Fig Trees, Delivered and Planted in Southwest Florida
Fig trees grow and fruit in Southwest Florida, but they take more work here than most fruit trees. This is the common edible fig, a sun-loving tree that usually stays 8 to 15 ft tall and bears sweet fruit in summer. Our sandy soil carries root-knot nematodes, so heavy mulch and steady water decide whether a fig thrives or fades. We deliver it, plant it and clean up.
- Light:
- Full sun, 6 to 8 hours or more
- Water:
- Moderate; shallow roots need steady moisture while fruit develops, but never soggy soil
- Salt:
- Low to moderate; shelter it from direct salt spray
Fig Tree
Ask for a photo of the actual plant we would deliver.
Fig Tree sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Fig Tree | Call for Quote |
Fig Tree in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 8 to 15 ft tall and as wide; easily held at 8 to 10 ft with pruning
- Light
- Full sun, 6 to 8 hours or more
- Water
- Moderate; shallow roots need steady moisture while fruit develops, but never soggy soil
- Salt tolerance
- Low to moderate; shelter it from direct salt spray
- Cold tolerance
- Hardy to about 18°F, so cold is not a concern here; leaves drop in cool weather and regrow in spring
- Growth rate
- Moderate to fast in the warm months
- Spacing
- 10 to 15 ft from other trees and structures
- Florida native
- No
- Botanical name
- Ficus carica
Where Fig Tree works in a SW Florida yard
Give a fig a spot with six to eight hours of direct sun and good drainage, such as a back corner, a fence line or a row of low fruit trees. Keep it 10 to 15 ft from neighbors and from the house, because the roots are shallow and wide.
Ripe figs drop and draw birds and ants, so skip the spot over a walkway or pool deck. Barbados cherry, loquat and guava make easy fruiting neighbors, and a wide mulch ring underneath helps against nematodes.
- Backyard fresh fruit
- Edible landscape corner
- Small fruit-tree grouping
- Sunny fence-line fruit tree
How our crew plants it
Set the root ball in a hole two to three times as wide and no deeper, with the root flare level with or just above the soil. Backfill with native soil, leave out the fertilizer, and mulch 3 to 4 inches deep in a wide ring, pulled back from the trunk.
Soak it at planting, then keep watering often through the first weeks and taper to your assigned days, since Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings. We deliver the tree, plant it at the right depth, water it in, and clean up.
Care after planting
- Keep a wide mulch ring 3 to 4 inches deep and topped up, since mulch is the best defense against root-knot nematodes in sandy soil.
- Water deeply through the dry spring and while fruit is sizing up, working within your assigned watering days.
- Prune lightly right after the crop and skip heavy winter cuts, which can remove the wood that carries next year's fruit.
- Feed lightly in spring and early fall with a slow-release fertilizer with micronutrients, and skip nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30.
What to watch for
- Root-knot nematodes are the biggest problem for figs in sandy Florida soil, causing wilting and slow decline that mulch and steady care slow but do not cure.
- Fig rust spots the leaves yellow and brown in the rainy season and can drop them early, though it rarely kills the tree.
- The milky sap can irritate skin and cause a rash in sunlight, so wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning or picking.
Fig Tree questions we hear
Can you grow a fig tree in Cape Coral and Fort Myers?+
Yes, but figs are more work here than most fruit trees. Give them full sun, drainage, heavy mulch and regular water, and choose a variety known to do well in Florida, such as Celeste or Brown Turkey. The main hurdle is root-knot nematodes in our sandy soil, which mulch and steady care help you manage.
When do figs ripen in Florida?+
Figs ripen mostly in summer, often from early summer into early fall. A fig does not ripen further once picked, so wait until it softens and the neck droops. Heavy rain during ripening can split or sour fruit, and birds get to them fast, so check the tree every day or two in season.
Why is my fig tree not producing fruit?+
Too little sun, too much nitrogen and stressed roots are the usual reasons. Figs need six to eight hours of direct sun, and heavy feeding makes leaves instead of fruit. Nematode damage and heavy winter pruning also cut the crop. Young trees may take a year or two to settle in before fruiting well.
How close can I plant a fig tree to the house or pool?+
Keep a fig 10 to 15 ft from the house, pool and septic field. The roots are shallow and spread wide, and fallen fruit makes a mess on pavers and draws ants and birds. A sunny back corner or fence line works better than a spot beside the lanai.
How big does a fig tree get in Florida?+
Most reach 8 to 15 ft tall and as wide, though they can grow larger. Many owners prune them to 8 to 10 ft so the fruit is within reach. Growth is moderate to fast in warm weather, and the tree leafs out again in spring after dropping leaves in cool weather.
What does a planted fig tree cost?+
Price depends on size, form and how many, so we text a planted price rather than list one. This tree is quoted by text, and we usually reply within the hour during the day. Plants come from our own nursery, Palm & Plant Co. Half down holds the tree and a delivery day.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Fig Tree
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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