Hello everyone can someone tell me the best Fig tree to make into a tree. I am in zone 9a. I am willing to spend a few years training it into a scaffolded shape. 

I would think that any of the trees you list for sale on that link to your nursery site would work out just fine.

Have you checked with the Fig Forum administrator before posting  advertising link here?   He might want to be compensated for advertising.

This is a great place for information and to meet people with like minded interests.  If either is your purpose for posting here, welcome.

If you're here to post comercials for your nursery...maybe you ought to check with Jon first.

Hello Centurion, You know what your right. I have specific questions about figs and would like answers without all the "Hey your a nursery" which I can understand. Thanks for the tip I will contact the admin.

I would  still like to know the best fig to train if anyone could tell me. : )

There ya go.

Most of us here love workiing with our fig trees and are happy to share knowledge and observations.    

Since there are literally hundreds of varieties, and most will work out just fine in an espelier, I would think you would want to look at other criteria as well.  Such as, what variety will thrive and produce fruit that you like in your part of Florida under conditions specific to where you intend to plant.   

We have several members here who are located in your state.  Perhaps some will weigh in?  

floridahill...as far as a nice scaffolded tree, I find it a good idea to look at the overall shape of the tree at the time of purchase...that can eliminate a lot of training work over a several year period...for example: I purchased 2 Hardy Chicagos, and 2 Kadotas from Lowes about 3 months ago, I was fortunate to get there on the day that Lowes was getting their spring shippment of fruit trees(including fig trees), so I was able to go through about 50 Kadotas and 50 of the Hardy Chicagos to choose the "pick of the litter"...I took my time, and looked at the shape of all the trees, in order to get the scaffolded look right from the get go...since the time of that purchase the trees have all broken dormancy and have leafed out into that perfect tree shape with scaffolded branches...I'm sure that as the tree grows, I will have to do some detail pruning from time to time...but for the most part, the work was pretty much done at the time of purchase...I don't necessarily think that there is any one variety that will give you the look that you want all the time...but I think that every variety has a wide range of different shapes available...so my advise would be to take your time when selecting your tree until you find the one that has the basic look that you want.   Good luck with your search.

If you look at the Japanese trained figs, it appears that they grow a long whip, and then bend it over. When horizontal, all buds become dominant. If you take the bud that was lowest, before bending, and bend it the opposite way the following season, you get a balanced bottom scaffold, and the verticals grow from there.



I was too lazy to photoshop this more accurately, but this is what you get.

Col de Dama negra grows in a broom style naturally.

if getting fig is not a priority, and getting more green and forming shape is your interest, try Kathleen's Black. that thing will grow branches like crazy with just a bit of fertilizer. 

@ forever figs. That's not a bad idea. I may just order something with the scaffolding started. Any tips on a good var. for zone 9 Florida. I will need a closed eye var. with high rust resistance and good quality fruit. The local home centers are always pushing the brown turkey fig. I was thinking ischia fig but that's just the tallest thing I have knocking around the garden. It seams very vigorous though.



@ pitangadiego, Is that an Espalier form or means of stimulating branching. An Espalier would be a cool addition to my new fig garden.

I just picked a new Brown Turkey for around 20 bucks from a local grower. Its around 3' tall with a single 1" trunk and plenty of branches to choose from. perfect! I went ahead and trimmed off the lower branches and will allow the higher branches to form hopefully into a nice frame work. I think I will keep this one in a short tree form. On to my next fig tree... I think I will try the Espalier form pitangadiego was showing.

I'm glad you found the tree you were looking for...good luck, and have fun, that's what it's all about.