Figs: The Ancient, Delicious, Slightly Weird “Fruit” (That’s Not Actually a Fruit)
I’m obsessed with figs. I blame my mom. She was always trying to convince my grandma to give her a clipping of her fig tree so she could try to grow her own. That went on for around ten years before my grandma successfully had a clipping grow roots.
The tragedy of this story is that one year after my mom planted it, they sold their house. My dad never let her try again, and she was devastated.
Four years ago I planted my own tree and this year was like a fig feast. I got maybe a hundred in total and shared plenty with my mom. I even managed to root a clipping and I plan on giving it to her for a Christmas present, which I am very excited about.
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, not those strange dried things you might be used to, and weirdly misunderstood.
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 I like telling people I give my figs to: figs aren’t even actually fruit. Yup. They’re technically inverted flowers, which is a fun way to blow most people’s minds.
What Is a Fig?
Okay, get ready for some botanical nerding out, because why else would you be here? A fig isn’t a fruit in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a structure called a syconium, which is basically, a hollow fleshy sac lined with tiny flowers inside. And yes, I tried my best to make that sound as creepy and unappealing as I possibly could.
When you eat a fig, you’re technically eating hundreds of tiny inverted flowers that bloomed inside the syconium. Weird, right? The crunchy bits you feel? Those are tiny little 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 (sort of).
Seriously though, people 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 (kinda hard to prove it either wa). Ancient people probably noticed wild fig trees popping up from cuttings or dropped fruit and figured out how to get 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. They’re still seen as a health food today it seems like.
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.”
How Do Figs Reproduce?
Here’s where things get super weird and rumors fly about figs. 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. Nature is both beautiful and gross at the same time.
Without the wasp, the fig can’t develop its seeds, and without the fig, the wasp can’t complete its life cycle. It’s a delicate, and very specific dance between plant and insect.
(But don’t worry like my coworker Maxwell did when I told him about this, you’re probably not eating a wasp when you bite into a fig. Commercial varieties like Chicago Hardy are parthenocarpic, which means 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, even without my mom’s strange obsession that turned into my own I think everyone should grow some figs for themselves. 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, super productive, one tree can give you pounds of fruit, and also self-pollinating (again, no wasps needed for many varieties).
Plus, homegrown figs taste nothing like store-bought. Literally nothing like it. They’re juicier, more flavorful, and you get to pick them at peak ripeness, which grocery stores can’t replicate.
My other coworker Annie was shocked when she tried my figs and said they reminded her of peaches. She asked me for more of them every day this season, and I don’t blame her. She insisted she’d never had a real fig before trying mine.
Fun Fig Facts You’ll Want to Drop at Parties
Because if you’re like me, at parties you’re going to talk about the strangest things ) don’t worry, people will remember you. Try some of these out at your next family gathering or work event.
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 in case I’ve convinced you to try to grow some figs of your own. 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).
The best part if you accidentally killed your fig tree? 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.)
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 cool 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 inside a sac.
Nature’s weird, and I love it.
If you’ve got space for a pot, or a sunny spot in the yard, 100% grow your own. 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!
