Ficus carica 'White Marseilles' (Fig 'White Marseilles' )

Botanical name

Ficus carica 'White Marseilles'

Other names

Fig 'White Marseilles' , Ficus carica 'White Genoa', Ficus carica 'Lemon', Ficus carica 'Lattarulla', Ficus carica 'Blanche', Ficus carica 'White Russian', Ficus carica 'Mayes Yellow', Ficus carica 'Bianci'

Genus

Ficus Ficus

Variety or Cultivar

'White Marseilles' _ 'White Marseilles' is a vigorous, spreading, deciduous tree with rounded, deeply lobed, dark green leaves and insignificant, green flowers in late spring or early summer followed by edible, pale green fruit with green flesh ready for harvest from late summer into autumn.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Spreading

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Colour

Flower

Insignificant or absent, Green in Summer

Foliage

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

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Generally pest-free.

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

General care

Pruning

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

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Ficus carica 'White Marseilles' (Fig 'White Marseilles' ) will reach a height of 4m and a spread of 4m 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. Best grown trained against a sunny wall or in a conservatory. Self-fertile.

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

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Ficus carica 'White Marseilles' (Fig 'White Marseilles' )

Common pest name

Citrus little leaf; Little leaf of citrus; Sour orange stem pitting; Stem pitting of sour orange; Xyloporosis of citrus

Scientific pest name

Hop stunt viroid

Type

Virus or Viroid

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Pest of hops present in America and parts of Europe. PHPS provides good assurance of disease freedom; but EU regulation to be pursued to enhance protection in the longer term.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Ficus carica 'White Marseilles' (Fig 'White Marseilles' )

Common pest name

Apple root knot nematode

Scientific pest name

Meloidogyne mali

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Unknown

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

UK (along with certain other European countries) received potentially infested trees in 1992; but these were destroyed at the end of the trial period and targeted surveillance has failed to find any trace of the nematode. Main impacts are on elm; apple and mulberry and industry should source such material carefully.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Ficus carica 'White Marseilles' (Fig 'White Marseilles' )

Common pest name

assam thrips; castor thrips; chilli thrips; yellow tea thrips

Scientific pest name

Scirtothrips dorsalis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

EU listed pest for citrus but highly polyphagous and intercepted on a number of hosts. EU legislation should be updated to reflect wider host list.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/