Family Moraceae.
Originating from the Mediterranean and Asia
- Large, deeply lobed leaves form a handsome architectural canopy.
- Sweet golden-brown figs with pink-red flesh ripen in two crops during summer.
- Vigorous and reliable, excellent for growing your own figs on a warm wall or in a sheltered spot.
The Two-Season Fig Tree in Your Garden
Broad, deeply lobed leaves unfurl in spring to create a lush green screen. Small green fruits appear and steadily swell throughout the season. By early summer, the first sweet figs begin to ripen, often followed by a second flush in hot summers.
‘Madeleine des Deux Saisons’ is a vigorous old French variety, noted for its hardiness and suitability for all UK gardens. It can reach 3–4m tall and wide over time when grown against a wall. Simple pruning makes it suitable for smaller spaces or for growing in pots on Norfolk and Suffolk’s patios.
The foliage is large and attractive with prominent lobes. The fruits have smooth, golden-brown to yellow skin and sweet, juicy, pink-to-red flesh with undertones of strawberry. As the name suggests, it can produce two crops in a long, hot summer – an early breba crop and a main crop later in the season.
Did you know? Figs are often referred to as tender, but at Urban Jungle, we believe this refers only to the fruit or soft tip growth. There are many trees in East Anglia that survived the winters of 2009 – 11, when temperatures as low as -18 degrees were recorded.
Growing Tips for Your Two-Season Fig Tree, Ficus carica ‘Madeleine des Deux Saisons’
- 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.
- Planting: any time of year. Never plant a dry plant! Thoroughly drench the root ball before planting.
- Watering: Moderate; tolerates drought once established. Water regularly in its first summer while rooting out.
- Feeding: Feed monthly with a high-potash fertiliser from spring to late summer.
- Pruning: Prune in late winter or early spring. Remove overcrowded or crossing branches to maintain shape and encourage fruiting.
‘Madeleine des Deux Saisons’ is an ancient French fig dating back to the time of Louis XIV at Versailles. Its name means “Madeleine of Two Seasons” because of its reliable double cropping in favourable conditions. This historic variety brings the taste of summer figs to British gardens with its sweet fruit and handsome foliage.
