Fig Trees are members of the mulberry family, so they are closely related to mulberry trees. The species you're most likely to see in Woodland is Edible Fig (Ficus carica), which is an invasive weed species from the Mediterranean region and southwestern Asia. It is a small tree that can form dense thickets to smother native vegetation. Its seeds are easily dispersed via animals and along waterways, and its twigs can sprout into new trees if left lying on the ground.
U.C. Davis provides information on how to eradicate fig trees.
The city has planted Edible Fig as a street tree on 5th Street. In fact, the Urban Forest Resource Analysis published by the City of Woodland in 2018 indicated that the city was knowingly and intentionally maintaining four of these invasive weeds in Woodland.
Research is being done to find reliably non-invasive, edible fig tree cultivars that can be grown for food purposes. In general, a smaller tree on which you will reliably eat all the fruit is more likely to remain under control than a larger tree on which birds, squirrels, and other wildlife are likely to eat more of the fruit and thereby disperse the seeds. Dwarf cultivars are therefore less of a threat than full-size fig trees. However, even a very small fig tree can seed a whole neighborhood if animals are given a chance to eat the fruit.
Be careful about touching a fig tree. Skin contact with fig tree sap followed by exposure to sunlight can cause phytophotodermatitis.
Edible Fig trees can produce two or sometimes even three fruit harvests per year. The late summer/early fall harvest is usually largest and also usually produces the highest quality of fruit. Earlier crops are called breba crops.
Fig trees have two genders: female and androgynous. That is, some fig trees have only female flowers, while others have both male and female flowers. Fig tree subtypes are further categorized for agricultural purposes as follows:
- Persistent (or Common) Edible Figs have all female flowers that do not need pollination for fruiting; the fruit can develop through parthenocarpic means. The vast majority of edible figs grown are in this class. Cultivars in this class may set no breba crop, a moderate breba crop, or a good breba crop.
- Caducous (or Smyrna) Edible Figs have all female flowers that require cross pollination by the fig wasp with pollen from Caprifigs for the fruit to mature. If the flowers are not pollinated, the fruits do not develop. All cultivars in this class set little or no breba crop. These figs are considered to have the best flavor and texture. They can also contain the skeletons of female wasps and some dead wasp larvae, but this does not tend to be noticed when the figs are eaten. These figs are commonly sold as dried figs.
- Intermediate (or San Pedro) Edible Figs have all female flowers that can set an unpollinated spring crop but need or at least prefer pollination for the later main crop. Some cultivars may set a sizeable main crop even without pollination; however, the unpollinated figs are hollow, gelatinous, and insipid.
- Caprifigs are the same species as Edible Figs but have both male and female flowers. They produce inedible fruits that can look much the same as Edible Fig fruits but are full of fig wasps. Yum!
If the local wildlife plant volunteer fig tree seedlings in your yard, these trees will rarely come true from seed; they are often Caprifigs. So there's little point in hoping for any fruit from them.
