Vascular Plants of North Carolina
Account for Common Fig - Ficus carica   L.
Members of Moraceae:
Only member of Ficus in NC.
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Section 6 » Order Urticales » Family Moraceae
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AuthorL.
DistributionScattered across the state, with big gaps. Specimens from Craven, Harnett, Henderson, and Orange counties are from cultivated plants.

Native of Asia; in N.A. scattered from MA to FL; CA.
AbundanceRare. Apparently escaping cultivation with difficulty.
HabitatDisturbed woods, waste areas, vacant lot, dump at old mine, heron rookery on island in Newport River (Carteret Co.), behind dunes near light house on Bald Head Island (Brunswick Co.).
PhenologyFlowering May-August; fruiting July-October.
IdentificationCommon Fig is widely grown in NC backyards, yet it rarely escapes. It is a small tree or spindly shrub up to 15 feet or so, with thick but weak stems and branches. Leaves are well-spaced, large, 3-5 lobed (sometimes none) like a glove, margins irregularly toothed. Flowers grow tight to leaf axils, with 2-6 sepals. Fruits are pear-shaped and many-seeded.
Taxonomic Comments
Other Common Name(s)
State RankSE
Global RankGNR
State Status
US Status
USACE-agcpUPL link
USACE-empFACU link
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