Magnolia Fig Tree

Buy Magnolia Fig Tree plants for sale at Advanced Nursery Growers in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Also known as Brunswick or Madonna Fig, Magnolia is an old Southern variety valued for producing exceptionally large, bronze-colored fruit.

The large figs develop an attractive bronze to reddish-brown exterior with soft amber to strawberry-pink flesh. Their rich, sweet flavor is especially well suited for fig preserves, jam, canning, baking, and other cooked recipes. The fruit may also be eaten fresh when harvested at the proper stage.

Magnolia Fig typically ripens from midsummer into late summer. Because the fruit has a relatively open eye, ripe figs should be picked promptly—especially during rainy or humid weather. Leaving fully ripe fruit on the tree too long may increase the chance of splitting, souring, or insect damage.

This deciduous fruit tree develops large, deeply lobed green leaves and an attractive spreading growth habit. It may be grown as a small tree or allowed to form a broad, multi-stemmed shrub. Its size can be controlled with selective pruning, making it useful in backyard orchards, edible landscapes, cottage gardens, and larger planting beds.

Magnolia Fig is self-fruitful, so a second fig tree is not required for fruit production. One healthy, established tree can provide a productive seasonal harvest.

Magnolia can be grown in North Florida, the Florida Panhandle, South Alabama, and other warm Southern climates, but it requires more careful harvesting than tighter-eyed varieties such as Celeste. Plant it in full sun and well-drained soil, provide dependable moisture during fruit development, and harvest ripe figs before prolonged rainfall whenever possible.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Deciduous edible fruit tree or large shrub
• Botanical Name: Ficus carica ‘Magnolia’
• Common Names: Magnolia Fig, Brunswick Fig, Madonna Fig
• Mature Size: Approximately 6–12 feet tall and wide, depending on climate and pruning
• Growth Habit: Broad, spreading, and often multi-stemmed
• Sun: Full sun; approximately 6–8 hours of direct sunlight is best
• USDA Zones: Generally Zones 7–10
• Chill Requirement: Low chill
• Harvest Season: Usually midsummer through late summer
• Fruit Size: Large to very large
• Fruit Color: Bronze to reddish-brown
• Flesh Color: Amber to strawberry-pink
• Flavor: Sweet, rich, and well suited for preserves
• Fruit Eye: Open; prompt harvesting is recommended
• Fruit Uses: Preserves, jam, canning, baking, drying, and fresh eating
• Pollination: Self-fruitful; only one tree is needed to produce fruit
• Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter
• Water: Water regularly during establishment and fruit development; avoid waterlogged soil
• Pruning: Prune selectively to remove damaged growth and maintain a manageable size
• Landscape Uses: Backyard orchard, edible landscape, cottage garden, specimen plant, or large shrub planting

Best Pollinator Partners

Magnolia Fig is self-fruitful and does not require another fig variety for pollination. Additional fig varieties may be planted nearby to extend the harvest season and provide different fruit sizes, colors, and flavors.

North Florida Growing Note

Magnolia produces exceptionally large fruit, but it has an open eye and may split or sour during periods of frequent rainfall and high humidity. Harvest the figs promptly when they soften and become fully colored. A sunny location with good air circulation and well-drained soil can help reduce moisture-related problems.

For gardeners who want a fig with a tighter eye and greater resistance to souring during wet weather, Celeste may be a more dependable alternative.