Photo: Jules Verne Times Two / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Fig (Anjeer) (Ficus carica): One of the oldest cultivated fruits — rich in fibre, calcium, iron, and digestive enzymes.
🔍 Quick Facts
| Common name | Fig (Anjeer) |
| Other names | Anjeer (Hindi); Atthi (Tamil); Anjura (Kannada) |
| Scientific name | Ficus carica |
| Plant family | Moraceae (fig family) |
| Size | 3–10 m deciduous tree or shrub |
| Native region | Middle East, Mediterranean |
| Climate | Temperate/Mediterranean |
| Ease of growing | Moderate |
| Parts used | Fruit (fresh & dried), Leaves |
About Fig
Fig is one of the earliest plants cultivated by humans. In India it is grown commercially around Pune — Purandar figs have a GI tag — and in Karnataka. What we call the fruit is actually an inverted flower (a syconium). Dried anjeer is rich in fibre, calcium and iron and is a traditional remedy for constipation.
Botanically known as Ficus carica, it belongs to the Moraceae family. It is native to Middle East, Mediterranean and grows best in a temperate/mediterranean climate. The parts most often used are the fruit (fresh & dried) and leaves.
Uses & Nutrition
Fig is best known for:
- Constipation
- Iron source
- Calcium
- Bone health
- Blood sugar modulation
How to Eat & Cook It
- Fresh figs are eaten raw.
- Dried anjeer soaked overnight is a traditional laxative.
- Used in sweets such as anjeer barfi.
How to Grow Fig
| ☀️ Sunlight | Full sun. |
| 💧 Watering | Moderate; consistent water during fruiting. |
| 🪴 Soil | Well-drained loam; tolerates slightly alkaline soil. |
| 🌱 Propagation | Hardwood cuttings root easily. |
| 📅 When to plant (India) | Plant January–February. Fruits in summer. |
| 🏡 In pots / at home | One of the best fruit trees for pots — figs fruit even in 16-inch containers. |
Precautions & Safety
- Leaf sap causes skin burns in sunlight.
- Dried figs are high in sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by the WhyOnPlanet editorial team · Last updated October 2026