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Ficus trees are one of the most common ornamental plants in homes. They're easy to grow and a beautiful addition to any home landscape. This article will showcase different types of ficus and the general care they need.
Weeping fig
This type of ficus tree has delicate, small leaves that grow at the tips and down the sides. It is often used as a bonsai plant because it's shape can be controlled easily. This variety needs pruning periodically to keep its shape.
It is very hardy and will do well in both full sunlight or partial shade. It is also says to be able to grow in a wide range of soil types so it doesn't need much maintenance. Due to its delicate leaves, it is advised that this ficus be kept indoors.
Eugenia Ficus
This type of ficus tree has large leaves and a thick, sturdy trunk. It is often used as an ornamental plant or in landscaping due to its durability. This ficus can grow quite tall so it needs plenty of room to spread. It prefers full sunlight and can be trimmed to maintain its shape.
Remove dead leaves regularly because they will damage the appearance of the plant. The soil should not be too dry or too wet either, watering it when the top becomes slightly dry is recommended.
Chinese Banyan Tree
This type of ficus grows very quickly so regular pruning is needed to control its size. The trunk of this ficus is very narrow and tall so it needs plenty of room to grow. It can also grow upwards, eventually forming a canopy over the top.
As with all other types, full sunlight is preferred but they will tolerate partial shade. Prune back branches during the springtime so that the plant can grow more branches further from the main trunk.
Seedlings are needed to propagate new ficus trees of this variety.
Indian Laurel
This variety has long, smooth leaves and is often used as a decorative tree for homes or landscaping. It sometimes grows aerial roots near its base which can easily be trimmed away if they take away from the appearance of the plant.
The Indian Laurel likes full sunlight and is pretty hardy, especially when it's young. It needs to be trimmed regularly to keep its shape. This tree does not do well in dry or arid climates so watering it deeply every few days will make it last longer.
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Fiddle-leaf fig has its name due to the distinctive leaves that resemble a violin with upturned tips. The plant can be easily identified by the eyes formed on the underside of each leaf, and is usually grown as indoor plants in warm countries like India. Fiddle-leaf figs are very popular houseplants and can even live for a long time in low light conditions without showing any harm to its growth.
Fiddle-leaf Fig is one of the most popular types of ficus plants grown around the world due to their attractive leaves that look absolutely stunning when placed in a room or on a windowsill. This variety of ficus plants is also known as Fiddle-Leaf Plant, Weeping Fig and the Varnish Tree.
Fiddle Leaf ficus can be grown indoors even in areas that do not receive a lot of sunlight and look absolutely stunning when kept in a room. The plant needs to be put in an area that receives indirect sunlight and does not receive direct sunlight as it can easily burn the leaves of the ficus plants.
Rubber plant
The rubber plant has large leaves that are quite similar in shape to the Ficus elastic plant. The rubber plant is a very popular indoor plant due to its easy growing requirements and grows best indoors where it can easily be kept warm, with occasional watering.
The Rubber Tree is also known as the Indian Rubber Tree, due to the large production of latex in India from Hevea brasiliensis trees. The Rubber Tree is a native to tropical rainforests in Asia and Africa. It has large, thick and glossy leaves that can grow up to 3 feet long and 2 meters wide.
The leaves of the Rubber Tree plant are used by many indigenous cultures for medicinal purposes. Even though rubber latex does not have any medicinal benefits, it is used as a laxative or as a medicine for treating diarrhoea. Its latex has many industrial uses in the manufacturing of clothing, incense sticks and rubber products like shoes and elastic bands.
Creeping Fig
Creeping Fig plants grow in a variety of shapes as they creep along the ground. They can be planted on walls and rocks to allow it to climb, or can be used as hedges and fences around flowerbeds. The leaves are large and green, with their distinct shape having a long stalk that is attached to the main trunk in lower leaves.
Creeping Figs in most cases like to be planted in partial shade outdoors but will also grow well indoors if given plenty of indirect sunlight and warm temperatures. This plant does not need regular watering, pruning or care and often the roots can even be kept above ground with their mounding growth pattern.
The creeping fig is a tropical plant that grows as high as 7 meters tall and has large, heart-shaped leaves. The plant is known by a number of names like the Climbing Fig Tree, Creeping Mahogany, Bush Ficus or the Virginia Creeper Fig. It can be used for hedges when planted in rows or around flower beds to create privacy fences too. The Creeping Fig works well for both indoor and outdoor landscaping in tropical, subtropical or temperate regions.
Benjamina Ficus
Benjamina ficus is a tropical plant, native to Australia but can be found in warmer parts of the world as an indoor plant. The all-green leaves are quite large and resemble a bottle brush shape.
The Benjamina Ficus are easy to grow plants and do not require a lot of care and maintenance. They tend to lose their leaves during troubled times like when a new ficus plant is moved to a different location or when it needs more sunlight. As with most types of ficus plants, the Benjamina Ficus can be easily propagated through cuttings and air layering.
Ficus Elastica
The Ficus elastica plant grows very well indoors in almost all regions of the world, including areas with high humidity without any issues. This variety of ficus plant is also known as the Rubber Tree and has large, thick leaves that are quite glossy and have a waxy appearance.
Ficus elastica plants grow well in both indirect sunlight and partial sunlight but tend to not like direct sunlight, especially when grown indoors. They are quite resilient when it comes to most environmental changes and do not need regular watering, pruning or much care at all.
Ficus Decora
The Ficus decoras are used for both indoor and outdoor landscaping due to their ability to grow well in a variety of different conditions.
The plants have large dark green leaves with variegated markings on the leaves that make them quite distinct from other types of ficus plants. They can grow either as tall trees or they can be kept short by pruning. These plants like to be planted in full or partial sunlight, and can grow well indoors if they have plenty of indirect light.
Ficus Retusa
The Ficus retusa is a dwarf variety of ficus plant that can grow quite tall when left untrimmed. They also tend to have more variegated leaf markings and rounder leaves than other ficus plants. The Ficus retusa grows best in indirect sunlight with warm temperatures.
They can grow well indoors but often loose their leaves if they are moved to a different environment. These plants do not need regular watering, pruning or any type of care and make good indoor houseplants for people who live in areas with cold winters.
Ficus Lyrata
The ficus lyrata tree is a tropical plant that belongs to the family moraceae, and genus ficus. It can grow up to 50 feet tall. The trunk has dimples called lenticels which appear only on younger trees, when they age they develop corky ridges of bark instead.
This plant is an evergreen. It has fragrant white flowers which turn into fruits. The leaves of this plant are glossy green, oval in shape and grow up to 3 feet long. This species is native to India where it grows among other plants similar to a banyan tree.
In the wild ficus lyrata trees can live for centuries and will spread by sending up new trunks from the roots. These trees have a very hard wood and are used to build boats, ships and houses in their natural habitat.
Ficus Burgundy
Ficus burgundy is a medium sized tree. It can grow up to 20 feet tall and spread out over almost that much space as well. The leaves of this plant are large, oval shaped with pointed ends, they are glossy green and grow about half a foot long.
The flowers of the ficus burgundy plant are white in color, they grow in clusters and are followed by fruits that are small, egg shaped and black when ripe.
The ficus burgundy tree is often used as an indoor plant. It will thrive with lots of light but not direct sunlight. The flowers of this species can be a variety of colors ranging from pink to orange or even red in some rare cases.
Ficus Alii
The ficus alii tree is a medium sized evergreen tree. It can grow up to 30 feet tall and spread out over 20 feet as well. The trunk of this plant has thick corky ridges which are clearly visible.
The leaves of the ficus alii tree are large, oval shaped with pointed ends, they are glossy green. The tree grows flowers in the spring which are a white color and they grow small, black fruits that have an edible pulp around the seed.
This species has several cultivars that have been selectively bred to produce different types of leaves. There is a ghost leaf which produces white colored leaves, a panela leaf which has yellowish green leaves with red veins and even a tricolor leaf that has red, orange and black colors in the veins of the leaves.
Ficus Porphyra
The ficus porphyra tree is a deciduous tropical plant that belongs to the family moraceae, and genus ficus. It can grow up to 40 feet tall. The bark of this species is smooth and pale in color. The leaves are large, oval shaped with pointed ends, they have serrated edges, are glossy green and can grow up to 4 feet long.
It has fragrant white flowers which turn into fruits. The fruit of the ficus porphyra tree is a purple color, it has an edible pulp around the seed and can be eaten raw or made into jams or jellies if cooked.
This tree can be propagated from seed, cuttings or air layering. The seeds of the ficus porphyra plant are a yellowish color they will germinate in 2 to 6 weeks when planted in a moist soil mix that is kept at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When grown inside this species does best with lots of sun, but will tolerate indirect sunlight as well.
FAQS
Can you grow ficus plants outside?
Ficus plants, especially the large trees are better suited for indoor use. The ficus plant family contains many kinds of trees and shrubs that can be grown in an outdoor area but only a few ones tend to survive in colder climates. Some species may need to have their outdoor leaves trimmed in the winter to protect them from frost.
Do ficus plants have thorns?
The size of a ficus plant determines if it is thorny or not. There are some varieties that can grow up to 30 feet tall and spread out over 20 feet as well, these types may have thorns on the trunk or branches.
Can ficus plants fit into a small area?
They can, but bigger is always better when it comes to ficus! These trees will grow fast and take up space so they are best suited for large rooms where they wont be in the way. Most varieties of these plants won't tolerate direct sunlight unless windows are kept open in a larger space.
Are ficus plants poisonous to pets?
They have been known to be toxic if consumed by animals and cause mouth irritation. If you plan on having an indoor plant make sure that your pet cannot reach it or have it placed somewhere where they cannot chew on the leaves.
How far apart should ficus plants be planted?
They can grow pretty tall, so if you are growing indoors and want to avoid a messy clean up then try planting them at least 6 feet apart. The ones that you place outdoors will need plenty of room for the roots to spread out and grow as well.
Where does the ficus plant come from?
This plant is indigenous to Southern Asia but it has been brought over to North America as well. These plants can be found in the tropics and are known for being very hardy.
What color are ficus leaves?
They all have different colors depending on the variety you choose, some varieties will produce red or violet colored leaves while others will have variegated colors.
What is the best temperature for a ficus plant?
These trees are better off when grown indoors, so they will do best with temperatures that stay between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you plan on growing ficus plants outdoors make sure they are placed in a shaded area that stays between 70 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Conclusion
There are many types of ficus plants, each one with a unique color and shape. The most popular types are the weeping figs which has variegated leaves that hangs down in an arch shape. These trees can grow up to 50 feet tall so they need plenty of room to grow. They can be grown outdoors in the warmer summer months but need to be placed in a shaded area.
Back inside the large ficus trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and need plenty of sunlight as well. These plants can be grown indoors or outdoors depending on the type you choose.
