Family Moraceae.
Originating from the Mediterranean and Asia.
- Large, deeply lobed green leaves form a lush, spreading canopy.
- Figs develop a deep, dark skin and ripen with an intensely sweet, rich flavour.
- Easy to grow and vigorous, it thrives in well-drained soil and full sun.
‘Rouge de Bordeaux’ in Your Garden
Richly flavoured and reliable, this classic rich, dark fig variety produces generous crops of deep purple-black fruit with exceptional sweetness. Ficus carica ‘Rouge de Bordeaux’ grows into a vigorous, spreading tree with large, deeply lobed green leaves that create a lush, Mediterranean feel.
Hardy in all but the coldest northerly or central gardens, it reaches 4m high and wide in 10–20 years. However, it can be kept smaller with planar pruning, training it into espalier or fan shapes against walls or fences. This method saves space in smaller gardens and exposes the fruit to optimal sunlight, helping it ripen.
A vigorous and easy-to-grow variety, ‘Rouge de Bordeaux’ produces rich, dark figs with that signature sweet flavour appreciated by gardeners. Its deeply lobed leaves add striking texture through the season, while the fruit ripens reliably in hot, sunny microclimates. Enjoy productive, low-maintenance harvests whether grown as wall-trained specimens in Suffolk courtyards or in pots on Norfolk’s sunlit terraces.
Did you know – figs were introduced to the UK by the Romans, yet are rated as hardy only to -5 degrees by the RHS and many growers. Urban Jungle knows of trees in Suffolk that are probably 100 years old. We base our hardiness rating on experience.
Growing Tips for Your Ficus carica ‘Rouge de Bordeaux’
- Soil and sun: plant in any soil except those that are heavy and wet in winter. Full sun produces the best crop; part shade produces larger leaves. Fan training against a sunny wall or fence saves space and better exposes the ripening fruits to sunlight.
- Planting: at any time of year. Never plant a dry plant! Plunge or stand in water for 30 minutes to drench the root ball.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates drought once established. Water regularly during its first summer while it is rooting out.
- Prune in late winter, before growth starts, to shape the tree and encourage fruiting. Remove dead or weak wood, and cut back last year’s growth to 4–6 buds, promoting new shoots and fruit formation.
This richly flavoured, reliable fig variety produces generous crops and adapts to gardens of all sizes. Whether espaliered or fan-trained, it suits classical and formal styles, while clipped specimens create architectural interest in contemporary gardens. Left to grow unchecked, its lush leaves provide a dramatic, Mediterranean backdrop for exotic companion plants.
Planting Ideas for the Rich, Dark Fig Variety ‘Rouge de Bordeaux’
Transport yourself to a Roman feast or Persian paradise with a haven of productive plants. Arbutus unedo (Strawberry Tree) and Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat) fruit reliably outdoors in our climate. Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine) produces exquisite chocolate-flavoured edible seed pods, and Actinidia ‘Issai’ (Hardy Kiwi Vine) crops reliably.
Bring lemons, oranges, and grapefruit to your patio smorgasbord for summer revelry, and drape walls, trellises, and pergolas with grapes. Our Vitis varieties Crimson, Superior, and Autumn Royal are all reliable, seedless croppers. Fuchsias ‘Delta’s Sara’, procumbens, and ‘Riccartonii’ offer edible berries, as do our Myrtles — Myrtus communis, ‘Tarentina‘, and Tarentina ‘Microphylla’ — all used in Mediterranean and Persian cuisine.
