Ficus Trees Classification Overview
Ficus Trees Family Classification Overview by Ficustrees.info
The ficus is a genre of approximately 800 species and 2,000 varieties most of which are native to the Old World tropics. The species consists of a large array of plants, ranging from woody evergreen or leaf losing trees, shrubs and climbing plants, to vines. Some can be found growing naturally in the tropical forests of West Africa, India, and Malaya where they might grow to a height of 50 feet, or they can be grown; and are fairly controllable and attractive, as a small tree in California along the Southern coastal areas. And several are exceptional for outdoor cultivation in southern Florida where they attain heights of about 25 feet.
One particular species; the Common Fig F carica, produces a commercial fruit called the fig. There are many other fig plants such as Banyans and the Sacred Fig, which produce edible fruit, but they are not as widely consumed.
Related to the edible fig, the Ficus doesn’t bear fruit; it is however, the most popular indoor tree for homes and offices. The Ficus lyrata, or fiddle-leaf fig, and the popular benjamina, or weeping fig (this plant is a staple today for the interior plant industry) are just a few of the several species of ficus that grow well indoors.
Ficus have the reputation for being finicky due to the special watering guidelines, its requirement of bright, indirect light, and the need for temperatures between 60 and 72 degrees. In fact, one of the most common problems when faced with caring for a ficus, is sudden leaf drop off. Don’t overreact to occasional leaf drops. Instead, mist the plant. Don’t over water a ficus: feel the soil before you water, and if it feels damp, wait a day.
These are three main characteristics that summarize what you should be looking for when caring for a ficus plant: (a) adapting to a new environment (to add to the challenge, they drop leaves each time they are moved, even within the same room), (b) over/under watering (Allow the plant to dry out slightly between watering), and (c) insects (look for webbing, sticky leaves, and spotted leaves.)
Historical Significance
In June 2006, it was reported that just 8 miles north of ancient Jericho, in a village in the Lower Jordan Valley, at Gilgal I, figs dating back 11,400 years were discovered. Because they were of a mutation which could not reproduce normally, there is evidence that figs were among the first cultivated crop. It is proposed that they may have been planted and cultivated intentionally, one thousand years before the next crops were domesticated (wheat and rye).
Figs were also a common food eaten by Romans.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
KINGDOM: Plantae
DIVISION: Magnoliophyta
CLASS: Magnoliopsida
ORDER: Rosales
FAMILY: Moraceae
GENUS: Ficus
LIST OF COMMON SPECIES
- Ficus altissima (Council Tree or Lofty Fig)
- Ficus aurea (Strangler Fig or Golden Fig)
- Ficus benghalensis (Indian Banyan)
- Ficus benjamina (The Weeping Fig or Benjamin’s Fig)
- Ficus carica (Fig or Common Fig)
- Ficus citrifolia (Strangler Fig or Short leaf Fig)
- Ficus coronata (Creek Sandpaper Fig)
- Ficus drupacea (Hairy Fig or Brown Woolly Fig)
- Ficus elastica (Rubber Fig, Rubber Tree, Rubber Plant, or Indian Rubber Tree)
- Ficus lyrata (Fiddle Leaf Fig)
- Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay Fig)
- Ficus microcarpa (Chinese Banyan or Malayan Banyan)
- Ficus palmata (Wild Fig)
- Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig or Climbing Fig)
- Ficus racemosa (Cluster Fig)
- Ficus religiosa (Sacred Fig or Bo Tree)
- Ficus sycomorus (Sycamore Fig or the Fig-Mulberry)
January 31, 2007
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Kim Bruhl posted on March 6, 2008:
i’ve had ficus trees in my garden for a long time, they are all in large pots. I know they can be finicky but i’ve never had one react like this. I live in SoCAl and we just had a ton a of rain.BUt there is drain holes on the bottom it is just losing leaves like crazy.What should I do?
Susan Gooch posted on October 30, 2008:
what would be a good liquid feed for my ficus tree. Wee have had it 18 years repotted once and it is 8ft tall. the leaves look sad and droopy, and not as many as it use to have. It is a keep sake as some friends gave it to us when my husbands father died in 1990. Please help!!
maxine allen posted on March 24, 2009:
ficus plants are like pets, really!!. They will tell you if you listen(feel) them; when they need water, sunlight, and most especailly “recognizing” they are a part of your household, family…..it takes more than just water, sunlight, to cause them to flurish….they need to know that YOU recognize their “living, breathing” existance as much more than what you “see”….I’ve had one which is very tall for over 15 to 20 years, recently purchased a “baby” 3 years ago, growing like mad!!! they are so beautiful and are just lovely to have around….I believe there are some plants that have a great affinity to certain people more than others….the Ficus (for me) is mhy “kindred spirit”(smile)
ann plusko posted on June 26, 2009:
I’m thinking about planting my verigated ficus outside it keeps outgrowing its pot, it’s about eight feet high. There are no scructures nearby except for a retaining wall about two feet away