Rubber fig Ficus elastica
Rubber fig (Ficus elastica) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Moraceae family, native to NE India to Indonesia (monsoon forest). It grows 10–30 m (33–98 ft) tall and 8–20 m (26–66 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 3 °C (37 °F). Space plants about 10 m (33 ft) apart.
Plan Rubber fig in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Rubber fig at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Moraceae |
| Mature height | 10–30 m (33–98 ft) |
| Mature spread | 8–20 m (26–66 ft) |
| Spacing | 10 m (33 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 3 °C (37 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | NE India to Indonesia (monsoon forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Rubber fig toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: sap, leaves
Milky latex irritates skin and causes mouth and stomach irritation if chewed (ASPCA).
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 Rubber fig
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
See Rubber fig in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (1 plants)
Questions about Rubber fig
- How far apart should I plant Rubber fig?
- About 10 m (33 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 8–20 m (26–66 ft).
- Does Rubber fig need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Rubber fig need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Rubber fig?
- It tolerates about 3 °C (37 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- Is Rubber fig poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Milky latex irritates skin and causes mouth and stomach irritation if chewed (ASPCA).
- What grows well with Rubber fig?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Rubber fig. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only in frost-free climates; in temperate gardens grow it under heated glass (as in the Kew Palm House).
- Figs flower inside the fruit and need a specific fig wasp, absent in cultivation: grown for foliage.
- Forms aerial roots and huge surface roots in the tropics; keep clear of paving.
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
- Chinese banyan Ficus microcarpa
- Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus
- Sacred fig (peepal, bodhi tree) Ficus religiosa
- Indian banyan Ficus benghalensis
- Sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus
- Moreton Bay fig Ficus macrophylla