Rubber Plants

The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is a popular ornamental plant from the Ficus genus. In it's
natural habitat it grows over 30 metres tall, however, the varieties grown indoors are a much
more manageable height.

For the indoor grower looking for a tree type plant species with attractive foliage which can grow
from 1ft to over 8ft tall, this is an excellent choice.

Description
There are a number of Ficus elastica varieties grown successfully indoors which includes, "the
most common one" F.elastica decora (has shiny leather type leaves which grow to a foot long),
F.elastica robusta (has larger leaves than decora), F.elastica black prince or burgundy (has near
black reddish leaves) and a selection of variegated types.

How it looks and displaying: The rubber plant is all about having a small tree indoors with
broad shiny attractive leaves. When this plant is about 1 - 2ft tall it's well suited sitting as a
centrepiece on a table, on a shelf, or on a windowsill, but once it begins to grow above 3ft it
looks great standing next to a fireplace, television area or near door entrances (as longs as their
are no cold drafts).

I prefer the decora which has plain green leaves, but others like other leaf color variations and
there is a nice choice.

Once the plant begins to mature and grow in height it's common to train and support the trunk
and branches by staking or tying them back to keep them growing upright.

Care level: This species is quite an easy plant to care for and can grow well on low light. The
worst a grower can do (which are common mistakes) is over-water, move the plant around too
much or to a spot with less light or with colder temperatures. Sudden drops of temperature or
cold drafts are also not good.

Facts

Origin: India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Malaysia & others.

Rubber plant or tree, rubber bush (common). Ficus elastica
Names:
(botanical/scientific).
Max Growth
Height 10ft (3m).
(approx):
Poisonous for pets: Toxic to cats and dogs.
Rubber Plant Care
Average room temperatures of 60 -
75°F (15 - 24°C are fine. Avoid
Temperature:
lower than 55°F (12°C), sudden
temperature drops and cold drafts.
A nice brightly lit spot is ideal,
Light:
without direct sunlight.
Water once the soil becomes slightly
dry to the touch and make sure the
pot has sufficient drainage holes to
Watering: allow excess water to seep through.
The worst thing you can do
regarding watering is "give it too
much".
A well-draining and well-aerated
potting soil is needed. 1 part peat, 1
Soil:
part pine bark and 1 part coarse sand
(or perlite) is a good mix.
From May - June re-pot once the
roots have become pot bound or
every year when the plants are very
Re-Potting:
young, and then once every 3 years
after the plant has matured. I would
renew the soil every year.
Feed during spring and summer with
Fertilizer: a diluted liquid fertilizer every two
weeks.
Normal room humidity is fine. To
improve humidity mist the leaves
Humidity:
when it gets very warm in the
summer.
These can be quite tricky to
propagate by stem tip cuttings, but
you can succeed. Take a cutting (few
inches long) and allow the sap to dry
for 1 hour. Before potting the cutting
Propagation:
in soil use rooting hormone and then
provide the bottom of the pot some
heat (usually using a heat pad). The
temperature wants to be kept at
around 70°F (21°C) - 75°F (24°C)
 ideally.
Once the rubber plant has grown to the height you want it to grow up to, you can
cut the top off. You may also want to prune back any unwanted branches to give
Pruning:
the plant a fuller shape. It's best to prune in spring or summer but any other time
will be fine.

Cleaning: Your plants leaves will appreciate being

cleaned gently with tepid water and you will enjoy the
glossy clean dust free look. Use a very soft cloth or
sponge.

Potential Problems

 Loss of leaves: Most common cause is over-watering, which will need attention
asap (renew top soil or re-pot --pot up--). Other conditions can also cause leaves
to drop including, low temperatures, not enough light or cold drafts. Moving your
plant from a bright location to dim can also cause leaf drop. It's normal for some
of the bottom leaves to turn yellow and drop, but do check if conditions are OK.
 Leaf edges yellowing: This is really a process of elimination. The problem could
be poor soil, under-feeding, or too much water. You'll need to check each one of
the care instructions above and eliminate what your doing well and try to find the
cause.
 Pests: Mealy bug, scale and mites are common pests that like to cause this ficus
tree problems.

Selection of Indoor Ficus Plants

Ficus plants are one of the most popular foliage plants suitable for growing as
ornamental house plants. The genus includes trailing types, bonsai, and of course
the indoor ficus tree.
Creeping or climbing fig (common). -- Ficus pumila, [syn.] ficus repens (botanical/scientific).

1. The creeping fig is an evergreen climbing species which you might have seen crawling up the
walls of large mansions or a quaint house in the country. Indoors they’re best grown in a
hanging basket, or given something to attach to and climb

A variegated
type (ficus
sunny fig)
growing in a
container
outdoors;
creeping up
the wall.

Creeping fig ficus plants are climbing plants which are very easy to care and maintain. Small leaves and
and wiry like stems will creep anywhere you allow them to. These are very different plants compared to
the tree type ficus. You'll need to be prepared to do some pruning and provide a suitable pot or even a
moss stick.

2. The fiddle leaf ficus is a tree type plant with the largest leaves of all from this genus. This species
is sensitive to low light and cold temperatures, so a grower must be cautious when growing the
lyrata indoors. It grows up to 3 metres tall which makes it a brilliant ornamental plant for rooms
with tall ceilings.
Fiddle Leaf Fig

The fiddle leaf fig from the ficus genus of trees is an exciting species to grow with larger leaves than the
others from the genus.

This indoor tree type plant grows over 15 metres tall in it's natural habitat and up to 3 metres indoors,
although they can be topped to prevent them growing taller. When these plants mature in age and size
they make a great focal point within living rooms, hallways, offices or hotels.

3. Weeping figs are the most

 popular plants from the ficus genus and one of the most common from all ornamental house
plants grown today. This is a small tree with many cultivars including the popular variegated
type. Just like bonsai’s these need pruning regularly to create that full bush like appearance.

Weeping Fig Plant

The weeping fig is part of the Ficus plant genus (scientific name: F. benjamina) and tree like, in
looks. With large arching branches and long pointed leaves, it looks attractive indoors (apart
from leaves dropping).

The Benjamina is one of the most popular small indoor trees from this genus that grows quite
slowly and needs a grower to take particular care of a few needs (lighting, watering, etc.), which
is fairly easy, when you know how.

Bonsai Type With Variegated Leaves

F. elastica is a popular ornamental tree grown around the world. It is listed as an “environmental
weed, garden thug, naturalised, weed” in the Global Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012).
The species reproduces by seeds that can germinate in the tree crowns and grow downwards,
making it extremely difficult to control (PIER, 2014). However, reproduction requires a specific
wasp pollinator, which may have helped to prevent the spread and invasion of this species in
places where it has been introduced and become naturalized. The species received a low PIER
risk assessment score of -5 (score >6=likely to be a pest) in Hawaii as this wasp pollinator has
not been introduced to Hawaii (Starr et al., 2003), but it has been reported as invasive in Papua
New Guinea, New Caledonia, Singapore, southeastern Australia, and offshore Chile (Randall,
2012; PIER, 2014).

Taxonomic Tree

 Domain: Eukaryota
 Kingdom: Plantae
 Phylum: Spermatophyta
 Subphylum: Angiospermae
 Class: Dicotyledonae
 Order: Urticales
 Family: Moraceae
  Genus: Ficus
 Species: Ficus elastica

Preferred Scientific Name

 Ficus elastica Roxb.

Preferred Common Name

 rubber plant

International Common Names

 English: India rubber fig; India rubber tree; Indian rubber tree; India-rubber tree; karet-
tree; rubber fig tree
 Spanish: caucho; cauchú comun; higuera cauchera
 French: arbre a caoutchouc; figuier élastique
 Chinese: yin du rong

Often called the mulberry family, Moraceae consists of about 40 genera and 1000 species of
trees, shrubs, lianas, or rarely herbs, nearly all with milky sap, and mainly of tropical or
subtropical origin (Whistler, 2000; University of Hawaii, 2014). The milky sap of various
Moraceae species contains ‘heart poisons’ that are used as dart poisons in some cultures; other
plant parts such as leaves and fruit juices have also been reported to cause allergic and toxic
reactions in humans and livestock (Frohne and Pfa¨nder, 2005).

Ficus is a large genus of about 800-1000 tree and shrub species native to the tropics and
subtropics that are often cultivated beyond their native range for their fig fruits or as
ornamentals. Members of this genus are difficult to distinguish by their flowers, but can be
differentiated by habit, whether they are banyans or not, by leaf shape, and by their fruits
(Whistler, 2000).

The common name of Ficus elastica, rubber fig tree, refers to the milky white sap that is tapped
from the tree’s bark (Whistler, 2000; Starr et al., 2003). The name Ficus elastica was published
by Roxburgh in 1814. The species is often cited as F. elastica Roxb. Ex Hornem, as the name is
often considered a nomen nudem; however, Roxburgh added 'LT', a code for 'Large Tree', 'HS', a
code for flowering in the 'Hot Season', 'RS', a code for fruiting in the 'Rainy Season' and he states
that the fruit is solitary or paired, that the tree abounds in rubber, that its Bengal name is
'kusmeer' and that the tree arrived in the garden in 1810, brought by a Mr. M.R. Smith (Tawan,
2000). This datasheet cites the species as F. elastica Roxb.

Description
Large trees up to 20 m tall; young branches glabrous, with yellowish-brown to gray exfoliating
epidermis. Elliptic to oblong leaves (6-) 12-30 cm long and 5-15 cm wide, acuminate at apex,
rounded at base, glabrous, smooth, leathery, gray to brown when dry; petioles 2.5-5 cm long,
glabrous, yellowish-brown to black, stipules (0.4-) 5-15 cm long, glabrous to seríceas. Two fruits
per node, obovoid, 1-2 cm long, glabrous, green with dark spots, ostiole slightly conical, sessile,
basal bracts fused and forming a domed base, wavy apically, 1.5-2.5 mm long, glabrous or
sometimes puberulent. [Description from Flora of Nicaragua, 2014].

History of Introduction and Spread

F. elastica is native to India and southern Asia. One of its common names, ‘India rubber tree’,
refers to its former use as an economically important crop plant for rubber. Plantations for this
purpose were established in the mid-nineteenth century, mainly in Southeast Asia including
Malaysia, Myanmar, Sumatra, and Java, but with the rise in production of the superior-quality
rubber Hevea brasiliensis,F. elastica fell into commercial disuse (Strettell, 1876; Coventry,
1906; Tawan, 2000; Whistler, 2000).

F. elastica is listed as an “environmental weed, garden thug, naturalised, weed” in the Global
Compendium of Weeds (Randall, 2012). It is a large, spreading tree that creates dense shade restricting
growth beneath it, and is tolerant of shade, drought, and a wide range of soil types (Starr et al., 2003;
Gilman and Watson, 2014). The species reproduces by seeds that can germinate in the tree crowns and
grow downwards, making it extremely difficult to control (PIER, 2014); however, seed production
requires a specific wasp pollinator, which may have helped to prevent the spread and invasion of this
species in places where it has been introduced and become naturalized.

F. elastica thrives in moister, warmer, tropical climates and in vegetation zones of tropical rainforest,
woodland and shrubland, and light tropical forest, but apparently can withstand temperatures ranging
from 0-10 C in winter and 10-30 C in summer, and annual rainfall up to 200 cm (Starr et al., 2003). The
species is not wind-tolerant and tends to break apart in strong winds, but is tolerant of shade and
drought, and can grow in almost any type of soil so long as it is well-drained (Gilman and Watson, 2014).

As F. elastica was commercially cultivated for rubber in non-native parts of southeast Asia during the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it has naturalized and in some cases become invasive. Data has not
been reported on the extent of the species’ negative impact on non-native environments, but in its
native habitats where it begins life as an epiphyte, it will strangle its host before establishing itself as a
large, spreading tree that creates dense shade, restricting growth beneath it (Tawan, 2000; Starr et al.,
2003; Gilman and Watson, 2014).

Uses

F. elastica is planted for ornamental purposes in the Philippines (Merrill, 1923). In the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries it was heavily cultivated for commercial rubber production,
but fell into disuse with the rise in production of the higher-quality ‘para’ rubber, Hevea
brasiliensis (Strettell, 1876; Coventry, 1906; Tawan, 2000; Whistler, 2000). The species has also
been reported as a fodder tree species commonly occurring in Indian farmlands (Singh, 2001;
PIER, 2014).

Uses List

Animal feed, fodder, forage

 Fodder/animal feed

Environmental

 Boundary, barrier or support

 Ornamental

General

 Ornamental

Materials

 Rubber/latex

Ornamental

 Potted plant

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) occupies a prominent place in world agricultural history, while at
the same time it is an important economic cultivation.

It is used in a variety of ways – in the past it has been the main source of rubber production –
but here, in this article, we will only deal with its ornamental side.
The other sides will be covered in time, in a multitude of unique and special tributes – if we have
health and time.

For the last two, the commitment of the editorial team of ‘Kalliergeia’ is absolute, for the
tributes, we simply refer to our well-known already (in)consistency.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Brief Description

Scientific name

Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem.

Common name(s)

Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig, Indian Rubber Tree, Indian Rubber Bush, Indian Rubberplant, Karet-
Tree, Rubber Fig Tree

General Characteristics

Type of foliage: Evergreen

Form: Tree of spreading canopy shape

Texture: Coarse

Height: 15-23 m (50-75 ft)

Height indoors: 0.90-3 m (3-10 ft)

Diameter: 10-15 m (30-50 ft)

Growth rate (Tropics): Fast

Growth rate Indoors: Moderate

Flowering period (Tropics): Sporadically through the year

Flowering period indoors: Extremely rare

Fruiting period: Sporadically through the year

Shapes and Colours

Bark: Pale Grey

Leaves shape: Oblong to elliptic

Foliage colour: Green

Foliage colour in autumn: Green

Flowers: In Syconium – not showy

Flowers colour: Creamy – white

Fruit: Fig

Plantation

Soil type: Well-drained, sand, loam

Exposure: Sun, Half-shade

Soil pH: 5-8.3

Watering: Moderate

Hardiness: 1.7 °C (35 °F – USDA Hardiness zone 10b)

Uses

Specimen, urban planting, parks, highway median, bonsai, pots and containers indoor and
outdoor

Origin

The Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia are the cradle of Rubber Plant. In particular, its
countries of origin are Northern India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar (formerly Burma),
Malaysia and Indonesia. There, it is found in a variety of tropical environments, such as the
vegetation zones of tropical shrubland, woodland and rainforest.

In its natural niches, the average monthly upper temperature is 30 °C (86 °F), while the average
annual rainfall is between 1000 and 2000 mm.

Life Span
Rubber Plant as an ornamental lives from 25 to 50 years. When native to the tropical regions of
the planet can reach up to the age of 200 – not at all bad performance.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Morphological Elements

Rubber Plant is an evergreen tree of fast and large growth when it is in the natural state,
having a height that often exceeds 25 m (82 ft). When grown, the annual growth rate is moderate
and does not exceed a height of 15 m (50 ft).

It consists of many trunks and of a spherical or hemispherical shape canopy, which is

symmetrical with an irregular outline. Its foliage is very dense, has a coarse texture and an
upright or rarer spreading appearance. As an indoor plant it acquires significantly smaller
dimensions and has mainly upright habit.

Roots

Rubber Plant is another typical epiphyte plant. It grows on the branches of various tropical tree
species and develops aerial blastogenic roots, that penetrate the soil. The aerial part of these roots
becomes trunkish ‘strangling’ the host tree. In cultivation, it often develops an extensive surface
root system.

Trunk

In its natural state it has many trunks and smooth bark of dark pale grayish color.

Branches & Twigs

They are usually droop or rarer upright, slightly exfoliated having an initial greenish brown
color which when mature becomes greenish gray.

Leaves

The leaves of the Rubber Plant are large, simple and leathery, nice green in color. They are
relatively thick, acuminate at apex and have a round base.

Their shape is elongated, ovoid or elliptic, mainly arranged alternately, their length being
between 8 and 30 cm (3.1-12 in) and their width between 5 and 15 cm (2-6 in).

Their petioles are leathery, yellowish – brown to black and have a length of 2.5 to 5 cm (1-2 in).
Flowers

The flowers are produced in the interior of an axillary inflorescence and they have a creamy
white color. The males consist of 4 sepals of ovate shape and bear a solitary stamen with ovoid
anther. The females consist of 4 ovate-shaped sepals and have a short style with papillate stigma.

Pollination

Ficus elastica is exclusively pollinated by the wasp Blastophaga clavigera Mayr, 1885 – syn.
Pleistodontes claviger (Mayr, 1885).

Fruit

The fruits of Ficus elastica are within the special fleshy stem of all the Ficus, the syconium, and
is a plethora of ovate achenes. Two obovoid syconiums per node are formed – 1 to 2 cm (0.4-0.8
in) long and 0.5 to 0.8 cm (0.2-0.3 in) thick – which, when mature, are red.

Temperature

Ficus elastica, as plant of the tropical regions, is cold intolerance. The minimum temperatures,
which are also the lowest tolerance limit, range between 4 and 1.7 °C (40-35 °F). With high
temperatures, Rubber Plant’s behavior is excellent as it does not have problems.

Soil and pH

Rubber Plant grows in a variety of soil types – excluding clay soils – provided they drain well
but at the same time retain the necessary moisture. However, well-established plants
have high drought tolerance.

In terms of pH, it grows in an extremely wide range of values ranging from 5 to 8.3, but it
thrives on slightly acidic soils with values ranging from 6 to 6.5.
Exposure

Ficus elastica can be planted or placed both in full sun exposure or/and half-shaded areas.
However, when cultivated as an indoor plant, it is recommended to always place it in extremely
bright places.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Plant Protection

Rubber Plant does not often have serious problems from pests or diseases, but as with most
plants of the genus, some parasites have their objections to this issue.

Pests

The most common pests include Whiteflies, Aphids, Thrips, Mealybugs, Scales and Root
Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne sp.). By using the appropriate insecticides and acaricides the
treatment is satisfactory, except for nematodes whose populations are difficult to control.

Diseases

Anthracnose (Glomerella sp.), Twig Dieback (Phomopsis sp.) and Southern Blight (Athelia
rolfsii) from fungi and Crown Gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) with Bacterial Leaf Spot
(Xanthomonas campestris) from bacteria are the most common diseases of the plant.

By using the appropriate fungicides their treatment is satisfactory for fungi, while the latter are
extremely difficult to control.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Toxicity & Allergenicity

Toxicity

The milky sap of Rubber Plant is slightly toxic to pets. In humans, on contact with the milky
latex may result from simple irritation to severe dermatitis, with painful rashes. For this
reason, it is advisable to avoid any work with the plant without to use gloves.

Allergenicity

People with a history of asthma are likely to develop allergic reactions, when the sap get on dust
particles and fly throughout the house or office
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Varieties & Cultivars
Rubber Plant is familiar with worldwide spread as it has excellent ornamental features. This
results in the breeding of decades varieties and cultivars of the species, the most important of
which are listed below.

Green Leaves Varieties

Ficus elastica ‘Decora

It has leathery and glossy dark dark green leaves, which initially have a bronze hue. Their length
is between 20 and 30 cm (8-12 in) while their width is from 12 to 15 cm (4.7-6 in).

Ficus elastica ‘Robusta’

It differs from the typical species only in terms of the appearance and size of the leaves, which
are brighter in green and more broad.

Variegate Leaves Varieties

Ficus Elastica ‘Burgundy’

It has burgundy leaves when exposed to full sun. It is more resistant to cold than the typical
species with a minimum temperature at which it can be exposed without damaging the -1.1 °C
(30 °F). It reaches the height of 2 to 3 m in the pot, while in the soil can exceed 12 m.

Ficus elastica ‘Doescheri’

Extremely decorative variety with green and cream-white leaves. It is also more resistant to cold
than the typical species with a minimum temperature -1.1 °C, at which it can be exposed without
damaging.

Ficus elastica ‘Ruby’

The colors of the leaves are pink, white and green, a combination of extremely attractive
appearance. Planting in a pot reaches a height of 2 m.
Ficus elastica ‘Sylvie’

The pink, creamy and green shades of the leaves make this variety particularly decorative.
Planting in a pot reaches a height of 1.2 to 1.8 m and a width of 0.9 to 1.2 m. It is more sensitive
to cold than the typical species, with a minimum resistance limit of 4.4 °C (40 °F).

Ficus elastica ‘Tineke’

It has green leaves, with white and burgundy spots, which often dominate. Planting on the soil
shows great tolerance to drought.

Ficus elastica ‘Tricolor’

The young leaves are green with pink shades, which gradually give their place in cream –
whitish tones. And this variety tolerates a minimum temperature of up to -1.1 °C.
Ficus elastica ‘Variegata’

It has an attractive appearance due to the creamy yellow and green hues of the leaves, the central
nerve of which is slightly red.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica) - Use

Use as Indoor Plant

Rubber Plant is a classic solution for interior decoration of both home and business spaces. Its
truly impressive large leaves, green or variegated, as well as the minimal care it needs, give it to
one of the most valuable plants in its class. In addition to decorative, it also has a functional
value because it cleans the indoor air from the ever-dangerous toxic substance it hears in the
name of formaldehyde.

Use in Garden and Landscape

In areas suitable for its growth, it can be planted both on the ground and in pots at sunny or
half-shade exposures.

Thus, it could be said that Rubber Plant is being exploited:

 As a tree of particular interest planted alone

 In urban plantings of parks, highways median and streets without sidewalk
 As a shade tree
 In combination with other more or less exotic plants such as Elephant Ear (Caladium
‘Carolyn Whorton’), Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus praecox), Brazilian Plume (Justicia
carnea) and Cape Jasmine (Gardenia jasminoides)
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable
pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It
prefers moist soil. The plant is not wind tolerant.

A decoction of the aerial rootlets is used as a vulnerary[582 ]. The latex has been successfully used to
treat five cases of trichuriasis[582 ].
https://www.houseplantsexpert.com/indoor-ficus-plants.html
https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/24090

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