Ficus Lyrata
Ficus lyrata
📖 About this plant
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is one of the most sought-after statement houseplants, renowned for its large, violin-shaped glossy leaves with prominent veining. As a young plant it grows as a single stem; with age it can develop a branching tree form. It demands consistent conditions and is known to be somewhat fussy, but rewards attentive care with stunning architectural presence in any room.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect (6+ hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
16-28°C
Well-draining, aerated potting mix (pH 6.0-7.0); peat, perlite, and pine bark blend — avoid heavy garden soil
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
- West Africa — tropical lowland rainforests from Sierra Leone to Cameroon
- 📏 Max height
- 150-300 cm (5-10 ft indoors; up to 15 m in native habitat)
- 📐 Spread
- 60-120 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic to pets and humans — all parts contain ficin (a proteolytic enzyme) and ficus sap; ingestion causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. Sap can cause skin dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Stem tip cuttings (10-15 cm) in water or moist rooting medium with rooting hormone; air layering for larger plants
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic to pets and humans — all parts contain ficin (a proteolytic enzyme) and ficus sap; ingestion causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs and cats. Sap can cause skin dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Common issues
- Brown spots on leaves from bacterial infection or cold drafts, Yellowing lower leaves from overwatering, Drooping leaves from underwatering or shock from relocation, Root rot from sitting in soggy soil, Edema (red/brown blisters on leaf undersides) from overwatering, Scale and mealybug infestations
💡 Care tips
- Same species as Fiddle Leaf Fig but grown as a standard tree form,Grow in a large floor pot for a dramatic living room statement,Wipe large leaves monthly to maintain their glossy appearance,Rotate quarterly for even growth on all sides
