Appearance

Leaves

Glossy leaves have long, pointed tips and are much smaller than those of the rubber plant.

Flowers

Tiny flowers stay hidden inside the developing fig rather than opening as showy blooms.

Fruit

Small paired figs turn from green to yellow, orange, or dark red on trees grown in Florida.

Look-alikes

Rubber plantFicus elastica

Rubber plant leaves are much larger, thicker, and stiffer. Weeping fig has many smaller leaves with drawn-out tips on drooping branches.

Why they get mixed up · Both are glossy-leaved indoor ficus trees.

Indian laurelFicus microcarpa

Chinese banyan has blunter leaf tips and branches that usually stay more upright. Weeping fig has longer, sharper leaf tips and drooping branches.

Why they get mixed up · Both are glossy-leaved ficus trees grown in warm U.S. landscapes and as potted plants.

Where it lives

Typical habitats

• Houseplant pots
• South Florida landscapes

Range

It is native to tropical Asia and northern Australia. In the United States, it is widely grown indoors and outdoors in warm parts of Florida.

Preferred conditions

It handles shade but is sensitive to frost and abrupt changes in indoor light. Older trees in South Florida may develop aerial roots.

Growing it

Care

Moving a potted plant into very different light can cause leaf drop.

Propagation

Stem cuttings can produce new plants.

Toxicity

The milky sap may irritate skin.

Connected species

Pollinators

• Eupristina koningsbergeri

  In the tree's native range, this tiny wasp carries pollen to the hidden flowers inside its figs.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms

Growers offer green-leaved and cream-edged cultivated forms, including 'Variegata'.

Conservation

IUCN Red List

LCLeast Concern·Low risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories

• In South Florida, outdoor trees can become large enough to lift nearby paving with their roots.