Chicago Hardy Fig (Ficus carica ‘Chicago Hardy’) is a deciduous fruiting shrub valued for its relative cold tolerance compared to most fig varieties. It has large, deeply lobed green leaves that create a lush, tropical appearance, and produces medium-sized purplish-brown fruit with a sweet, jam-like red interior. In Regina conditions, it typically dies back to the ground each winter and regrows from the roots in spring, with potential to produce fruit on new growth in late summer.
- Height: 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft) as a dieback shrub
- Spread: 1.5–3 m
- Growth habit: Multi-stem shrub due to annual dieback
- Light: Full sun (6–8+ hours daily) for best growth and fruiting
- Soil: Well-drained soil; avoids heavy, wet conditions
- Water: Moderate; keep evenly moist during establishment
- Hardiness: Marginal in Regina (roots may survive, top growth usually dies back)
- Winter protection:
- Best grown in a container and stored indoors in an unheated space
- If planted in-ground, requires heavy mulching or wrapping for survival
- Fertilizing: Light feeding in spring only; avoid late-season fertilizing
- Pruning: Remove winter-killed wood in spring; fruit forms on new growth
- Note: Container growing is the most reliable method for fruiting in Saskatchewan