Rusty Fig Tree

The Rusty Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) is the shade tree to plant when you have real room and want a native that will outlive you. In a suburban garden it settles at around 12m tall and 12m wide, with a dense dark canopy and rust coloured leaf undersides. It is tough, fast and long lived, but the roots are vigorous, so this is a tree for open ground.

Why you'll love it

• Deep, reliable shade. A canopy as wide as it is tall throws proper shade over a lawn, a paddock corner or a school ground.
• An east coast native. Local to eastern Australia, so it belongs in the landscape rather than looking imported into it.
• Birds work it hard. The small figs feed a long list of native birds through the warmer months.
• Genuinely tough. Drought, heat, wind and salt tolerant once established, which is why it survives on exposed headlands.
• Low maintenance once away. After two years it needs little beyond the occasional lift of the lower canopy.

Where it works best

Shade trees on large blocks. Give it 8m of clearance from a house, a driveway or a boundary. It is at its best on acreage, in parkland and on rural properties.

Tall screening. Plant 5m apart for a tall screen. That is a screen for a long boundary or a rural block, not a suburban fence line.

Coastal and feature planting. Salt and wind tolerance suit coastal blocks with space, and a single mature specimen makes a landmark tree in its own right.

Growing Rusty Fig in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun and open ground. It is a tree for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, and it takes light frost only, so cold inland districts, the tablelands and hard frosting southern gardens are not suitable.

Soil. Not fussy. It grows on sand, clay and shallow rocky ground alike, provided water does not sit around the trunk. Mulch 75mm deep out to the drip line, kept clear of the bark.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers to drive the roots down, then it looks after itself in all but the longest dry spells. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring for the first few years is enough.

Pruning and roots. Lift the lower branches to the clearance you want, and shape while young. Be direct with yourself about the roots: they are vigorous and invasive, and must be kept well away from pipes, paving, pools and retaining walls.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes. The 300mm pot is a young tree, usually a single leader under a metre, and the value choice if you are happy to wait. The 45L is the middle ground, and the 100L arrives with a formed trunk and canopy for real presence in the first season.

Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect a quiet six weeks after planting, then strong growth once the weather warms, all under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the fig and ficus care guide.
• Compare the rest of the fig tree range.
• Browse other Australian native trees.
• See alternatives among fast growing shade trees.

Common questions

How far from the house should I plant it?

At least 8m, and further if you can. The roots are vigorous and invasive, so keep the tree clear of pipes, paving, pools and footings rather than hoping for the best.

How big does it really get?

Around 12m tall and wide in a suburban garden. In habitat it reaches 30m, so treat 12m as the planning figure and give it room to exceed it.

Can I use it as a screen?

Yes, at 5m spacing, but only where you have the width. On a normal suburban boundary a smaller screening tree is the better call.

Will it grow in a cold climate?

It takes light frost only. Tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens suit it; cold tableland and southern gardens do not.