FICUS obliqua (Small Leafed Fig)

Small Leafed Fig (Ficus obliqua) is the shade tree behind half the great old parks on the east coast. It is an Australian native that reaches around 15m tall and 12m wide in an open garden, carrying a dense evergreen canopy on a buttressed trunk. Small figs feed birds and flying foxes through the warm months. This is a tree for acreage, parkland and large rural blocks, not a suburban backyard.

Why you'll love it

• Serious shade, comparatively fast. Few natives build a canopy this dense this quickly, which is why figs anchor so many public gardens.
• A living bird feeder. Heavy crops of small figs draw pigeons, honeyeaters, koels and figbirds for weeks at a time.
• Character in the trunk. Buttress and aerial roots give a mature specimen real rainforest presence.
• Coastal and humid tough. Salt tolerant, humidity tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so exposed coastal properties suit it well.

Where it works best

Shade tree on a large property. Give it 15m of clear space in every direction and it will shade a paddock corner or a homestead lawn for generations.

Screening and windbreaks. Planted 2m apart and clipped, it forms a tall dense screen or a solid windbreak along a boundary. Expect to trim two or three times a year to hold it.

Feature planting. A single mature specimen is a landscape in itself, often the only tree a large open site needs.

Growing Small Leafed Fig in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. Tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens suit it, and it handles humidity and coastal wind without complaint. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and frosting southern gardens are outside its range.

Soil. Undemanding. Deep soil gives the best growth, but it copes with clay, sand and rocky ground. Mulch widely and keep the mulch clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, more often while a large transplant settles. Feeding is rarely necessary; a complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough for a young tree.

Roots and siting. This is the part to take seriously. Fig roots are powerful and invasive, and they lift paving, block pipes and crack pool shells and footings. Keep the tree at least 15m from any structure or service, and never plant one in a small garden.

What to expect when it arrives

This is an ex ground tree, grown in the field and lifted with a root ball rather than raised in a pot. It is supplied at 6.5m to 7m tall, so you are buying an established tree with a formed canopy.

A tree this size needs planning. Have the hole excavated and machinery access clear before delivery, and expect to stake and water heavily through the first year. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, with specialist transport quoted for a specimen of this size, and we deliver Australia wide. Some leaf drop after transplanting is normal. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the full fig and ficus care guide.
• Compare the wider ficus range.
• See other ex ground trees available as mature specimens.
• Browse our advanced trees for instant impact.

Common questions

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 15m from any building, pipe, paved area or pool, and further if you can. Fig roots are among the most destructive of any Australian tree, and the damage shows up years later.

Can I keep it as a hedge instead?

Yes. Planted 2m apart and trimmed two or three times a year it holds as a tall clipped screen well under its natural height. The root system is still vigorous, so siting rules apply.

Will it grow in Melbourne or Adelaide?

Not reliably. It tolerates light frost only, so it is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens rather than cold southern or inland ones.