Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous leaf
Shape
Palmate, deeply lobed with 3 to 5 rounded or bluntly toothed lobes
Margin
Serrate to irregularly wavy and lobed
Arrangement
Alternate
Venation
Palmate venation radiating outward from the base of the petiole
Key Features
Deeply lobed palmate leaves with a rough, sandpapery upper texture, milky white sap exuded from broken stems, and characteristic pear-shaped fruits (figs).
Description
The common fig is a large deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 30 feet tall with smooth grey bark and stout branches. The leaves are deeply lobed, giving them a distinctive ornamental silhouette.
Habitat
Thrives in warm, dry Mediterranean climates with mild winters and hot summers; prefers well-draining soils (loamy, sandy, or clay) in full sun exposure.
Native Range
Native to southwestern Asia and the Mediterranean region (from Turkey to northern India), but widely cultivated and naturalized globally in warm temperate and subtropical regions.