Ficus Species, Decora Tree, Indian Rubber Fig, Rubber Plant, Rubber Tree

Ficuselastica

Family
Moraceae (mor-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Ficus (FY-kus)
Species
elastica (ee-LASS-tih-kuh)
Synonym
Ficus elastica var. benghalensis
Other Details
Water Requirements
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
Bloom Size
1"-2"
2"-3"
Other details
Soil pH requirements
Patent Information
Propagation Methods
Seed Collecting
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Haleyville, Alabama

Phoenix, Arizona(2 reports)

Brea, California

Brentwood, California

Hayward, California

Merced, California

Novato, California

Oak View, California

Pomona, California

Rancho Cucamonga, California

San Diego, California(2 reports)

San Pedro, California

Santa Barbara, California

Temecula, California

Thousand Oaks, California

Bartow, Florida

Big Pine Key, Florida

Boca Raton, Florida

Dunedin, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Kissimmee, Florida

Lake Worth, Florida

Lecanto, Florida

Melbourne, Florida

New Port Richey, Florida

Pompano Beach, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida

Rockledge, Florida

Saint Petersburg, Florida

Sebastian, Florida

Sebring, Florida

Spring Hill, Florida

Honomu, Hawaii

Canton, Illinois

Macomb, Illinois

Jackson, Kentucky

Gonzales, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana

Saint Charles, Missouri

New York City, New York

Charlotte, North Carolina

Grenoble, Rhône-Alpes

Austin, Texas

Broaddus, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Houston, Texas(2 reports)

Kyle, Texas

La Porte, Texas

New Caney, Texas

Pearland, Texas

San Benito, Texas

Santa Fe, Texas

Shepherd, Texas

Spring, Texas

Victoria, Texas

Brady, Washington

Montesano, Washington

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

16
positives
1
neutral
1
negative
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P
Phoenix, AZ | March 2015 | positive

Central Phoenix -- Ficus elastic is more hardy than usually thought, or at least mine is. It grows in a relatively sheltered spot, again...Read More

B
Hayward, CA | September 2014 | positive

I posted for posterity the ORIGINAL narrow leafed Ficus elastica that you would find in habitat. You only see them now around old homes,O...Read More

C
Charlotte, NC | March 2011 | positive

I have a burgundy one planted outdoors here in Charlotte. After the first frost I cut it back leaving a 3'' stump cover with pine straw a...Read More

E
Dunedin, FL | February 2011 | positive

i have a rubber plant that i have had for several years in my back yard... all of a sudden something is eating it... i thought it was poi...Read More

C
Cedar Springs, MI | December 2009 | positive

I have a 8 ft tall by 8 ft wide green rubber tree that is growing in all directions.Im running out of room for it grow looking to trim s...Read More

P
Fremont, CA (Zone 9a) | November 2009 | positive

According to Ripley's Believe or Not!
"In the hills near Cherrapunji, Meghalaya, India, villagers have built bridges from living ...Read More

T
Canton,IL &Dent County, MO (Zone 5b) | September 2009 | positive

I have 3 of these trees, 2 burgundy and one green, my daughters cat nearly killed the green one off last year by eating the leaves and us...Read More

X
X
Sebring, FL (Zone 9b) | June 2008 | positive

This is a note to accompany some before-and-after pictures I am uploading on the effects of heavy pruning of an out-of-control outdoor Fi...Read More

W
Macomb, IL | May 2008 | positive

I have 2 rubber plants, both 5 feet in height, I live in zone 5b and will move over to zone 6 in eastern IL, one of the rubber plants tha...Read More

O
Oak View, CA | August 2007 | positive

We originally had this as a house plant, then put it outside. I grows nicely -- but, it was bitten hard by frost last year when we had ...Read More

A
Arlington, TX | October 2006 | positive

Help! I propagated this from a air layer.. now its HUGE in just a matter of months-- how do I trim this, or can I trim this so it will g...Read More

T
| February 2005 | neutral

Help! Robbie the Rubber plants in trouble. Ive had a young Ficus Elastica for just over a year, last summer it grew well producing four l...Read More

P
San Diego, CA | July 2004 | negative

While the Rubber Plant is a tidy, colorful, and thriving tree (requires little water), I must warn those with smaller plants about the ro...Read More

P
Acton, CA (Zone 8b) | June 2004 | positive

This tree is an easy 9b grower... they are sold as house plants, but everyone gets tired of them eventually and many try them in their ga...Read More

F
Honomu, HI (Zone 11) | June 2004 | positive

Grows very well planted outside in our very wet climate. It can reach great heights and huge canopies and requires no special care.

T
T
Delray Beach, FL (Zone 10a) | June 2004 | positive

does well in shade in zone 10b

M
| June 2004 | positive

My indoor plant is growing vigorously.It started with one leaf 5 years ago and is now nearly 5 feet tall and taking over! I live in south...Read More

M
(Zone 11) | May 2003 | positive

I recently collected and herborized branches and fruits from this tree in the town of Caxambu, Brazil. It was around 15m tall, and the li...Read More

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