Moreton Bay Fig Tree

The Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) is the tree behind half the great shade canopies in Australian parks, and it is magnificent in the right place and a very expensive mistake in the wrong one. Expect around 15m of height and a canopy just as wide within a few decades, carried on a buttressed trunk with large glossy leaves that hold rusty bronze undersides. It grows fast, it feeds birds and flying foxes through the fruiting season, and its roots are strong enough to lift concrete. Buy it for an acreage, a paddock or a genuinely large open lawn.

Why you'll love it

• Shade on a scale nothing else offers. A mature canopy shelters an entire yard, a picnic area or a stock camp, and it holds that shade year round.
• Fast for a tree this size. With water and space it puts on real height in its first decade rather than making you wait a generation.
• Wildlife value that is hard to overstate. Heavy fig crops draw fruit doves, figbirds, currawongs and flying foxes, and the canopy becomes a habitat in its own right.
• Coastal and drought hardy. Salt tolerant, wind tolerant and drought tolerant once established, so exposed coastal properties suit it well.
• A tree with real presence. The buttressed trunk and spreading limbs give a property the kind of established character that cannot be bought any other way.

Where it works best

Acreage, rural blocks and parkland. This is the honest answer. Give it a minimum of 15m clear in every direction from buildings, driveways, septic systems, water pipes and boundary fences, and more if you have it.

Large open shade. On a wide lawn, a paddock corner or a coastal property it becomes the single feature the whole landscape organises itself around.

Coastal windbreaks and headlands. It occurs naturally in coastal rainforest along the east coast and stands up to salt laden wind better than almost any tree of comparable size.

What it is not for. Suburban backyards, nature strips, courtyards, anywhere near a pool, or any position within reach of plumbing. The root system is aggressive and buttressing roots will crack paving and invade pipes.

Growing Moreton Bay Fig in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and plenty of room. It suits tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, which means coastal Queensland, New South Wales, and warmer parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It takes light frost only, so cold inland and southern districts are not suitable.

Soil. Adaptable, including sandy coastal soil and heavier loams, provided drainage is reasonable. Break up the sides of the planting hole so the roots move out into the surrounding soil rather than circling.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to establish a wide root plate. After that it looks after itself in most seasons. Feeding is rarely necessary; the tree is naturally vigorous and extra nitrogen only makes it grow faster than you want.

Pruning and management. Formative pruning while young to build a single strong leader is worthwhile. Beyond that, engage an arborist rather than tackling large limbs yourself. Plan for the mature size from day one, because a fig cannot be pruned back into a small tree.

Safety note. The milky sap can irritate skin and eyes, and fig species are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Wear gloves and long sleeves when pruning.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied in 45L, 100L and 200L sizes, all of them already substantial nursery grown trees with formed trunks and branching. The 45L is the easiest to handle and plants quickly. The 100L and 200L trees give you several years of head start and are the choice where the tree is the centrepiece of a new landscape, though you will want a second pair of hands and ideally machinery to place them.

Growth is quiet for a season while roots establish, then accelerates noticeably. Trees are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock of this size is freighted at cost and may require specialist transport, which we quote before dispatch. Every tree is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse Australian native trees by size
• Compare smaller shade trees for suburban blocks
• Build a native habitat garden beneath it
• Site preparation before planting a large tree

Common questions

Can I plant one in a normal suburban backyard?

No, and we would rather tell you now. The roots are highly invasive and the canopy will eventually cover the whole block. On a standard suburban lot choose a smaller shade tree instead.

How close to pipes and paving is safe?

Allow at least 15m from any pipe, slab, driveway, retaining wall or foundation. Buttress roots at the base and surface roots well beyond the canopy edge both lift hard surfaces over time.

Are the figs edible?

They are technically edible but dry, gritty and not worth eating. Their real value is the wildlife they attract. Be aware that heavy fruit fall stains paving and vehicles beneath the canopy.

How fast does it grow?

Fast for its class. In warm coastal conditions with adequate water expect roughly a metre a year in the early years, slowing as the canopy widens out.