Chinese banyan Ficus microcarpa
Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Moraceae family, native to South China to tropical Asia and N Australia. It grows 12–25 m (39–82 ft) tall and 15–30 m (49–98 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -2 °C (28 °F). Space plants about 15 m (49 ft) apart.
Plan Chinese banyan in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Chinese banyan at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Moraceae |
| Mature height | 12–25 m (39–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 15–30 m (49–98 ft) |
| Spacing | 15 m (49 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance moderate |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -2 °C (28 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 42 °C (108 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | South China to tropical Asia and N Australia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇨🇳 China, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇦🇺 Australia |
| Invasive in | Florida, Hawaii: check local rules before planting |
Is Chinese banyan toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: sap
Milky latex irritates skin and the mouth.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Chinese banyan
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Chinese banyan in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Gardens by the Bay (1 plants)
- Fairy Lake Botanical Garden (3 plants)
Questions about Chinese banyan
- How far apart should I plant Chinese banyan?
- About 15 m (49 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 15–30 m (49–98 ft).
- Does Chinese banyan need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Chinese banyan need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
- How cold-hardy is Chinese banyan?
- It tolerates about -2 °C (28 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- Is Chinese banyan poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Milky latex irritates skin and the mouth.
- What grows well with Chinese banyan?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Chinese banyan. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Flora of China, Missouri Botanical Garden & Harvard University Herbaria (eFloras)
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- A banyan: aerial roots drop from the branches and thicken into new trunks; village and temple tree of south China.
- Figs flower inside the fruit; flowering values are placeholders.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Common fig Ficus carica
- White mulberry Morus alba
- Rubber fig Ficus elastica
- Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Sacred fig (peepal, bodhi tree) Ficus religiosa
- Indian banyan Ficus benghalensis
- Sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus
- Moreton Bay fig Ficus macrophylla