This popped up under my lemon tree, growing from under the edge of our deck. It's growing like a vine.

Maybe it is a fig tree. They pop up in my yard all the time. Show us the stem.

It does look like a fig. Is there a sheath on the bud? White sap?

It sure looks like Ficus carica which is apparently considered an invasive species in Ca. https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants...

Edible figs are considered a moderate invasive in California because they like water so compete with native riparian plants. But, California produces almost 100% of the figs grown in the U.S. Go figure...

Well "invasive" has more to do with where than what often enough.

When I lived in Sonoma County (where Sue lives) edible figs grew all over, especially in the older parts of Santa Rosa that were first settled by Italians, who also introduced wine grapes and sour dough bread. Olives, too. What a great culinary group!

I adore fresh figs, and I knew where the trees that overhung public sidewalks grew where picking fruit was not only allowed, it was encouraged, because overripe dropped figs are an incredible mess. A memorable bounty!

Our wild figs (Black Mission) were brought by the Spanish Missionaries and spread by the 'Mission Indians' and early settlers.

Oh right, forgot about the missions...

So Lin posted the link for Ficus carica.

Our database shows leaves that are more lobed ( is that the right word?).
Figs (Ficus carica)

I finally climbed under the lemon tree to cut it off at the base and now see that it wasn't growing as a vine as I had assumed and it has both leaf shapes, adding a couple more photos. Thanks all! I will have to watch for regrowth. Or trim up the thorny lemon tree lower branches so it doesn't grab me and I can get in there and dig it up.

Ah-oh! Are the stems rough or smooth?

Maybe its a mulberry...

Haha. Well, nice memories about figs, anyway

What do the leaf scars look like?

Lucy68 said: Ah-oh! Are the stems rough or smooth?

Maybe its a mulberry...

The leaf stems are a bit rough feeling.

Both have milky sap. I can't say I've ever heard of mulberries with wavy leaf margins rather than teeth of some kind with points, but maybe in California?