About
Is often called the rubberplant, and has been a popular houseplant since Victorian times. An evergreen tree with broadly elliptic, dark, glossy green leaves to 40cm in length. Only the largest specimens are likely to fruit.
About the genus
Ficus can be evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or climbers, with often leathery, simple, entire or lobed leaves and tiny flowers borne within a hollow receptacle which enlarges to form the fruit
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1B
Plant details
Plant typeTrees
HabitSpreading branched
FoliageEvergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread1-1.5 metres
Time to full height10-20 years
Suggested usesSub-tropical
Care notes
CultivationGrow indoors/under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in filtered or indirect bright light, though it will tolerate some morning sunshine. See ornamental fig cultivation for more advice
PruningPruning group 1
PropagationPropagate by air layering
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects under glass
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to honey fungus