Ficus Species, Banyan Fig, Banyan Tree, Ban Yan

This banyan is native to India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It has become established in SE Florida and is considered invasive ...Read Morebecause its pollinating wasp was also introduced. Because they can start off as epiphytes, they are especially threatening invasives. Large trees can prove very damaging when strong hurricanes pass through and often account for extra damage to roads, vehicles, and homes. Although they are nice canopy trees in areas such as Coral Gables, there are two native banyan ficuses that should be used in suburban areas instead.

I've been fascinated by these trees for quite awhile and was finally able to see the magnificent banyans at the Edison Estate in Fort Mye...Read Morers, Florida and Coral Gables, Florida on the way to the botanic gardens. I just stood there in awe. Every romantic notion of being in a rainforest (without leaving the U.S.) could start with standing under a banyan.
Since that time, I've tried to find one growing in the Houston area. I finally found one growing one block from the seawall in Galveston, Texas. It's down the street from Joe's Crab shack and is about 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. It's not the monster trees you find in Florida, but it's nice to know they can grow on Galveston Island.

Theses are very nice trees! I have been trying to find seeds for about a year, I would love to try and grow one as a bonsai. The seeds th...Read Moreat I have found don't seems to germinate. the problem with ordering seed packages, is that most of the packs don't have any seeds in them maybe one or two at the most; the people that I bought the seeds from keep telling me the seeds of the Banyan tree are really like dust and it is impossible to divide the flower parts from the real seeds. Man this would really make a great bonsai it may take a wile to grow but it would be worth it!

Rick

This extra large Ficus has its place in cities as do most plants that can find their own ecological niche. Brownsville, Texas can be ver...Read Morey hot and dry in the summer months and a tree that shades a whole block can create it's own refreshing climate beneath its spreading canopy. This tree should be avoided or trimmed very aggressively in places close to foundations, driveways, streets or pedestrian walkways. The canopy can spread so far that the area shaded can be several houses and the whole side street. Our area can be droughty and our soils alkaline and clayey, yet we see trees this size quite regularly in cities even inland from Brownsville. I've seen one tree on a construction site (an abandoned plant nursery) outside of Los Fresnos, Texas that had about five seperate picnic table eating areas under the canopy and there was still lots of room for more. This tree had to have a 20 degree temperature difference from the 100+ July days, and I hope they didn't cut it down when they razed the nursery area.

If you want a Banyan of this tree in a none humid climate, do not trim this tree at all. There would be a lot more Banyans of this tree i...Read Moren CA if the road crew did not trim them. There are Banyan examples of this tree though at the Fullerton Aboretum

I was reading about the damage that the category 5 hurricane "Charlie" has done so far in Florida when I came across one man's report of ...Read Morehow the winds tore out a Banyan tree.

Now, I know it is a strange name. and we do not read it often, but I do recall something about its history & distribution.

The sequel to the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty is a book titled "Pitcairn's Island". From the book, a reader discovers that the mutineers made use of Banyan trees when they lived out the remainder of their lives on that remote, tiny island.

It has been some time since I read that book, but I think the islanders learned to distill the roots to produce Banyan whiskey/spirits. The drink was claimed to be viciously intoxicating, and nearly caused the death of of every person on Pitcairn's Island.

Banyans are extreamly beautiful tree's, i was introduced to them at the Edison summer house in Fort Myers Florida, i would definantly tak...Read Moree a trip to see the worlds largest banyan tree in India. I also think they are the most intellegent trees because of their ability to drop roots and expand, and take things over.

I am lucky enough to live near two roads that have been lined with banyan trees. These mature canopy trees cover the roads and make them ...Read Moreunique and truly special. The leaves on the banyan trees grow most densely on the outer branches of the tree. While driving through the trees, I open my sunroof and try to look up to take in the experience. Once you enter the tree, the sound reflect off the inside of the tree and it truly becomes it's own environment.

With such a beautiful drive, most cars easily slow down to the 30 MPH speed limit and respectfully admire the beauty of these wonderful trees. Thank you to whomever years ago had the foresight to plant these trees. I think this should be encouraged and I plan to plant some cuttings very soon.

I think that this is a marvelous and majestic tree. They do grow impressively large. Sadly, they are prohibited to be planted, sold or p...Read Moreropigated and they must be removed from a site upon development or redevelopment in Miami-Dade County. I think that this is a shame though I can reluctantly understand why this is. I just wanted those that might live in this county to be aware. If you are allowed to grow it where you live and can plant it far away from any buildings do so, it is an awesome tree!

One of the most incredible trees, F. bengalensis has adventive roots that get thicker and thicker until it reaches the diameter of the ma...Read Morein trunk after it reaches the soil, so the tree looks like it has several trunks. In older trees, you could just build your house under them. I heard of a restaurant in São Paulo, Brazil, built under an old Banyan Tree.

It doesn´t get as tall as it should, but surely requires some space in your garden (probably, in a park, since it could just ignore your house and your walls and fences while spreading the adventive roots and destroy them).