WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Ficus auriculata, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Roxburgh fig in California

In July on the south coast, established Roxburgh fig in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 35 gallons a week. Roxburgh fig is an evergreen to semi-deciduous, spreading tree from the moist lowland tropics of Asia, with a broad crown that can spread wider than it is tall. Its huge, heart-shaped leaves reach 15 inches across, with new growth a deep coppery red. Large, round figs form in clusters right on the trunk and main branches, and they are edible.

TreeRated for 2 of 6 zones

How often to water Roxburgh fig, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Roxburgh fig and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry 4 inches down under the canopy in summer means Roxburgh fig wants a deep soak
  • Big leaves drooping and tattering in hot wind point to dry soil and exposure
  • Leaves dropping in a cold spell is its semi-deciduous response, not thirst
  • Yellowing leaves in soggy soil point to too much water

How to water it

  • Water deeply but infrequently
  • Plant in full sun in a spot sheltered from wind
  • Use well-drained soil
  • Protect young trees from frost
  • Prune as needed, since fruit forms on new or old growth

Through the seasons

Water a young tree regularly through its first summers. Established trees want deep but infrequent watering through the warm months, with shelter from wind to protect the huge leaves. It may drop leaves in a cold spell and is damaged below about 25 to 30 degrees F. WUCOLS rates Roxburgh fig moderate water on the south coast and in South Inland. WUCOLS marks it as not suited to the north-central coast, the Central Valley, the high desert or the low desert.

In pots

Roxburgh fig can grow in a very large container for several years, showing off its coppery new leaves. Use a well-drained mix. Water when the top few inches dry, until it drains through. In summer, check every couple of days, since the huge leaves lose water fast. Empty the saucer. Shelter the pot from wind and frost. In winter, water only when the mix dries.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
Not ratedWUCOLS does not rate Roxburgh Fig for the Central Valley zone
A year
no figure
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses

WUCOLS lists Roxburgh Fig as not suited to this region for the Central Valley zone, so no monthly figure is computed here.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Roxburgh Fig: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan––0.780.78––
Feb––0.810.87––
Mar––1.151.3––
Apr––1.41.61––
May––1.611.95––
Jun––1.742.29––
Jul––1.982.51––
Aug––1.862.33––
Sep––1.491.86––
Oct––1.151.33––
Nov––0.840.9––
Dec––0.650.68––
Year––15.518.41––

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated not suited to this region in the Central Valley, like Roxburgh fig. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Sugar MapleAcer saccharumnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingQueensland KauriAgathis robustanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingCherimoyaAnnona cherimolanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingPurple Orchid TreeBauhinia variegata (purpurea)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingToogBischofia javanicanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingClustered Fishtail PalmCaryota mitisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingWhite SapoteCasimiroa edulisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingFilbertCorylus maximanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingSpotted GumCorymbia maculata (Eucalyptus maculata)not rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingDove TreeDavidia involucratanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingRoyal PoincianaDelonix regianot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingTriangle PalmDypsis decaryinot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingMountain White GumEucalyptus dalrympleananot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingRainbow EucalyptusEucalyptus degluptanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingIndian BanyanFicus benghalensisnot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley ratingWeeping Chinese BanyanFicus benjaminanot rated, Central Valleyno Central Valley rating
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Roxburgh fig, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Roxburgh fig in summer?

In July, established Roxburgh fig in loam needs a deep watering about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Roxburgh fig need per day?

In July on the south coast, established Roxburgh fig needs about 5.0 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 20 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Roxburgh fig change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Roxburgh fig separately for each of the six California climate zones: not suited to this region in the North-Central Coastal zone, not suited to this region in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, not suited to this region in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, not suited to this region in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Are Roxburgh figs edible?

Yes, the fruit is edible raw or cooked. Figs form in large clusters on the trunk and branches. They stay on the tree a long time.

How big are Roxburgh fig leaves?

Leaves can be about 15 inches across, and some reach 21 inches long. New growth is coppery red. Shelter them from wind.

Is Roxburgh fig frost hardy?

It is hardy only to short cold down to about 25 degrees F. Hard freezes can kill it back. Plant it in a warm spot.

Is Roxburgh fig evergreen?

It is evergreen to semi-deciduous and may drop leaves in extended cold. New leaves return with warmth. That is normal.

How big does Roxburgh fig get?

It grows 15 to 25 feet tall and as wide or wider. It forms a spreading crown. Give it room.

More plant watering guides

Triangle PalmMountain White GumRainbow EucalyptusPoinsettiaIndian BanyanWeeping Chinese BanyanRubber PlantFiddleleaf Fig

Sources