help with ID'ing a broadleaf evergreen

[SicilyVilla]

Hello,

 

We've a place in Sicily with a big tree outside it. We don't want to cut it down (it's quite nice) but it's growing like crazy so want to be able to manage it without ruining it.

 

Pic is attached with more info on www.ourvillainsicily.com/tree

The berries in the photos on the site don't get much bigger than they are there.

 

 

Any help appreciated!

[se7enthdevil]

i'd say that it's a fig tree (ficus) but which species i would not know as there are 850.

[SicilyVilla]

Brilliant, hopefully on the right track. The berries in the photos never grow much bigger than that (ie I've never seen it produce any actual figs, just thousands of those berries). The tree was pretty big when I first saw it 10 years ago. Are there figs that just don't produce fruit?

 

Assuming it's a fig any good times of year to get it cut back? How far can it be cut back?

 

Sorry for coming back with more (stupid) questions....

[se7enthdevil]

i know nothing about trimming trees i'm afraid as i'm a woodworker not a tree surgeon.

 

the berries as you call them will be classed as figs (presuming that is what the tree turns out to be) just not the variety you get in the shops.

[SicilyVilla]

Thanks for that Steve - I'll enquire locally armed with the knowledge that it's a Fig!

 

cheers,