Do Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants Produce Fruit?

The fiddle leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is native to tropical Africa and gets its name from its large, violin-shaped leaves. It is very popular as a houseplant and grows well in hot gardens. But do they actually make juicy figs? Does the fiddler crab bear fruit? let’s check

Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Plant Produce Figs?

The fiddle leaf fig belongs to the genus Ficus and, as the name suggests, it bears fruit. However, they are rarely seen outside of their natural habitats in tropical Africa for a variety of reasons detailed below.

If you want to grow edible figs, we recommend choosing the common fig tree (Ficus carica), as fiddle leaf figs are grown primarily for their lush green foliage.

Why Isn’t My Fiddle Leaf Fig Producing Fruit?

There are several reasons for the stubborn refusal of fiddle leaf figs to produce fruit or even flowers outside of their natural rainforest environment.

Light Requirements

Fiddlers need a lot more bright, indirect light to stay healthy and to bear fruit. Indoors, even if you put the plant near a window, there won’t be enough light to stimulate fruit production. Nothing compares to the African sun.

Low Humidity

Humidity is very high in lowland rainforests. Even outdoor houseplants and fiddle leaf figs are nearly impossible to reach this humidity level.

Very Specific Pollination!

Fiddler crabs are dependent on fig bee pollination and are only found in many places outside the fiddler crab’s tropical natural habitat. Pollinating wasps not only walk on the flowers, but they also burrow into the fruit.

This is an example of coevolution, and you can read more about it in this article from Ecology and Evolution magazine. Another issue with pollination is that fiddler crabs are dioecious, either male or female.

Both male and female plants must be in close proximity for pollination to occur. In contrast, the common fig tree is monoecious, so the same plant produces both male and female flowers.

Are Fiddle Leaf Fig Fruits Edible?

Are fiddle leaf fig fruits edible? Yes, fiddle leaf fig berries are edible, but here’s the problem. It doesn’t taste good either, so even if you spend hours and money trying to get your fiddle leaf figs to bear fruit, the end result will be disappointing.

Fiddle leaf fig fruits don’t taste like the delicious figs you can buy at the store or grow in your garden. It’s not poisonous, but the skin is leathery, the flesh is dry in the mouth, very bitter, and most of the time completely boring.

For this reason, the fiddle leaf fig is grown primarily as an ornamental for its exotic paddle-shaped leaves.

What Do Fiddle Leaf Figs Fruits Look Like?

Fiddle leaf fig fruits are round, green figs that grow where stems and branches meet. Often two or three grow. The inside looks like a typical fig, full of seeds and very little flesh.

Will My Fiddle Leaf Fig Produce Flowers?

Indoor violins do not flower due to insufficient light and humidity, but outdoor violins in tropical regions may flower during the summer. The foliage is really nice, but don’t expect gorgeous buds.

Fiddle leaf fig flowers bloom inside hollow containers that develop into fruit when pollinated. Most gardeners refer to fiddle leaf fig flowers as “insignificant.”

How To Make A Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant Produce Fruit

Even if you live in USDA growing zones 9-11, it is very difficult to get fiddle leaf figs to set fruit outside of their natural environment. Figs are not delicious even if you make them!

However, if you live in a tropical, humid area with lots of light and pollinating fig wasps, a fiddler might make your figs fruitful. Make sure your fiddler has enough water, fertilizer, lighting, and wind protection. Note that both male and female plants must be in the same environment for pollination.

It doesn’t taste great, but it has plenty of bragging rights among violin lovers.

5 Tips to Help Grow Healthy Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants

How to water a fiddle leaf fig

Watering fiddle leaf figs is easy once you are familiar with the proper watering system. A houseplant grower will need water when the soil dries to within an inch of him. Stick your finger into the ground. If it’s still damp, hold off on watering, wait a few days, and test again. When it is dry, water it as follows.

Place small fiddle leaf figs in a sink or bucket of water to soak up the liquid they need. Drain the water before returning to the display pot.

A great violinist should drink a glass of water. Add another cup until the water runs out of the bottom. Then wait until the top layer of soil is dry before watering again.

Partially drying the violin makes it easier for air to enter the roots. For plants to survive, they need air and water. Testing the soil before watering also ensures that the evenly moist potting mixture won’t rot the roots.

Mist it!

In rainforest habitats, fiddler crabs are often soaked with moisture. To repeat this, mist the fine foliage every few days. Not only does this increase humidity, but it also helps keep the leaves dust free, allowing efficient photosynthesis and allowing the leaves to grow taller.

Light Requirements for an indoor fiddle leaf fig

Violinists are exposed to the bright African sun in their natural surroundings, but it is shaded by the tall trees of the rainforest. To get the most out of your violin, keep it in a well-lit area and keep the leaves out of direct sunlight. Sunlight amplified through window glass burns leaves, causing unsightly leaf scorch and becoming a breeding ground for disease. This is also irreversible and should be avoided in the first place.

Rotate the plant a quarter of a turn each week to ensure even light across the foliage. Doing so will prevent the bushes from becoming slender and growing unilaterally.

Fertilizer

Cheerful fiddle leaf figs grow one foot each summer and reach a height of three feet indoors. So you need a lot of nutrients! During the growing season, feed your fiddle leaf figs regularly with a low level of houseplant fertilizer, but be sure to follow instructions as too much fertilizer can poison them.

Growing a fiddle leaf fig outdoors

Fiddle leaf figs are a popular ornamental plant in temperate climates, but are also grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9-11 and other tropical and subtropical countries. In other USDA zones and in Northern Europe, fiddlers can make the most of the summer sun, but must return indoors to survive the cold winters.

In tropical areas, fiddle leaf figs can be planted directly into the ground. They like abundant organic matter and plenty of water when dry. Protect yourself from prevailing winds, but don’t block the sun.

A really helpful tip is to acclimate fiddle leaf figs before planting them outdoors. To do this, expose it to the sun for an additional hour every few days until it has a full day of sun.

This is important because violins are usually grown under artificial lighting, so they don’t have enough resilience outdoors.