Ficus carica 'Mission'
Light: Full sun, ideally 6–8 hours daily; young trees benefit from light afternoon shade during extreme Phoenix heat.
Water: Deeply irrigate the root zone, allowing the upper few inches of soil to dry between waterings. Water more frequently during summer heat and fruit development; reduce substantially in winter. Established trees tolerate some drought, but fruit quality suffers.
Soil: Well-drained loam preferred; tolerates sandy, clay, and moderately alkaline soils if drainage is adequate. Mulch the root zone, keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Mature size: 20–30 feet tall and wide if unpruned; can be maintained around 10–15 feet with regular pruning.
Bloom: Tiny flowers develop inside enclosed fig structures rather than appearing as visible blossoms. Often produces an early-summer crop on previous-year wood and a larger summer-to-fall crop on new growth.
Evergreen / deciduous: Deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to fast with adequate water and nutrients.