Native & adapted

Violette de Bordeaux fig

Ficus carica 'Violette de Bordeaux'

Also known as Negronne fig · VdB fig · Violette Bordeaux

A compact French fig with small, nearly black fruit and rich, berry-red flesh. Its small size makes it one of the best figs for patios and large containers in Phoenix.

EdibleFruitingDeciduousCompactContainer friendly

Landscape layersLower canopy · Understory

Mature size

6–10 ft tall and 6–8 ft wide; easy to keep at 6 ft

Climate fit

Urban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b · High desert · USDA 6a–8b

Plant spacing

6–8 ft from other trees

Frost

Dormant plants handle about 10°F. Late spring frost can nip new leaves.

Special categories

EDIBLE

Hardiness guidance

USDA 7–10; dormant wood hardy to about 10°F

Winter chill

About 100 hours; reliable across the Valley

Typical harvest

A small early crop in June, then the main crop from late July through September.

Before you plant

These conditions determine whether it will thrive.

Soil chemistry

Fast-draining soil with compost. Tolerates alkaline soil; mulch thickly to keep roots cool.

Required microclimate

Placement is part of the growing system.

East side of a house or wall, or in a large pot that can move into shade in July and August.

Cold hardiness

Cover while young

Using the species figure, established figs are fine to about 15°F, and this old French variety is known as one of the hardier ones. Cover first-winter plants below about 27°F, and expect a late frost to nip the first leaves now and then.

Leaves and wood: damaged below 15°F

Heat tolerance

Shade from late-afternoon sun

Takes full sun, but this is a small, compact tree whose canopy doesn't shade its own trunk much. Whitewash the bark, and in a container keep it off hot west-facing walls.

Sources:

extension.arizona.edu , ipm.ucanr.edu

Right plant, right place

Will Violette de Bordeaux fig grow at your Arizona property?

One of the few figs that stays small enough for a 20 to 25 gallon container. Birds and beetles like the ripe fruit, so pick promptly.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b, High desert · USDA 6a–8b.

Light

Sun exposure

Full morning sun with afternoon shade in summer. West sun scorches the leaves and dries the fruit.

Water

Irrigation

Moderate and steady. Deep water once or twice a week in summer; uneven watering splits fruit.

Fruit set

Pollination

Self-fertile; no pollinator needed.

Harvest

How to use it

Sweet and jammy fresh, and excellent dried or cooked into preserves.

Planting & stewardship

How to help Violette de Bordeaux fig thrive

1
Mulch 3 to 4 inches deep and keep watering steady through summer.
2
Prune in winter while dormant to keep the shape compact.
3
Pick fruit as soon as it softens and droops to stay ahead of birds and beetles.
4
Whitewash exposed trunks and branches to prevent sunburn.

Read the horticultural reference ↗