Rubber Tree
Ficus elastica
📖 About this plant
The Rubber Tree is a bold, architectural houseplant with thick, glossy, leathery leaves. The classic variety has deep green leaves, but popular cultivars include ‘Burgundy’ (dark reddish-purple), ‘Tineke’ (variegated cream, green, and pink), and ‘Doescheri’ (irregular green and cream pattern). A member of the fig family, it was historically the primary source of natural rubber latex. Excellent at removing formaldehyde from indoor air.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
16-28°C
Well-draining, aerated potting mix (pH 6.0-6.5); peat, perlite, and pine bark blend — must drain freely
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) diluted to half strength every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer; do not fertilize in winter
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South and Southeast Asia — from northeast India through Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia to Papua New Guinea
- 📏 Max height
- 180-300 cm (6-10 ft indoors; up to 30 m in tropical forests)
- 📐 Spread
- 60-150 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow, Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green, Burgundy
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — milky sap (latex) is a skin irritant and can cause contact dermatitis, redness, and itching; keep away from latex allergies. Toxic to pets — ingestion causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. Ficin enzyme compounds are the irritant.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem tip cuttings (15-20 cm) with bottom heat and rooting hormone; air layering for larger specimens; leaf bud cuttings
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — milky sap (latex) is a skin irritant and can cause contact dermatitis, redness, and itching; keep away from latex allergies. Toxic to pets — ingestion causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. Ficin enzyme compounds are the irritant.
Common issues
- Leaf drop from sudden changes in light, temperature, or location, Yellowing lower leaves from overwatering, Brown crispy edges from dry air or underwatering, Root rot from poorly draining soil, Mealybugs and scale insects (especially under thick leaves), Sticky sap residue on surfaces beneath the plant
💡 Care tips
- Large glossy burgundy or dark green leaves make a bold statement,Can grow into a full-size indoor tree reaching 8 feet or more,Sap is irritating so wear gloves when pruning or propagating,Wipe leaves regularly to keep them glossy and dust-free
