Other Weeping Ficus caricas?

17 years ago

George has mentioned a prostrate weeping fig tree. Is anyone aware of other weeping common figs?

A friend has a weeping tree that (unlike George's) is tall. My friend was given this tree by a neighbor who moved, and doesn't know where the tree was purchased. The trunk is very vertical and the branches coming off it "weep" down, and then turn back up.

I did a search on the FF and found a thread, "First Paradise Now Belleclare Sad" from Aug. 9, 2006 that had a picture from Belleclare:

http://www.geocities.com/belleclarenursery/destination2/pages/weepingfig_jpg.htm

This picture is pretty fuzzy, but if you look closely, you can see how straight the trunk is, and how the branches weep and then grow back up. Just from the habit (I haven't seen the leaves or fruit), this looks a great deal like my friend's tree.

Petem in the thread, said he thought the Belleclare fig was a Lattarula. So either this isn't the same tree (other weepers out there?) or petem was mistaken. My friend's tree has two crops of big, black figs - definitely not a Lattarula.

I went through the Belleclare variety list and there is no mention of weeping habit. They do mention Blackjack, #9, as dwarf and spreading. So you'd think something this unusual would be mentioned if the tree were listed.

Does anyone have any information that might identify this gem?

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Comments (2)

gorgi
17 years ago
I figure that you mean the picture at the center-front-one,
(weeping kind). I have (somewhat) seen figs of that look,
but cannot remember where! When at Belleclare last fall,
I do remember Chris pointing to a particular fig specimen
of a very distinct 'SPREADING' shape behavior. Essentially,
thinking hard, it was an ~1' high x 2-3' horizontal spread
specimen. I know he told the variety kind, but I just cannot
remember!

But then again, they all (prostrate, weeping,
spreading, etc.,) may be CUTE and nice to have 1 or 2
specimens (for us fig-nuts), but not sure about
the taste/productivity which really should be our
primary concern... (most of us are not bonsaits)!
George (NJ).
P.S. This is the THIRD time I tried to answer this and
if this does not go through (together with my still
unresolved email problem), I may just have to say
FAREWELL to the GW.FF...
fignut
Original Author
17 years ago
From what I understand George, this isn't just a curiosity. It's a good fig. I was told that the breba crop is very early, followed by a September main crop of huge, good black figs. I asked about fig size differences between the two crops and was told that they are about the same size, with the breba crop being fewer in number.
I would think that a prostrate fig would be attractive, but that it would be difficult to get figs, unless you put on top of a wall,or a pedestal, so the branches aren't all over the ground. This tree is very upright (and tall), the specimen that I saw was cut off at about five feet, and I'm sure it would naturally go much higher.
The Belleclare web site is still up, and I had hoped the telephone number was still working - I called this morning. Unfortunately, it's no longer in service. I vaguely remember someone mentioning that the nursery land was being sold. So I assume the address isn't any good, either.
Would anyone in the area know how to contact the DePaolo's?
I think it is likely that the original owner of the tree got it from Belleclare, and that they might know something about it's origins and identity.
And if anyone is aware of any weeping figs, I'd appreciate hearing about them.
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Other Weeping Ficus caricas?

Comments (2)

gorgi

fignut
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Other Weeping Ficus caricas?

Comments (2)

gorgi

fignutOriginal Author

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fignut
Original Author