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Ficus benghalensis

banyan

A tropical evergreen tree, over 20m high in its native range, with widely spreading branches and aerial roots that often hang down to the ground, forming secondary trunks. Leaves are oval-shaped and leathery, flushed bronze when young, and dark green with paler veins when mature. Small, round figs are borne in pairs and ripen to bright red, though these are never pollinated outside the native range. Cuttings and young plants of this species are sometimes grown as houseplants

Other common names
bo tree
East Indian fig tree
see moregrove tree
Indian banyan
Indian fig
pagoda tree
Synonyms
Ficus indica
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Size
Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres
Time to ultimate height
more than 50 years
Ultimate spread
Wider than 8 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green Bronze
Summer Green
Autumn Green Red
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1A
Botanical details
Family
Moraceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Spreading branched
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

Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass (minimum temperature 15°C), in a peat-free, loam-based compost with added bark chippings, in full or filtered light. Water moderately in growth and keep moist over winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed, soaked for 12 hours and sown at 18-21°C in spring, or by semi-ripe cuttings with bottom heat in spring or summer. Plants bleed latex when cut, dip in charcoal powder to seal

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Houseplants
Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus

Get involved

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