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Ficus elastica

rubber plant

© RHS 2002
Sold by 1 nurseries

  • Other common names rubber plant
    India rubber tree

    Assam rubber
    caoutchouc
    India rubber fig
    India rubber plant
    snake tree

    see more

  • Family Moraceae

  • 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

  • Details F. elastica is an evergreen tree with broadly elliptic, dark, glossy green leaves to 40cm in length, with small yellow fruits produced only on large trees

  • Plant range E Himalaya to N Malaysia

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • 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)

    H1B

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Aspect South-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained

  • SoilChalk, Clay, Sand, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 2.5-4 metres

  • Ultimate spread 1-1.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 10-20 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow outdoors in humus-rich moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade with protection from wind in a frost-free area. Grow under glass in loam-based compost in full or filtered light

Propagation Propagate by air layering

Suggested planting locations and garden types Low Maintenance Patio & Container Plants

How to care

Pruning Pruning group 1

Pests Prone to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs and scale insects under glass

Diseases Generally disease free

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