Ficus Benjamina Tree - Weeping Fig
The House Plant Homeowners Tree
The Ficus benjamina is the houseplant most people think of when mentioning an indoor tree. This floor plant adds a tropical natural beauty to the home with it’s shinny leaves and attractive trunk.
Over the years the Ficus benjamina has received the reputation as being difficult in both care and growing plus other problems. Usually these “Ficus problems” come from not giving the benjamina tree enough light and overwatering. Click for the Ultimate Ficus Care Guide.
As with many things today which continue to improve the humble benjamina continues to change the indoor landscape with some new additions to the Ficus family. The “weeping fig” as it is commonly known has some new members.
These new benjamina tree varieties or cultivars look very similar but makes Ficus care easier. These new Benjamina varieties can be found in a wide array of forms:
- Bush
- Tree
- Braids
- Twist
- Topiary
- Spirals
Here’s a quick rundown of the new Ficus benjamina Cultivars and their Descriptions
Ficus Benjamina ‘Wintergreen’
Ficus ‘Wintergreen’ is probably the first of the new breed of Ficus trees. Benjamina the old Ficus stand-by reacts to flucations in temperatures by dropping leaves.
“Wintergreen” provides the benefit of handling these temperature extremes better with less leaf lose and this cultivar features a darker colored growth on the new leaves.
Ficus Benjamina Monique
Ficus Monique is one of the more popular new Ficus varieties with the same upright, bushy growth pattern of the benjamina but with elliptical shiny bright green leaves and ruffled edges. The ruffled edges become more pronounced in lower light levels.
One outstanding feature of Ficus “Monique” is its ability to resistance leaf drop. Many interior plantcapers specify “Monique” simply because of its resisting leaf drop in a variety of conditions.
Homeowners should consider ‘Monique’ as a first Ficus benjamina choice.
Pictures of Ficus Benjamina Monique
Ficus Benjamina Midnight
Ficus ‘Midnight’ as the name suggest has extremely dark, almost bluish to black glossy leaves. Its upright growth pattern make it a good chice in narrow spaces. Although upright “Midnight” still maintains a compact, bushy habit.
The plant does very well as a houseplant even in low light areas. As with most Ficus the more light the better.
The compact habit of “Midnight” may show some initial interior leaf drop in its final acclimation phase. However, new leaves will continue to grow and replace the shedding leaves.
There are three improved Ficus benjamina varieties to consider as a tree in your home. Remember, Ficus trees want as much light as possible and the leaves do accumulate dust. As regular plant care maintenance wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust.
Ficus Benjamina - Why They Lose Leaves
Now you can learn the Secrets of Ficus Care Here.
Almost everyone that has ever purchased a Ficus tree (benjamina that is) has had to drag out the rake, broom or whatever to clean up the leaves that have dropped.
Generally, when you ask a plant professional "Why" this happens you’ll receive a short but simple answer - "It’s acclimating". This is true, but a more complete answer will help you understand what is happening.
Acclimating is normally pigeon holed as a matter of going from high light to lower light or vice-versa. With Ficus you need to know about it’s background. Ficus is truly a creature of habit.
Just as birds migrate south for the winter season, the benjamina comes from an area that has very distinct seasons. The exception is that the seasons are wet and dry.
How does a Ficus prepare for the dry season?
It sheds its leaves. It reduces the amount of leaves to survive because it will not have enough water to support them during the dry season. When the rains return, new growth comes out and the canopy returns.
The survival mechanism for benjamina is leaf drop. It doesn’t like changes, it is a creature of habit. Once you have decided where you are going to place your Ficus (the more light the better), give it the same lighting, same amount of water and stay on the same schedule.
In case I didn’t mention it, if you throw on some fertilizer you can also expect some leave drop.
Learn more about Ficus and their care with our Ficus Care Guide
Ficus Benjamina Monique ‘Standard’
Ficus Benjamina Monique grown as a "standard." This image comes from the CDplants.com Collection of "cut out" images used by interiorscapers for design. The collection contains other Ficus Trees like Alii, Benjamina and more in a variety of sizes.
Over the last few years many people prefer more than a standard but like the unique look of a Ficus braid. A braid is created when 3 or 4 individual trees - usually airlayers - have been braided together and planted on one pot.
Ficus Monique ‘Braid’ Acclimated
Ficus Benjamina Monique grown as a "braid." This Monique is in a 10 inch pot and is being acclimated in a shadehouse in Florida. Ficus Trees in a variety of sizes like this Monique acclimate for a period of 60-120 days before shipping north to garden centers.
Standards and bush form Ficus have been grown for years, braids have now joined them as a normal part of the Ficus tree availability. Today most Ficus grown use drip irrigation technology.
Ficus Benjamina Monique ‘Lattice’
This image of a 14 Ficus Benjamina Monique with multiple plants weaved together making the trunk of this ficus tree look like a "lattice". Ficus trees can be used in many, many forms.
Here’s another form called a standard. A “standard” looks like how we would draw a tree when we were in elementary school.
Ficus Benjamina Braid
One of the most known foliage plants is the ficus plant because it has the capability to adapt to various indoor and outdoor conditions under low light or partial shade. It has a dark green leaves on weeping-like branches; thus ficus benjamina is also known as the Weeping Fig.
Ficus benjamina is known to many as an upright plant that exhibits a spreading growth. Apart from the normal upright look of Ficus benjamina, a new look for ficus benjamina has been developed which involves its braided trunks. When young, 3 or 4 trunks can be braided. As it grows, the trunks grow together which is called fusing.
Ficus Benjamina - New Varieties and Cultivars That Hold Leaves
Now you can learn the Secrets of Ficus Care.
Almost everyone that has ever purchased a ficus tree (benjamina that is) has had to drag out the rake, broom or whatever to clean up the leaves that have dropped. Today, new varieties are being introduced that hold their leaves and are more durable.
Most of these new varieties have their "roots" back in Europe. Of the hundreds of species of ficus world-wide, over 65 varieties of ficus are cultivated in Europe. In fact, Ficus has been the number #1 selling crop for the past five years in Europe.
One of the reasons for the success of these new varieties has been the constant search for new products and trialing.
If you search in any large group of plants growing, you are bound to find some variations. These plant variations don’t always mean that the plant will be better or that the market will except or notice the different features.
Some families of tropicals have had many new plant varieties or "sports" introduced with little or no trialing or testing. To introduce new varieties they must meet some criteria, and that is what the Europeans have done in selecting these new ficus varieties. In turn these new ficus introductions have been selected for meeting a criteria for the US market.
Here are a few of the guidelines for these new introductions:
- They need to be unique in color, form and/or growth pattern.
- Must perform well at both the grower level and be commercially viable.
- Must have superior performance in the interior environment than ficus of the past.
Through a rigorous and highly critical trialing process some new varieties have emerged. Last week our focus was on Ficus leaf drop. The below 3 varieties are being marketed as "Ficus of the Future", and are highly resistant to leaf drop.
Ficus Monique
This plant is an upright Ficus benjamina type with a bushy growth pattern. Its leaves are a shiny, bright green and have ruffled edges that become more accentuated in lower light conditions. Its mature leaves are hard and crispy. ‘Monique’ will adapt to higher light levels where installations dictate.
One of the most outstanding features of this plant is its resistance to leaf drop. Several interior landscapers report such great success with ‘Monique’ in terms of resisting leaf drop.
To date, ‘Monique’ is the most popular of these new ficus varieties. It is grown in many forms which include standard tree, braided trunk, bush and topiary.
Ficus ‘Indigo’
This variety has very thick, dark leaves that grow under very low light levels. Its leaves emerge deep green and darken with maturity to almost blue-black with a high-gloss. As the outer leaves darkens, a slight variegation appears, radiating from the leaf’s midrib.
Its medium-to-long, irregular internodes give ‘Indigo’ an open, weepy appearance. It is grown as braided trunks, standard trunks, and topiaries.
‘Indigo’, which is the first in a series of dark-leaved Ficus benjamina types. It has shown top performance status during an independent dark box and simulated transportation tests conducted in Europe.
Ficus ‘Midnight’
A sister plant of ‘Indigo’, resulting from a multigenerational selection process. ‘Midnight’ has extremely dark, bluish to black, glossy leaves that sit along the stem with very close internodes. Its growth pattern is upright with a strong apical dominance. It also displays a compact, bushy habit.
The plant has performed very well in doors, growing for extended periods under 50, footcandles. This cultivar is recommended for use in commercial installations with 100 foot-candles to 150 foot-candles for optimal performance. Due to its compact habit, there may be some initial interior leaf drop during it final acclimation phase when placed on the job. However, new leaves will continue to emerge, refoliating and replacing any shedding that may occur.
Next time you’re at the local garden center/nursery ask about a ‘Ficus of the Future’, and give them a try.
Check out Ficustree.com for other additional varieties and pictures to help identify what varieties you have or to look for.
Ficus Midnight dense and bushy for bonsai
Ficus Midnight is a plant with very dark glossy leaves that range from bluish to black and grow quite close to each other on the stem. It is a sister plant of Ficus Indigo and is the result of a selection process lasting over several generations. The plant has an upright growth pattern that is both compact and bushy.
It does well indoors and is capable of growing for extended periods under 50 foot-candles. The use of this cultivar is recommended in commercial installations, with 100 to 150 foot-candles, for optimal performance.
It grows best in temperatures ranging from 78 to 90 F in the daytime and 70 to 75 F in the night. The leaves accumulate dust and need to be wiped with a damp cloth. It can be recognized easily by its glossy leaves that are almost black. The new growth is bright green and the contrast between them is eye-catching.
The plant is upright, dense and bushy and can reach a height of 8 feet. This needs to be kept in mind while deciding on its location. The most unique characteristic of this plant is its ability to survive with limited light, without shedding leaves. In comparison, most Ficus trees need direct sunlight, or very bright light. When it is grown in a place with less light, it needs less water than other trees of the Ficus family.
It needs a balanced liquid fertilizer like 20-20-20, and needs to be fertilized every other week during spring and summer, when there is more growth. However, during fall and winter once a month is enough.
You can make out if the plant is not healthy, if the leaves start turning yellow and falling off. This may happen if you change its location. Otherwise, the leaf fall may be on account of water shortage. The flip side is that excess water may lead to a fall of leaves when they are still green. When this happens, make sure that the roots are not submerged in water.
Ficus alii Braid
The Ficus Alii is a new ornamental fig that is rapidly gaining popularity. This plant is more durable and easier to grow compared to other ficus species like the benjamina. In addition, it is much less finicky than among its kin. Ficus alii is an upright plant that depend its height to its form. Just like the other Ficus cultivars, this hybrid also shows the same ficus leaves dropping characteristic.
Ficus Alii come in many forms - bushes, braids, standards and spiraled trunks. The Ficus alii braid image that you can see here got its name from its braided trunks. Its long slender dark green leaves provides an oriental look. This appeal makes it an extremely attractive plant that is appealing both to the interior plantscape industry and to the home market. Moreover, it is believed to have the ability to purify the air.
Behold the Amstel King
Amstel King is another variety of Ficus maclellandii, with a slightly different appearance than its kin. Compare to its parent Ficus species, it has glossier, longer and wider, banana-shaped leaves and grows 30% faster.
The discovery of Amstel King can be traced in a greenhouse in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. Contrary to what other people believe that it came from tissue culture, Amstel King is actually the result of the mutation process involving Ficus maclellandii. It displays an attractive red coloration in the apical growth. Its foliage can survive well if kept indoors. Growth tips are pronounced pink to red that are beautifully contrasting against its broad, glossy leaves.
In the horticulture industry, Ficus Amstel King is a desirable cultivar not only because of its unique leaves but also because of its fascinating growth and tolerance even in adverse conditions. Its leaves accumulate dust and a better alternative to the ficus dry leaves.
