I live in Cary, NC - Zone 7b and have five fig trees currently in the ground.  Four of my fig trees still have all the leaves on the tree - one is partly leafed.

I noticed that seven other fig trees in Cary, NC (in private homes, churches and parks) have all lost their leaves.  What would allow my trees to keep the leaves this late in the year?  None of my trees are sheltered - they face East, West and South.

Thanks!

Tad

Tad, I assume it's because of the unseasonably warm fall it was in the 80s there this week

I have leaves on some of my trees and none on some others at this time. We still have hot air currents. An extended cold spell that lasts for few days will do the trick.

My potted plants dropped their leaves at least two weeks before my in-ground trees. The cooler roots in the pots may have something to do with it.

I am in Harrisburg and all my fig trees still have leaves. One started to drop them but is still holding onto 4 leaves now. My pomegranate dropped half its leaves and a few of my persimmons got rid of them while half of the trees are still holding onto them. But it is crazy warm at this time of the year. I am starting to wonder if I might get one or 2 more ripe figs, maybe I should thin whats trying to ripen and see if they can finish a few more.

An actively growing fig tree will hold it's leaves later than one that stopped growing several months back. So that could be the difference. This holds true for other fruits like apple and peach.

The figs that have dropped their leaves will probably be hardier. A mature tree will probably quit growing sooner than a young vigorous tree.

I would echo what fignitty said.I have found my 1 year old+trees dropped leaves already,my trees in their first year with more green wood seem to still have theirs,probably because they have been actively growing throughout the season.There also seems to be a varietal difference as well,my Violet Dauphine and BT have retained their leaves dispite being slightly more mature,whilst my White Adriatic,RdB and Precoce de Dalmatie all lost theirs,first to go was the Prococe de Dalmatie,they are all the same age,same location,same pot and mix etc

i am in New Orleans and still getting figs.
all 3 trees, and my 2 cuttings with  a few leaves
are all still putting out new growth.
The larger tree is also, though its loosing leaves faster than putting out new ones.
(Celeste i think) still has about a dozen fruit on it.

I just had a Black  Mission yesterday
i should have let it ripen another day, but im pretty happy with this tree.
Its loosing a few leaves now, and no fruit left
(first year. it only produced 4 fruit... still small)

None of my guavas or mulberries have lost more than %10 of the leaves.
as far as New Orleans is concerned... Fall hasnt arrived yet.

its 74F today. one of the cooler days we have had so far.
(last week, we had a couple of days in the mid  to upper 80s)

if this weather keeps this up
i will be able to grow Cacao. :)
and my papaya wont die back to the trunk every year.

[quote]
There also seems to be a varietal difference as well,my Violet Dauphine and BT have retained their leaves dispite being slightly more mature,whilst my White Adriatic,RdB and Precoce de Dalmatie all lost theirs,first to go was the Prococe de Dalmatie,they are all the same age,same location,same pot and mix etc 
[/quote]

All my varieties have lost their leaves, except for one: RdB.
Age, location, ... doesn't seem to matter. At least for me.
I have also noticed that a variety grafted onto RdB still has it's leaves, while the same variety grown on it's own roots has lost it's leaves.

I have a few trees in northeast pa in pots with leaves as well. Pretty sure I seen start of brebas on my vdb. I pulled off the remaining few and stored in dark coal bin for the winter. I will pull the remaining leaves this weekend and store the remaining half.

Greenman62
We have fall happening in Springhill. So it's on its way to you. Yes, my tree and my neighbors tree, that is about 50 feet tall still has leaves.

Cheerio

Hi everybody, my name is Eric. I'm new here and thought this would be a great time to introduce myself and contribute to the group. Tad, I have been wondering the exact same thing. I am in Glencoe, Alabama, also in hardiness zone 7b. Even after a 2-month drought my baby fig tree (my first & it's from a cutting), planted in the ground, still has leaves on it and there's also new growth. I planted it out in an open area, so it's not sheltered. It's gotta be this warm weather. I can think of no other reason. But I'm really not sure as I am completely new to growing fig trees. I tried to post a photo of my tree, but for some reason it's not showing up. I'm on my laptop and the file size was small enough and uploaded successfully. Hmmmm Maybe I will figure it out. :)

As long as we continue to have temps in the 70s and 80s, we will continue to have leaves on figs.  When the night temps drop down into the 20s which is what's coming this weekend, those leaves will wilt and your tree will not have any more leaves!

My Lynnhurst WHite and others all still have nice large green leaves.  Come Sunday afternoon, all the leaves will be gone!

I still have leaves on my outdoor trees as well.  They're yellowing, but they're still there.  Got perhaps the last fig just the other day.  The last pinching generated a bunch of baby figs, which are only about halfway there.  Probably won't ripen at all.  And the few cuttings that I have are getting buds again.  By this time, the weather is usually much colder than the 75F that it is right now.  I'm guessing night temps are in the 50s, but mid to low 40s by next week.  That ought to do it.

All my trees have leaves AND now some are starting to put out new figs!! Our temps are up in the 80's & 90's!! Unbelievable!!! Nothing is going dormant.