Why Are My Fig Tree Leaves Turning Yellow?

Fig tree leaves can turn yellow for several different reasons, and the pattern of yellowing — where it starts, whether the veins stay green, whether it affects the whole tree or just parts — tells you a great deal about the underlying cause. Because figs are vigorous and generally tolerant plants, widespread yellowing is usually a sign that something fairly significant has gone wrong in the root zone or the soil chemistry.

Nitrogen deficiency

A general fading of the whole canopy from rich dark green to pale yellow-green, starting with older leaves low on the tree, strongly suggests nitrogen shortage. Figs growing in containers or in very free-draining, sandy soil are especially prone to nitrogen deficiency because the nutrient leaches out quickly. Apply a balanced general-purpose fertiliser or a high-nitrogen feed in spring as the leaves emerge. Repeat once in early summer if the pallor persists. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding after midsummer as it promotes soft growth that ripens poorly before winter.

Waterlogging and root suffocation

If the soil around your fig has been persistently wet — from heavy rainfall, a broken drain or a poorly chosen low-lying planting spot — the roots may be suffocating from lack of oxygen. Waterlogged roots cannot function properly, so the tree is unable to take up the nutrients it needs even if they are present in the soil. Widespread yellowing that does not improve with feeding, combined with soft or rotten-smelling soil, points to this problem. Improve drainage urgently, or if the tree is young, consider moving it to a better-drained position.

Drought stress and irregular watering

Figs are drought-tolerant once established, but extended dry periods — especially in containers or in free-draining soil during a hot summer — will cause leaves to yellow and sometimes drop. The tree is shedding leaf area to reduce water loss. A consistent, deep watering routine during dry spells, allowing the soil to partly dry between waterings, prevents this. Container figs especially need regular checking from May to September.

Iron deficiency in alkaline soil

If the yellowing is interveinal — meaning the leaf blade turns pale or yellow while the leaf veins remain noticeably green — the most likely cause is iron or manganese deficiency caused by soil that is too alkaline. Figs prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH, and in chalky or heavily limed soils the trace elements become chemically locked up even when physically present. Apply a chelated iron product as a foliar spray or soil drench, and over the longer term work to lower the soil pH by incorporating acidic organic matter such as composted bark.

Natural pre-dormancy yellowing

Figs are fully deciduous in cool-temperate climates. In autumn, all the leaves will turn yellow and fall — this is the normal seasonal cycle and requires no intervention. If the yellowing is happening from late September onwards, progressing gradually, and is not accompanied by wilting or die-back, the tree is simply preparing for winter dormancy in the normal way.

Rust disease

Fig rust causes yellowish patches on the upper leaf surface with corresponding orange-brown pustules underneath. If you can see the orange underside powdering when you rub the leaf, rust is the problem rather than a nutrient issue. The yellow patches will be irregular and spotty rather than uniform. See the separate fig rust guide for treatment advice.