Fig trees can fruit twice in a single season in warm climates, and their broad, tropical-looking leaves make even a young tree feel established almost immediately.
Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, common fig varieties are self-pollinating and easy to grow, and many gardeners in cooler climates successfully grow fig in a large container that can be moved indoors or into an unheated garage over winter.
Fig wants full sun and well-draining soil, and it's more cold-tolerant than many people assume — established trees can survive being cut back hard by frost and regrow from the roots the following spring in marginal climates. Container growing extends its range even further into colder regions.
Common fig trees don't need a second tree or special pollinator wasp to fruit, unlike some Mediterranean fig varieties — making them one of the simplest fruit trees for a single-tree backyard.
