Ficus carica 'Chelsea' (Fig 'Chelsea')

Botanical name

Ficus carica 'Chelsea'

Other names

Fig 'Chelsea'

Genus

Ficus Ficus

Variety or Cultivar

'Chelsea' _ 'Chelsea' is a vigorous, upright to rounded, deciduous shrub or small tree bearing rounded, deeply lobed, olive green leaves turning golden yellow in autumn and insignificant, green flowers in late spring or early summer followed by edible, purple-brown fruit ready for harvest from late summer into autumn.

Native to

Garden origin

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Rounded to broadly spreading

---

Colour

Flower

Insignificant or absent, Green in Summer

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Golden-yellow in Autumn

---

How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

General care

Pruning

Usually grown as a tree-like standard. In early spring, remove 1/4 to 1/3 of older branches. From early summer, pinch out growing points of current season's sideshoots to encourage fig production.

Propagation methods

Hardwood cuttings

---

Monthly care advice

---

Where to grow

Ficus carica 'Chelsea' (Fig 'Chelsea') will reach a height of 3m and a spread of 2m after 10-20 years.

Suggested uses

City, Architectural, Cottage/Informal, Mediterranean, Wallside and trellises, Foliage only

Cultivation

Plant in moist, free-draining, neutral to alkaline soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Figs benefit from root restriction. Self-fertile. Propagated from a heavy-cropping, chance seedling growing along the River Thames.

Soil type

Chalky, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, East

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7