About
Ficus benjamina 'Variegata' is a weeping evergreen tree that can attain heights of approximately 3 meters when cultivated indoors. Its smooth, pointed leaves exhibit a green base with irregular white margins.
About the genus
Ficus comprises a range of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and climbing plants. The leaves are typically leathery and can be either simple or lobed. The species produce small flowers that develop inside a hollow structure, which then enlarges to produce the fruit.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full shade, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, East-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Houseplants, Conservatory Greenhouse, Trees
- Habit
- Bushy, Pendulous weeping
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 2.5-4 metres
- Time to full height
- 10-20 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants
- Toxicity
- Humans/Pets (dogs): Skin allergen, harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added fine bark chippings in full or filtered light. When in growth water moderately and keep just moist in winter. Maintain an even temperature with a minimum of 13⁰C. See ornamental fig cultivation for more advice
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1
- Propagation
- Propagate by semi-hardwood or leaf-bud cuttings
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite and scale insects
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to honey fungus