8 Fig Tree Species for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening :-Fig trees and plants (Ficus spp.) are a large group of more than 800 woody species that mostly live in tropical areas, though some do grow in warmer colder areas.1.
They are in the same family as figs, which are mulberries (Morceau). This family has many leafy evergreen and deciduous trees, as well as shrubs and lianas. They usually grow very quickly and strongly, and when conditions are right, they can spread quickly.
8 Fig Tree Species for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening
Indian Banyan :
The Indian banyan is the traditional banyan tree that you see in settings. However, the word “banyan” is also used for other types of fig trees. Because of the way they grow, some species of banyan trees are called “stranger figs.”
They can start to grow in the cracks and holes of an existing tree and eventually wrap around the trunk, choking it. This plant is also known as the Bengal fig or the Indian fig.
Chinese Banyan :
A different type of tree that is called a choking fig is the Chinese banyan. People in tropical places often plant this tree as a street tree, and bonsai gardeners also often use it as a specimen.
The Latin name for the species tells you that the seeds are small for figs. Its leaves are smooth and oblong, about 2 to 2 1/2 inches long. This tree, like the Indian banyan, can grow aerial trunks that let the canopy spread out over a big area.
The crown can be 40 feet wide. This tree has spread to some parts of the tropical United States and is seen as an exotic species in some parts of Hawaii, Florida, Bermuda, and Central America.
It may go by different names in different parts of the world, such as Malayan banyan, curtain fig, and Indian laurel.
Red Leaf Fig :
Ficus congesta is a small fig tree that grows in rainforests. This type of ficus has fruits that grow in groups on both the tree and the branches.
The plant is also sometimes called a cluster fig. When new leaves open, they are a reddish colour. This ficus isn’t often grown as an ornamental tree in gardens, but it is the parent species of a number of useful hybrid ficus types.
Fiddleleaf Fig :
The popular name for this type of ficus comes from its large, leathery leaves that look like fiddles and can be up to 12 inches long. Another plant that grows naturally as a strangler fig does the same thing.
It usually starts out high up in the top of another tree and then slowly suffocates the host tree as its roots spread out towards the ground.
It has won the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society and can also be grown as a tree that stands on its own. This plant can’t live in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit; it needs to be warm. This type of plant is often grown indoors in pots.
Moreton Bay Fig :
This type of fig tree has huge, curved roots that grow above the ground. It is also known as the Australian banyan. This is the tree from the movie “Jurassic Park,” and it has come to represent faraway rain forests.
The leaves are big, leathery, and can be up to 9 inches long. The stems are huge, buttressed structures with rough, gray-brown bark.
This is another strangler fig. In the wild, the seeds often sprout and start to grow in the tops of other trees, where they slowly suffocate the host.
When it comes to landscaping, the Moreton Bay fig is often used in public parks in places where frost is unlikely. Its interesting trunk structure also makes it a popular plant for bonsai gardens.
Rubber Tree :
This tree, which is also known as the “rubber fig,” used to have latex sap that was used to make rubber.
These days, most natural latex comes from the Para rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliense’s). These days, the rubber tree is often kept as a houseplant.
When grown outside, it grows into a very tall tree with big, shiny, oval leaves that can be up to 12 inches long. There’s a chance that it will grow high roots that support the ground.
Weeping Fig :
The weeping fig is known for being very picky when kept indoors. When moved or stressed in some other way, it tends to lose leaves, but new leaves will grow back in time.
The wood in the trunks grows together over time when they are braided or plaited. This plant is generally what people mean when they talk about ficus houseplants. The popular name for it is Benjamin’s fig.
This plant can grow into a big tree with shiny, oblong leaves that are about 2 to 5 inches long when grown outside in warm places. The bark is smooth and light grey. In warm areas, the weeping fig tree looks very grand in the garden.
Creeping Fig :
This species is a woody, evergreen plant that grows quickly and can stick to building walls, making it hard to get rid of. It is also known as a climbing fig.
The heart-shaped, bright green leaves turn dark green as they age. Fruits are not good to eat. This plant can handle dryness and is often kept as a houseplant. It can be trained around wire frames to make topiaries.
Common Fig :
Unless you live in the tropics, where other types of figs are popular, this is the species of ficus that grows the figs that you can eat. The common fig fruit is very high in vitamins and minerals.
Many of these trees, especially some types, can make fruit even when they aren’t pollinated, which is called parthenocarpy.
