In their original environment, Fici can certainly reach a stately size and age. Ficus species have become indispensable as indoor plants. They are available in different colors and sizes. With proper care, they will bring joy to a cozy home for a long time. However, the names can sometimes be quite confusing. Usually only the botanical names appear. Below we have compiled a list of some impressive representatives of their kind.

Evergreen plants

There are over 800 different Ficus species, from groundcover to climbing plants to stately trees, everything is represented. Some of the species belonging to the mulberry family produce edible fruits such as figs. However, other parts of the plant are slightly poisonous. Many contain a white milky sap that requires extra care as it can cause poisoning. Pets and small children are particularly at risk.

Our list includes well-known fig plants and also some rarities.

Banyan tree (Ficus bengahalensis)

  • Tree native to India
  • Provide branches with aerial roots
  • leathery, mostly smooth leaves
  • Leaves hairy when young
  • typical green and decorative plant
  • impressive in large, bright and warm rooms
  • Height up to 2 m
  • bright location
  • full sun in summer
  • Temperatures 18 to 23°C
  • in winter at least 15 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • Fertilize every 14 days during growth
  • repot in spring
  • medium-heavy, humus-rich soil
  • Propagation by top cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects

Bodhi tree, peepul tree (Ficus religiosa)

  • also known as poplar fig
  • tree native to India
  • under him Buddha became enlightened
  • in his native sacred tree
  • large, thin leaves with slender tips, light-colored veins
  • Height 2 to 3 m
  • bright but not full sun location
  • high humidity
  • spray frequently in summer
  • Fertilize every 14 days during the summer
  • repot if necessary in spring or summer
  • medium heavy to humic soil
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C, not below 18 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • Propagation by head and shoot cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

  • relative of the rubber tree
  • originating from India
  • branches hanging down
  • lustrous, thin leathery leaves
  • Coloration from medium green to dark green
  • small pairs of figs
  • development after pollination
  • initially orange, then crimson, later black-purple fruits
  • Height up to 1.8m
  • bright to semi-shady location
  • Temperatures 18 to 22 °C, in winter not below 16 °C
  • always keep moist
  • high humidity
  • Fertilize every two weeks from spring through summer
  • medium-heavy humus soil
  • repot in spring
  • Propagation by cuttings at a soil temperature of 25 to 30 °C
  • suitable for hydroponics
  • susceptible to scale insects, red spider, thrips

Chinese fig tree (Ficus retusa)

  • originating from East India and Ceylon
  • oval or rhombic, leathery green leaves
  • also variegated varieties
  • Height up to 2 m
  • bright place, no blazing sun
  • place particularly variegated varieties very light
  • avoid direct sun in summer
  • Fertilize every two weeks during growth
  • Repot in spring or fall
  • humus soil
  • Temperature 20 to 22 °C
  • in winter at least 16 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • Propagation by top cuttings, soil temperature 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider

Common fig tree (Ficus carica)

  • tree-like shrub native to southern Europe and northern Africa
  • deeply lobed leaves
  • pear or elongated round fruits (figs)
  • Flowering spring to autumn
  • it can also be kept as a container plant
  • in this country fruits often overwintering on the plant
  • Figs ripen the following year
  • Height up to 3 m
  • Potted plants outdoors in May
  • Granting before the first frost
  • Overwinter frost-free, bright and cool
  • repot if necessary
  • loamy-humic, nutritious garden or compost soil
  • full sun location
  • Fertilize fortnightly in summer
  • Temperature 18 to 22 °C, not below 0 °C
  • Water moderately, less in winter
  • Propagation by cuttings under glass or
  • Offshoots and stolons in spring, soil temperature 25 °C
  • Pests: scale insects

Fiddler Fig (Ficus lyrata)

Daderot, Ficus lyrata - Copenhagen Botanical Garden - DSC07378, Crop from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Home West Africa
  • huge, lyre-shaped leaves with clearly visible nerves
  • Shape resembles a violin
  • Height up to 2 m
  • somewhat more demanding in maintenance
  • particularly suitable for conservatories and small greenhouses
  • sunny location, no blazing sun
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C
  • in winter at least 16 °C
  • high humidity required
  • Set up a humidifier
  • keep moderately moist
  • during growth 14-day fertilization
  • if necessary, repot in spring or autumn
  • medium-heavy humus soil
  • Sand or styrofoam promotes water permeability
  • Propagation by head or stem cuttings, soil temperature 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects

Large-leaved climbing fig (Ficus sagittata)

Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Ficus sagittata kz3, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • native to the Himalayas and the Philippines
  • thin branches with elongated leaves
  • Height up to 3 m
  • gives white-variegated variety "Variegata"
  • very resistant
  • suitable as ground cover, hanging plant
  • bright to semi-shady location
  • Temperature 20 to 22 °C, not below 18 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • ensure high humidity
  • fertilize every 14 days in summer
  • medium heavy to humic soil
  • Pests: scale insects

Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)

  • originating from Southeast Asia
  • large shiny leathery leaves
  • prominent midribs
  • Leaf ends tapering
  • colorful varieties are also available
  • Height 2m
  • suitable for hydroponics
  • bright to semi-shady location
  • no blazing sun in summer
  • tolerates dry heating air
  • prefer 50% humidity
  • Avoid drafts and turning the pot
  • Temperature 18 to 22 °C
  • in winter at least 16 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • fertilize every 14 days in summer
  • fertilize once a month in winter
  • Soil medium heavy and humic
  • Propagation by stem cuttings or head cuttings, soil temperature 30 °C
  • Pruning of the main shoot encourages branching
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider, thrips

Here are the care instructions.

Climbing fig (Ficus pumila)

  • originating from Asia and Australia
  • thread-thin branches
  • Adhesive roots for climbing tree trunks, walls etc.
  • dark green ovoid to heart-shaped leaves, short-stalked
  • Height up to 3 m
  • There are also white and variegated varieties
  • green-leaved varieties semi-shady location
  • white-variegated varieties light to sunny, no direct sun
  • Temperature 15 to 25 °C
  • not below 5 °C in winter
  • keep moderately moist
  • Avoid ball dryness
  • Fertilize fortnightly in summer
  • Repot if necessary
  • humus loose soil
  • suitable for hydroponics
  • Propagation by head or shoot cuttings
  • Rooting at 25 to 28 °C
  • Pests: scale insects

Congo fig (Ficus buxifolia)

  • coming from the Congo
  • relative of the rubber tree
  • boxwood-like small triangular leaves
  • thin curved shoots
  • Height 2m
  • fast growing and robust
  • bright to semi-shady location, no direct sun
  • high humidity
  • Spray leaves frequently with water
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C
  • in winter at least 16 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • fertilize every 14 days in summer
  • medium-heavy humus Ede
  • add some clay
  • Propagation by top cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests scale insects

Long-leaved rubber tree (Ficus longif.webpolia)

Vinayaraj, Ficus longif.webpolia 10, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Origin Southeast Asia, Philippines
  • attractive shrub or tree
  • downward-hanging pointed leaves
  • young plants have lanceolate leaves up to 20 cm long and 4 cm wide
  • in older plants leaves 9 cm long and 3 to 3.5 cm wide
  • ovoid figs with a diameter of 1 cm
  • singly or in pairs on the branches
  • Height 1.8m
  • bright to semi-shady
  • Temperature 18 to 22 °C
  • in winter at least 16 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • high humidity
  • fertilize every 14 days during the growth phase
  • repot if necessary
  • preferably in spring
  • humus loose soil
  • Propagation by cuttings in spring
  • Floor heat 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects

Bay fig (Ficus microcarpa)

Forest & Kim Starr, Starr 080601-5190 Ficus microcarpa, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • originating from East Asia
  • resembles Ficus benjamina
  • mainly species "Panda" in culture
  • Green, elliptic -ovoid, entire, coarse, leathery leaves
  • Height 1.8m
  • bright location, no blazing sun
  • also tolerates partial shade
  • water moderately
  • Avoid ball dryness
  • fertilize every two weeks in summer
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C, minimum 16 °C
  • humic permeable soil
  • Propagation by head or shoot cuttings, soil temperature 25 °C
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider

Mistletoe Fig (Ficus deltoidea)

Forest & Kim Starr, Starr 070906-8988 Ficus deltoidea, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • located in the Mailay Archipelago
  • small rounded-triangular leaves
  • Light green above
  • Underside olive brown
  • Variety 'Variegata' yellow patterned leaves
  • round, pea-sized yellow inedible fruits in leaf axils
  • Height 90 cm
  • growing as a tree or shrub
  • bright location, no blazing sun
  • Temperature 18 to 22 °C
  • in winter at least 15 °C
  • even soil moisture
  • keep drier for a short time for fruiting
  • Fertilize fortnightly in summer
  • repot if necessary
  • medium-heavy humus soil
  • add some clay
  • Propagation by head or stem cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider, thrips

Mosaic fig (Ficus aspera)

Stan Shebs, Ficus aspera 2, crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • little-known species
  • comes from Polynesia
  • Height up to 2 m
  • thin marbled leaves
  • cherry-like small fruits
  • very bright location, no direct sun
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C, not below 16 °C
  • high humidity
  • Spray with soft water in summer
  • use humidifier in winter
  • keep moderately moist
  • Fertilize every 14 days during main growth
  • if necessary repot spring or summer
  • medium-heavy humus soil
  • add some clay
  • Propagation by seeds
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider

Natal fig (Ficus triangularis)

Vinayaraj, Ficus triangularis at Malappuram (1), crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • originating from tropical Africa
  • horizontally protruding to slightly hanging side branches
  • dark green triangular leaves
  • Height up to 1.8m
  • not easy to care for
  • not a beginner plant
  • very bright location, no blazing sun
  • Temperature 20 to 23 °C, not below 18 °C
  • winter warm
  • keep moderately moist
  • fertilize every 14 days in summer
  • transplant in spring if necessary
  • medium-heavy humic and slightly loamy soil
  • Propagation by head and shoot cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: scale insects, red spider

Rust fig (Ficus rubiginosa)

  • originating from Australia
  • Shrub with prostrate branches
  • elliptic-elongated, leathery, glossy green leaves
  • Underside rust-colored brown felty
  • as well as young shoots
  • widespread variety "Variegata"
  • here entire surface white-yellowish marbled and spotted
  • Height 1.8m
  • undemanding cold house plant
  • ideal for cooler rooms
  • bright to semi-shady
  • variegated variety very bright, not in full sun
  • Temperature 16 to 22 °C
  • in winter 15 °C, not below 10 °C
  • keep moderately moist
  • Fertilize every 14 days in summer
  • permeable humus soil
  • Propagation by head or stem cuttings, soil temperature 25 to 30 °C
  • Pests: Red Spider

Category:

Indoor plants