Fig, Little Ruby, Bare Root

Little Ruby Fig (Ficus carica)

Little Ruby is a compact fig with small reddish-brown fruit and a sweet ruby-colored center. It is useful in smaller gardens and large containers where a full-sized fig would take too much room.

Key Characteristics

Small fruit with a rich center

The ripe flesh is sweet and jammy, with flavor reminiscent of darker common figs. Pick fully softened fruit for the best eating quality.

A naturally smaller habit

Little Ruby usually stays much smaller than vigorous tree-form figs. Container growing and modest pruning can keep its fruit easy to reach.

Preserve wood for an early crop

This cultivar is valued for its breba crop on older stems. Protect overwintering wood and avoid cutting the whole plant back simply because it is compact.

Fruiting and Pollination

Self-fertile; a second tree is not required.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 4–6 feet at maturity, depending on site and pruning. Figs can also be managed as multistem shrubs or grown in large containers where winter protection is needed.

Product Details

• Sun: Full sun to light partial shade; full sun is best for fruiting.
• Soil: medium to medium-dry, well-drained soil; avoid standing water.
• Mature height: Approximately 4–6 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Tiny flowers are enclosed inside the developing fig and are not showy.
• Fruit: Small reddish-brown figs with sweet, jammy ruby-red flesh.
• Uses: Fresh eating, small-batch preserves, and container fruit growing.
• Ripening: July–October, depending on climate
• Chill hours: Low chill, generally 300 hours or less; summer warmth and winter stem survival are more important for harvest planning.
• Pollination: Self-fertile; no second tree required.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 7–9.

General Fig Growing Guidance

A good start

Choose well-drained soil and enough room for the mature tree. Water consistently while roots establish, mulch with space around the trunk, and keep vigorous grass and other competitors away from the young root zone.

Fertility and fruit-tree guilds

Use a soil test to guide lime and fertilizer rather than feeding heavily by default. Our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend is an optional planting supplement; keep concentrated fertilizer away from bare roots and avoid excess nitrogen.

Interested in permaculture and stacking functions around your fruit trees? Explore our fruit-tree guild guide for ideas on combining plants for flowers, ground cover, and mulch while giving your tree room to grow.

Practical pest and disease care

Figs need summer warmth as well as winter survival to ripen fruit. Keep watering steady as fruit swells, pick only when fully ripe, and protect ripening fruit from birds and insects. In colder regions, protect stems or move containers to a sheltered dormant location; root survival alone does not guarantee a crop.