Ficus elastica

Rubber tree

Evergreen tree to 30m high by 15m wide, much less when grown in pots. Larger specimens develop aerial roots and a buttressed trunk. The leaves are glossy and broadly ovate with pointed tips. The young leaves are pink-bronze, turning deep green with age.

Uses

Ornamental tree suitable for large gardens in tropical areas, it is most commonly grown as an indoor plant.

Culture

Suitable for full sun or semi-shade in warm and tropical climates. Grown as an indoor plant in cooler areas. Prefers fertile, moist and well-drained soil, but avoid overwatering pot plants. Frost sensitive. Propagate by seed, cuttings or aerial layering. Susceptible to Two Spotted Mite. The roots are invasive.

Propagation

Cuttings, Layering