Don's Best Indoor Figs

Indoor plants can add enormous beauty to your home, as well as giving it a natural, relaxed feel. One of the most fashionable plants in Australia at the moment is Ficus benjamina, the weeping fig. Although it is a rainforest giant in its natural habitat, the species and its cultivars make very good indoor or tub specimens. Don looked at some of the varieties of weeping fig that are available, and also at the fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) another species which makes an excellent house plant.

Plant details

Common name: Weeping fig
Botanical name: Ficus benjamina

Varieties:

'Exotica' - this variety doesn't sulk as much as the original weeping fig but the leaves are susceptible to yellowing. The growth habit is still a bit open for an indoor plant. If pruned and trained as a standard it is more compact.

'Francis Goldstar' - a variegated leaf form that is a little more dense than Exotica, and is less likely to drop leaves.

'Reginald' - a variegated golden variety with a dense growth habit.

'Bushy Prince' - extremely dense, very attractive growth habit.

'Bushy King' - similar to Bushy Prince but the leaves are variegated.

'Midnight Beauty' - dark, almost black foliage with a dense growth habit. It is the best of the weeping figs and can be grown as a standard as well as a shrub.

Good points

attractive shiny leaves elegant weeping habit tolerant of moderately low light levels and some neglect

Downside:

tends to drop leaves if moved to a new position susceptible to scale and mealy bug if planted in the ground roots are very invasive

Care:

Weeping figs grown indoors should be watered well in summer, but given less water in the cooler months. They need a position in moderately good light, and benefit from the application of a slow-release fertiliser in spring. Trim regularly to keep plants bushy and compact.

Fiddleleaf fig:

The fiddleleaf or banjo fig (Ficus lyrata) has large, glossy, tropical looking leaves shaped like the base of a violin. It's hardy, doesn't drop its leaves and indoors it is virtually unkillable. It tends to grow long stems up to the ceiling which can look a bit gangly, but they can be pruned if necessary. The fiddleleaf fig makes a wonderful indoor accent plant.

Cost and availability:

Most varieties of weeping fig are available from nurseries Australia wide. They cost about $17 for 175mm (7") pots, and $55 for 300mm (12") pots. Standards in 200mm (8") pots are around $29, and $60 to $150 for 300mm (12") pots.

The fiddleleaf fig (Ficus lyrata) costs around $16 for a 200mm (8") pot.

Copyright CTC Productions 1999