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.

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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

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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 choice 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.

Related Articles

• 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
• 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