Creeping Fig
Ficus pumila
📖 About this plant
A vigorous, self-clinging evergreen vine with small, heart-shaped leaves that creates a dense, living wall covering. Juvenile form has tiny leaves pressed flat against surfaces, while mature form develops larger, leathery leaves and produces small fig-like fruits. Extremely versatile — grows on walls, trellises, and as a trailing houseplant, though it can damage mortar on buildings.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade to bright indirect (3-6 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate to high (50-70%)
15-28°C
Well-draining potting mix with perlite; standard loam outdoors; pH 6.0-7.0
Balanced liquid fertilizer (10-10-10) monthly during spring and summer; reduce in winter
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- East Asia — China, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan
- 📏 Max height
- 300-600 cm (outdoors), 30-90 cm (indoors)
- 📐 Spread
- 100-300 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — sap contains ficin which can irritate skin; leaves may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem tip cuttings, layering, or division of established clumps
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — sap contains ficin which can irritate skin; leaves may cause mild gastrointestinal upset if ingested by pets
Common issues
- Can damage building surfaces and mortar, Leaf drop if moved abruptly, Scale insects and spider mites indoors
💡 Care tips
- Self-clinging vine that covers walls and surfaces effortlessly,Small juvenile leaves give way to larger mature leaves over time,Grows aggressively so prune regularly to prevent damage to structures,Can also be grown indoors as a trailing houseplant
