Fig Tree Sunscald: Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Quick Answer

Sunscald is heat and UV damage that bleaches and cracks a fig’s bark, fruit, and leaves, almost always on the south or west-facing side that takes the harshest afternoon sun. It most often strikes trees moved suddenly from shade into full sun without hardening off, and drought stress makes it far worse. Prevent it by acclimatising trees over one to two weeks, keeping them well watered, using afternoon shade cloth in heat waves, and whitewashing exposed trunks. The tree itself almost always recovers.

Figs love sun, so sunscald surprises people. The truth is that figs love sun they are used to. The damage almost always comes from a sudden change, not from sunlight itself, and once you understand that, it is one of the easiest fig problems to avoid entirely.

What Sunscald Looks Like

Sunscald shows up wherever the sun hits hardest. On fruit, you will see areas that are bleached, tan, cracked, or shrivelled on one side, the side facing the sun. On bark, especially the south or west-facing side, the surface goes bleached, tan, or cracked and peeling. Leaves may look scorched, crisp, or bronzed at the edges. The dead giveaway is the pattern: the damage is one-sided, following the sun, while the shaded side of the same fruit or trunk stays healthy.

What Causes It

Intense, direct sun, particularly a sudden jump from shade to full exposure, overwhelms the tissue's ability to cope. The classic trigger is moving a potted tree straight from indoors, a greenhouse, or a shady overwintering spot into blazing full sun in spring. Heat waves do the same to established trees, and a tree that has recently been moved, repotted, or transplanted is especially vulnerable because it is already stressed. Drought makes everything worse, since a well-hydrated tree can cool itself while a dry one cannot.

Is It Serious?

Rarely for the tree, more so for the crop. Scorched leaves and fruit will not recover, but the tree readily pushes fresh growth once it adjusts, and a single bad afternoon is not fatal. The one thing to watch is significant bark damage: a large scald wound can scar permanently and open a door for canker or borers, so damaged bark deserves protection while it heals over.

My Treatment & Recovery Plan

Provide immediate shade. Rig 30 to 50 percent shade cloth over the tree during the hottest afternoon hours, or move a pot into afternoon shade.
Water deeply and consistently. A hydrated tree resists and recovers from scald far better; never let a scald-stressed tree go dry.
Whitewash exposed trunks with white latex paint diluted 50/50 with water to reflect heat off the bark.
Remove badly damaged fruit that has cracked open, since the splits invite souring and insects.
Leave lightly scorched leaves in place. They still photosynthesise a little, and pulling them off only adds stress. New growth will replace them.

⚠️ The move that causes it

Never take a tree straight from shade or storage into full afternoon sun. Harden it off over one to two weeks, starting with morning sun or dappled light and increasing exposure gradually. This one habit prevents the vast majority of sunscald.

Preventing It Next Season

Acclimatise every tree that has spent time indoors, in a greenhouse, or in winter storage before it goes back into full sun, increasing exposure over a week or two. Keep trees well watered through hot spells, have shade cloth ready before a forecast heat wave rather than after, and consider whitewashing trunks on young or thin-barked trees in exposed positions. In cold-climate container growing, this matters most in spring, when trees come out of dormancy with soft tissue and the sun is already strong.

Not sure it’s sunscald? Bleached bark and cracked fruit can look like other problems. Check your tree’s symptoms against all 18 conditions with the free interactive tool.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does sunscald look like on a fig tree?

On bark it appears as bleached, tan, or cracking and peeling patches, usually on the south or west-facing side that takes the most afternoon sun. On fruit it shows as bleached, tan, cracked, or shrivelled areas on the sun-facing side. Leaves may look scorched or crispy at the edges. The damage is always worst on the side facing the hottest sun.

Why did my fig get sunburned after I moved it into the sun?

Because it was not acclimatised. A tree grown in shade, indoors, or in a greenhouse has soft tissue that has never faced direct sun. Move it straight into full afternoon sun and it scorches, exactly like human skin that has not seen summer. Always harden a tree off over one to two weeks before leaving it in full sun.

Will a fig tree recover from sunscald?

The tree itself almost always recovers. Scalded leaves and fruit will not heal, but the tree pushes new growth once it adjusts. Bark damage can leave a permanent scar and, if severe, an entry point for disease, so protect damaged bark and keep the tree healthy while it heals over.

How do I protect a fig tree from sunscald in a heat wave?

Provide 30 to 50 percent shade cloth over the hottest afternoon hours, keep the tree well watered because drought stress makes scald far worse, and whitewash exposed trunks with diluted white latex paint to reflect heat. For potted trees, simply moving them into afternoon shade during an extreme heat wave is often enough.

Can I still eat sunscalded figs?

If the fruit is only lightly bleached on one side and still ripens, it is safe to eat, though the scalded area may be dry or tough. Fruit that has cracked open should be removed, since the split invites souring organisms and insects that can spoil it from the inside.