Ficus palmeri

RHS Plant Profile

Mexican fig

Houseplants Conservatory Greenhouse Trees

A hardy, evergreen tree which can grow up to 50m in height in its native Mexico, where the roots can gnarl and twist, stretching out over rocky terrain, and the bark and trunk can be bulbous and twisted in larger specimens, but generally would grow no more than around 2m in the UK where conditions are less favourable. Foliage is dark green and oval-shaped. Although fruits may rarely be produced they are small and inedible so this variety is grown as a specimen

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1A

Botanical Details

Family: Moraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Ficus can be evergreen or deciduous trees, shrubs or climbers, with often leathery, simple, entire or lobed leaves and tiny flowers borne within a hollow receptacle which enlarges to form the fruit
Name Status: Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow indoors in peat-free, loam-based moist but well-drained compost in filtered light. See fig cultivation or houseplant cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by semi-hardwood cuttings in spring or summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Patio and container plants
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Pruning group 11, in late winter

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects under glass

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus