Common Names: Black Mission, Mission Fig, Franciscana
Black Mission is a legendary fig variety that loves the hot, dry summers of Perth. It is famous for being one of the most productive trees you can grow, often giving you two harvests a year. The fruit has a deep purple to black skin with a rich, pinkish-red centre that tastes like jam. It is the gold standard for eating fresh, drying, or using on a cheese board. Some say sweetest of all fig varieties.
Features:
Ideal prune height range: 2-4m
pH growing conditions: 6.0 to 7.5 (Neutral)
Shade or full sun: Full sun
Minimum pot year 5: 50L pot or half wine barrel
Time to fruit age: 1-2 years (Very fast)
Black Mission figs are hardy and grow quickly once they settle in. They thrive in our sandy coastal soils but hate having wet feet, so make sure your spot drains well. While the tree can get large, it handles heavy pruning very well, making it easy to keep at a height where you can actually reach the fruit. In Perth, it appreciates a good thick layer of mulch to keep the roots cool during summer heatwaves.
Interesting Notes:
This variety was first brought to the Americas by Franciscan missionaries in the 1700s. It is an everbearing type, meaning you get a small crop in spring (breba) and a much heavier main crop in late summer. The fruit is packed with potassium and fibre, making it a healthy snack straight off the branch.
This is a must-have for any Perth backyard or Mediterranean-style garden.
Limited stock. Pickup from Parkwood, WA. Delivery to Perth Metro only.
Keywords: Black Mission Fig, Ficus carica, fruit tree Perth, backyard edible, jam fig, easy grow fruit