Fig Violette Dauphine

A lovely fig, better suited to our climate than Madeleine de Deux Saisons, Ficus carica Violette Dauphine is a small, deciduous tree, reaching 3.5m in height by 2-3m in width. Nevertheless, it is very productive, given enough sun. The large, beautiful, five-lobed, green leaves turn yellow in autumn before leaf-fall. Small, cup-shaped white flowers appear in spring, turning to deep purple figs with a sweet, pink flesh. In cooler areas this little fig is better planted in a soil-based compost in a large container in a polytunnel or greenhouse, but must be watered and fed in the growing season; in milder areas make a planting box against a warm, south-facing wall to confine the roots; stem tips may need protecting in winter. It needs full sun to crop well and for sweet figs. 

Site: Tolerates exposure
Soil: Any moist but well drained, or well-drained soil
Position: Full sun
Pick: From June through to the end of August
Keep: Eat at once! (or dry for the winter)
Hardiness: Fully hardy
Pollination: Self-fertile
Uses: Eating fresh, dried for winter, fig and Earl Grey tea jam