Ficus carica Gustissimo® Perretta® — Fig Tree
Mediterranean mood, sweet figs and absolutely no tiny expectations 🌿
Family: Moraceae • Pot diameter: 15 cm • Height: 50 cm
Moraceae Deciduous Full sun Well-drained soil Fruit-bearing fig
Ficus carica Gustissimo® Perretta® is a productive fig tree with a strong Mediterranean character, generous ornamental value and sweet fruit that ripens best in warm, sunny positions. It stands out for its large lobed leaves, vigorous growth and figs with green-brown to brown skin and deep red flesh. It is an excellent choice for gardens, sunny patios and large pots, especially when you want a plant that combines shade, foliage, fruit and the feeling of a summer garden. In a warm, sheltered position it can crop from a young age, while careful pruning helps keep it more compact and easier to manage.
Light
☀️ Full sun
The warmer and sunnier the position, the better the fruit ripening.
Watering
💧 Steady
Especially in pots and while fruit is developing.
Hardiness
❄️ Very good
Young plants benefit from protection during severe frost.
Fruit
🍈 Sweet
Green-brown skin with red flesh.
What makes it special
- 🍈 Sweet figs with green-brown to brown skin and deep red flesh.
- ☀️ Ideal for warm, sunny positions where fruit ripening is stronger.
- 🌿 Large lobed leaves that instantly bring Mediterranean character to the space.
- 🪴 Suitable for the garden or a large pot, with pruning to control size.
Ideal use
- 🏡 In a sunny garden, as a productive small tree or large shrub.
- 🪴 In a large pot on a patio, with rich growing mix and steady watering.
- 🌿 In Mediterranean-style plantings with herbs, olives and warm-climate plants.
Where to place it
Place it in full sun, warmth and shelter from strong cold winds. A south- or southwest-facing position is ideal, especially on patios and in smaller gardens where reflected warmth helps fruit ripen better. The soil or growing mix should drain well, but the fig should not be left completely dry during active growth, especially when grown in a pot. In areas with strong frost, young plants benefit from a sheltered position and light winter protection around the base.
What to pair it with
- With Rosmarinus officinalis for aromatic, dry-tolerant character and shared love of sun.
- With Lavandula angustifolia for a low aromatic base that does not visually compete with the fig’s large foliage.
- With Olea europaea in larger spaces, for a clear Mediterranean composition with strong tolerance of sun and heat.
Design goal: fruit interest, Mediterranean atmosphere, tolerance of warm positions and plants with compatible needs for light and drainage.
Origin of the cultivar click to read
Taxonomic history: Ficus carica belongs to the family Moraceae and is the classic edible fig species cultivated for thousands of years around the Mediterranean and in warm temperate regions. Perretta® is sold commercially as Gustissimo® Perretta® and also appears internationally as Ficus carica 'Perretta'.
Native background & cultivated spread: The common fig is historically linked with the Mediterranean and western Asia, where it has long been grown for its fruit, resilience and ability to cope with hot, dry summers. Perretta® has been selected for reliable performance in European garden conditions, with good cold tolerance and fruiting potential in sunny, sheltered positions.
Selection & fruit character: Gustissimo® Perretta® is valued for sweet fruit, green-brown to brown skin and deep red flesh. In favourable conditions it may produce an early crop, with the main harvest typically ripening from late summer into autumn. As with all figs, the structure we call a “fig” is botanically a syconium, with tiny flowers hidden inside the fleshy structure.
Form & growth: This is a vigorous, deciduous fig with large palmate leaves and strong growth. If left unpruned it can develop into a large shrub or small tree, while annual pruning keeps it more compact, productive and suitable for gardens or large pots.
Ornamental & productive value: Its value lies in the combination of fruit and appearance: it brings an immediate Mediterranean feel, fills the space with large foliage and can offer sweet figs under suitable growing conditions. It suits sunny patios, terraces and gardens where fruit production matters as much as the decorative presence.
1) Position: Plant in full sun, in the warmest and most sheltered spot available. Protection from cold winds helps growth and fruit ripening.
2) Watering: In a pot, water steadily when the top of the growing mix begins to dry. In the garden, once established, it becomes more drought tolerant.
3) Pruning: Prune lightly at the end of winter or after fruiting, removing very long, weak or badly placed shoots.
Tip 💡 In a pot, a fig needs steadier watering than it does in the ground, because the root system has less available soil volume. Do not let it stay thirsty for many days while it is carrying fruit.
Did you know? 🤔 A fig is not a “classic” fruit in the simple sense. It is a syconium, a special enclosed flower structure where the tiny flowers sit inside the fleshy part we eventually eat as a fig.
Why you will love it info
- 🍈 It produces sweet figs with beautiful red flesh in suitable conditions.
- 🌿 Its large lobed foliage instantly creates a Mediterranean atmosphere.
- ☀️ It loves sun and suits warm patios, terraces and gardens beautifully.
- 🪴 It can also be grown in a large pot with correct watering and pruning.
Greenleaf geek notes — scientific facts nobody asked for 🧠 geek
- 🧬 Ficus carica belongs to Moraceae, a family that includes plants with milky sap and unusual fruiting structures.
- 🌸 The fig is a syconium, an enclosed inflorescence where the tiny flowers are held inside the fleshy structure.
- ☀️ Fruit quality and sweetness are strongly influenced by warmth, light and protection from cold winds.
- ✂️ Pruning helps control vigorous growth and keeps the plant more practical in a pot or smaller garden.
Does it need a pollinator? fruit
It is grown as a self-fruiting common fig, so it does not need a second variety to produce figs under suitable conditions.
Can it stay in a pot? container
Yes, it can be grown in a large pot, as long as it has full sun, fertile free-draining growing mix, steady watering and pruning to control size.
When do the figs ripen? harvest
The main harvest usually ripens from late summer into autumn, depending on warmth, sun exposure and how sheltered the position is.
When should it be pruned? pruning
Prune lightly at the end of winter or after fruiting. Remove very long, weak or badly placed branches so the plant stays more compact and productive.
© Original plant description by Greenleaf Garden Center. All rights reserved. | This text is original material. Copying is prohibited.
🔎 Note: Due to the natural variation of plants, the plant you receive may differ slightly from the one shown in the photo. Shape, size and colour may vary depending on the season, growing conditions and the natural character of each plant.
