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servatusprime
02-09-2014, 10:03 PM
Hey everybody,

I would like to place a plant in a pot to help block a view from a neighbors lanai into my yard. (they get loud, smoke, and I don't like them staring at me in my hammock). So I thought maybe a fig would work in a container and help block things out a bit. But I don't have much of a clue when it comes to figs and the number of varieties seems a little overwhelming. Here are some of the things I'm wondering about:

1. I live in southwest Florida Zone 10A and I wonder which variety would be best for me in this area.
2. Please tell me fresh figs taste way better than the ones I can pick up at Publix. Those are horribly bland at best. I really like the dried ones though.
3. If I should expect figs loose their leaves in my area, I would like to know since that won't work well as a screen.
4. The plant would get some morning shade.
5. Where is the best place to buy?
6. If this is a bad idea for what I'm trying to achieve with the visual screening, let me know.


Thanks.

ez
02-09-2014, 10:19 PM
The Fig - EDIS - University of Florida (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg214)


New Florida Figs - Fig Trees - Florida's Finest Fruit Trees & Edible Gardening Specialists! (http://www.pepesplants.com/fig-trees.html)

:0519:

Richard
02-09-2014, 10:25 PM
Edible Fig trees are deciduous. You will have no leaves on the plant December-February.

servatusprime
02-09-2014, 10:48 PM
Edible Fig trees are deciduous. You will have no leaves on the plant December-February.

Thanks Richard. One of the web links EZ posted appears to claim that some fruiting varieties in Florida won't loose their leaves in winter. I'll have to look into this some more. I don't know if I really want to deal with the rust that seems to trouble fig growers in Florida.

Richard
02-10-2014, 12:30 AM
I'd put up a trellis and plant the passion fruit cultivar "Fredericks".

Alex
02-10-2014, 10:59 AM
I don’t know how well it would work in your region, but her in Tucson, AZ, we have an Osborne Prolific Fig whose leaves don’t drop unless there are low temps. The best part, however, is that it produces figs for at least 6 months of the year.

raygrogan
02-11-2014, 03:14 PM
I love fresh homegrown figs, but for a pure screen plant my favorite is podocarpus gracilior. Not sure how cold hardy it is. It can be butchered and just comes back beautiful each time. Any shape is fine. Always nice, not much litter, etc.