)
Calcium (good for bones)
Antioxidants (anti-inflammatory benefits)
They’re also naturally sweet, so they make a great substitute for refined sugar in baking or snacks.
A Plant With Personality
Honestly, part of why I love growing figs is their vibe. They’re ancient, resilient, quirky plants that thrive in less-than-ideal conditions and still manage to produce beautiful, delicious “fruit.”
They’re also a great conversation starter, especially when you explain that you’re not technically eating a fruit, but an inverted flower garden inside a sac.
Nature’s weird. And I love it.
Should You Grow a Fig Tree?
If you’ve got space for a pot, or a sunny spot in the yard, 100% yes. Figs are beginner-friendly, fast-growing, and forgiving. And nothing beats walking outside, picking a sun-warmed fig, and eating it right there.
Plus, they’re pretty. Those big, lobed leaves give your garden or patio a tropical vibe, even if you’re in chilly Chicago (or Philly, like me).
And if you’ve been thinking about adding one? Seriously, grab a Chicago Hardy fig tree You won’t regret it.
Whether you’re team fresh fig, team fig jam, or just here for the fun facts, one thing’s for sure: this humble “fruit” has a way bigger story than it lets on!
