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Ficus benjamina (Benjamin tree)

Other names: Tropic laurel, Waringin, Java fig, Java tree, Small-leaved rubber plant, Weeping fig

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Species
F. benjamina is a tender, evergreen tree or large shrub with arching or pendent branches bearing glossy, narrowly ovate to elliptic, pointed, dark green leaves and insignificant flowers followed by spherical to oblong fruit maturing from green to orange-red to black.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
4 m 2.5 m 10-20 years
13 ft 8 ft 10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Clay
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Moist but well-drained
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow under glass in loam-based compost in full or filtered light. Outdoors in frost-free areas, grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. Protect from strong, drying winds.

Suggested uses

Containers/Patio, Sub-Tropical, Greenhouse, Indoor

UK hardiness

H1c

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 11, Zone 12

Sunset zone

13, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Inappropriate
Central Valley = Inappropriate
South Coastal = Moderate/Medium
South Inland = Inappropriate
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Moderate/Medium

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Bushy, Pendulous

Native to

Southern Asia

Drought tolerant

No

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

May cause skin allergies.

Plant care

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Propagation methods

Seed, Semi-hardwood cuttings

Pests

Scale insects

Thrips

Mealybugs

Red spider mite (box and other)

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

Selective pruning only (only if needed)

Rake up and use fallen leaves to make leafmould

Take semi-hardwood cuttings in late-summer

Bring tender indoors if container grown (in cold areas)

Sow seed in containers with heat (spring)

Plant tender plants after danger of frost has passed (late spring, early summer)

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (39)

Ficus

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Ficus carica 'Calimyrna'
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Ficus carica 'Calimyrna' Fig 'Calimyrna'
Ficus carica 'Rouge de Bordeaux'
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Ficus carica 'Rouge de Bordeaux' Fig 'Rouge de Bordeaux'
Ficus carica 'Brunswick'
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Ficus carica 'Brunswick' Fig 'Brunswick'
Ficus carica 'Panachee'
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Ficus carica 'Panachee' Fig 'Panachee'
Ficus carica 'Ronde de Bordeaux'
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Ficus carica 'Ronde de Bordeaux' Fig 'Ronde de Bordeaux'
Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
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Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey' Fig 'Brown Turkey'
Ficus carica 'Violetta'
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Ficus carica 'Violetta' Bavarian fig 'Violetta'
Ficus benjamina
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Ficus benjamina Benjamin tree
Ficus elastica
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Ficus elastica Rubber plant
Ficus lyrata
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Ficus lyrata Fiddle-leaf fig
Ficus pumila
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Ficus pumila Creeping fig
Ficus benjamina 'Starlight'
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Ficus benjamina 'Starlight' Benjamin fig 'Starlight'
Ficus deltoidea
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Ficus deltoidea Mistletoe fig
Ficus elastica 'Doescheri'
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Ficus elastica 'Doescheri' Rubber plant 'Doescheri'
Ficus rubiginosa
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Ficus rubiginosa Port Jackson fig
Ficus binnendijkii 'Amstel King'
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Ficus binnendijkii 'Amstel King' Narrow-leaf fig 'Amstel King'
Ficus carica 'Black Ischia'
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Ficus carica 'Black Ischia' Fig 'Black Ischia'
Ficus carica 'Mission'
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Ficus carica 'Mission' Fig 'Mission'
Ficus carica 'Ice Crystal'
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Ficus carica 'Ice Crystal' Fig 'Ice Crystal'
Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy'
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Ficus carica 'Chicago Hardy' Fig 'Chicago Hardy'
Ficus carica 'Sultane'
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Ficus carica 'Sultane' Fig 'Sultane'
Ficus benjamina 'Twilight'
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Ficus benjamina 'Twilight' Benjamin fig 'Twilight'
Ficus carica 'Celeste'
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Ficus carica 'Celeste' Fig 'Celeste'
Ficus carica 'Perretta'
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Ficus carica 'Perretta' Fig 'Perretta'
Ficus carica 'Prolific'
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Ficus carica 'Prolific' Fig 'Prolific'
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Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Ficus benjamina with other Shoot members

Re: DARK LEAVES DROPPING

Kathy N
806 0
HI, Jeanette,
Would you please upload a photo or two of the trees and a close-up of the leaf in question? That will greatly help to give the best advice possible.
Thanks,
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 28th of November 2011 08:05 PM

DARK LEAVES DROPPING

Shoot User
806 1
Hi we have a few Ficus Benjamin Trees and we are in Cyprus. We have a couple of these with light coloured leaves which seem to be o.k. but the 2 dark leaf trees appear to have the leaves just dropping off and they have a dark colour in the leaf not a spot. Do you know what we need to do to these please.
Posted: Tuesday 22nd of November 2011 02:01 PM Last reply: Saturday 23rd of November 2024 09:05 PM
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