Moraceae

The most architecturally striking of the commonly grown Ficus. Large, violin-shaped leaves on an upright, eventually tree-like stem. Dominated interior design through the 2010s and remains the defining statement indoor tree. Requires bright indirect light close to a window — a position 2-3m from a south-facing window in adequate; further away and it declines. The failure mode is consistency. Lyrata wants the same light, the same watering schedule, the same position week after week. Moving it, repotting at the wrong time, or placing near a heat source trigger leaf drop. Established and left alone in a bright, stable position, it is a long-lived and impressive specimen.

Compact dwarf cultivar. Same leaf shape scaled down — stays around 90cm versus the 3m+ of standard lyrata in time. Better suited to apartments and smaller spaces. Same care requirements as standard lyrata in every respect — equally demanding of consistency, equally sensitive to position changes.

Thick, glossy leaves and a vigorous upright habit. The most robust and forgiving of the commonly grown Ficus. Tolerates lower light than lyrata, is less sensitive to position changes, and recovers from neglect more readily. New leaves emerge from a red sheath (cataphyll) that falls away as the leaf expands, which is normal and striking. The latex released when leaves are removed is significant; wipe the cut surface and handle with gloves. Multiple cultivars offer a range of leaf colors from deep burgundy to cream-variegated.

The deepest-colored rubber tree cultivar. Near-black burgundy leaves most intensely colored in bright indirect light. In lower light the leaves become a murky dark green. One of the most architectural of the cultivars. Same care as standard elastica. The intensity of the dark color makes light requirements more critical than for the plain green species.

Cream, green, and grey-green variegation. More restrained in color than Ruby. Stable variegation pattern. Requires more light than plain elastica to maintain the cream markings. One of the most widely available variegated rubber tree cultivars alongside Ruby.

Red-pink and green variegation. Unstable — the proportion of pink and green shifts between leaves. Requires bright indirect light to maintain the pink sectors. One of the most vivid rubber tree cultivars. The new leaves emerge with the most pink, which tends to fade slightly with age. This is normal and expected rather than a care problem.

Arching, pendulous branches with small, oval, glossy leaves. The most widely sold Ficus tree globally for decades. The most dramatic leaf-dropper in the genus. Moving the plant even a short distance or exposing it to a draft can cause mass leaf drop. Once established in a stable position with consistent watering and good indirect light it is a long-lived, graceful specimen. The reputation for difficulty is largely the result of repeated moving and repositioning. Choose a permanent position before bringing it home and do not move it.

A completely different growth habit from the tree-forming Ficus. Small, oval, juvenile leaves on thin, adhesive stems that climb and cover surfaces. The adhesive rootlets bond directly to walls, frames, and trellises, useful for covering surfaces but difficult to remove once established. Produces very different, larger, leathery adult leaves where it reaches the top of a surface and has nowhere left to climb. More moisture-tolerant than tree-forming Ficus. Tolerates genuinely low light.

Large, heart-shaped leaves with prominent veining on an upright, relatively fast-growing tree. More tolerant of lower light than lyrata. Becoming more widely available. An underrated large-leaved Ficus with a cleaner, less formal appearance than elastica. More forgiving of imperfect conditions than lyrata and a worthy alternative for growers who find lyrata frustrating.

Distinctive triangular, three-sided leaves unlike any other commonly grown Ficus. More compact than elastica or lyrata. The unusual leaf form is the primary ornamental feature. Available in a variegated form with cream margins that requires more light to maintain. Care is similar to elastica — more forgiving than lyrata.

Not primarily grown as a foliage plant but as a bonsai-style specimen. The dramatically swollen, ginger-like exposed root system is the primary ornamental feature, the result of decades of root training in production. Small, oval, dark green leaves are secondary. Requires bright indirect light and regular watering. The swollen root system should remain partially exposed. A long-lived specimen plant if given adequate light.

Long, narrow, willow-like leaves on an upright tree form, completely different from the broad-leaved Ficus species. More tolerant of lower light and lower humidity than lyrata. A refined, elegant alternative to elastica for growers who want something less expected. Less position-sensitive than benjamina. The narrow leaf form makes it feel lighter and less imposing than elastica at similar heights.

Distinctive long, drip-tip leaves with a rippling, almost iridescent quality in good light. Significant in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. It is the tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. More deciduous in behavior than other indoor Ficus. It may drop leaves seasonally, particularly in response to dry conditions or seasonal light change, and regrow them. More cold-tolerant than most Ficus. Requires bright light to maintain the characteristic leaf quality.