The fig leaf is perhaps the most recognisable leaf in the plant kingdom.  The human race has been cultivating figs for the last 5000 years and now over 1 million tonnes of figs are produced each year.  The deeply lobed, bright green leaves give the tree a very tropical look although it fits in well with any garden style.  In colder areas of the country, figs prefer to be sited in sheltered positions in full sun – this will also aid fruit production and ripening.  Figs are very versatile and will happily grow either as a tree, or if you are short on space, they make excellent multi-stemmed shrubs.  Figs can 'wander' in light soils, so if you have a small garden, consider growing in a container.