Peepal (Sacred Fig)
Ficus religiosa
📖 About this plant
Peepal (Ficus religiosa), also known as the Sacred Fig or Bodhi Tree, is one of the most culturally and spiritually significant trees in the Indian subcontinent. A large deciduous tree in the Moraceae (mulberry/fig) family, peepal is revered in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism — the Buddha attained enlightenment under a peepal tree at Bodh Gaya around 2,500 years ago, and the original tree (called the Mahabodhi Tree) is a major pilgrimage site. The tree is also worshipped in Hinduism as the abode of the Trimurti (Brahma in roots, Vishnu in trunk, Shiva in leaves) and is married to the neem tree in many folk traditions. Botanically, peepal is a large long-lived tree with a wide-spreading crown, smooth grey bark, heart-shaped leaves with distinctive long drip tips (an adaptation to shed monsoon rain), and small round figs (about 1 cm) that ripen from green to purple. Like other figs, the flowers are inside the syconium (the fig “fruit”) and are pollinated by a specialized species of tiny wasp. The tree is ecologically important — providing food (figs) for birds, monkeys, squirrels, and bats; shade for humans and livestock; and habitat for countless creatures. In Indian villages, peepal is the traditional shade tree of the village square (choupal) and a gathering place. The leaves, bark, and latex are used in Ayurvedic medicine for respiratory, skin, and digestive conditions. The tree is also a powerful air purifier — it releases oxygen even at night (unlike most plants) due to a special photosynthetic pathway.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun
Regular when young; drought-tolerant once established
Moderate (40-70%)
15-40°C
Any well-draining soil; pH 6.0-8.0
Balanced NPK annually
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian subcontinent
- 📏 Max height
- 15-30 m
- 📐 Spread
- 10-20 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Spring; hidden inside syconia (fig fruits)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Inconspicuous (flowers inside the fig)
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Glossy green heart-shaped leaves with long drip tips
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 500-2000+ years (some historically famous trees)
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast — 1-2 m per year
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic; sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds, cuttings, air layering
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic; sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism
Common issues
- Fig rust, leaf spot, sooty mold, root rot from waterlogging, termite attack on trunk, mealybugs, scale insects, leaf miners
- structural damage from invasive roots
💡 Care tips
- Plant peepal in a sunny location with PLENTY of space — the tree becomes massive and develops invasive surface roots.
- Do NOT plant near buildings, walls, paving, or underground pipes.
- Plant in open land, parks, large gardens, temple grounds, or along wide roads.
- Water regularly for the first 2-3 years
- mature trees are deeply drought-tolerant.
- The tree is otherwise very low-maintenance once established.
- Prune young trees to develop a strong single leader
- mature trees need little pruning.
- Fertilize annually with balanced NPK if growth is slow.
- Propagate from seeds (collected from ripe figs), hardwood cuttings, or air layering — all methods work well.
- In Hindu tradition, peepal is often planted in temple courtyards and watered on Saturdays (sacred to Shani).
- For smaller spaces, the closely related Ficus species like Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) or Ficus racemosa (Cluster Fig) are alternatives with similar cultural significance but different growth habits.
- Peepal is a keystone species for biodiversity — plant it where it can host birds, insects, and small wildlife without disruption.
- The tree is exceptionally long-lived — provide a site where it can remain undisturbed for centuries.