Robusta Rubber Plant

Robusta Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica 'Robusta') is the indoor tree to choose when you want height quickly. Its leaves are the broadest of the rubber plants, thick and glossy enough to look almost artificial, and in a large pot it reaches about 3m tall and 2m across. It forgives a missed watering and holds its shape without staking.

Why you'll love it

• Height in a hurry. Given warmth and light it puts on a leaf every few weeks in summer, so a 300mm plant fills a corner in two seasons.
• Broad, glossy foliage. Larger and heavier leaves than the standard rubber plant, which is why 'Robusta' reads as a feature rather than a filler.
• It tolerates dry air and heat. Air conditioning, a west facing apartment and the occasional forgotten week are all within range.
• Easy to hold at a set height. Cut the leader where you want it and it branches below the cut, so a ceiling is no problem.

Where it works best

Indoors as a feature. A bright room with filtered light is ideal, close to a window but out of direct summer sun.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens it lives outside year round in a pot, in bright shade away from afternoon sun.

Pots only, not garden beds. The root system is vigorous and invasive, so keep it in a container rather than near paving, pipes or a house slab.

Growing rubber plant in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or dappled shade outdoors. It is frost tender, so in cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens treat it as an indoor plant that summers on a sheltered verandah.

Soil. A quality free draining potting mix in a pot with a drainage hole. Repot every two to three years one size larger, or root prune and return it to the same pot to cap its size.

Water and feed. Water thoroughly, tip out the saucer, then let the top third of the mix dry before the next drink: weekly in summer, every two to three weeks in winter. Liquid feed monthly through spring and summer only.

Pruning. Prune in spring to control height or encourage branching. Cut stems weep a milky sap that irritates skin and eyes, so wear gloves.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in 300mm pots as single plants, and in bulk as 200mm packs of six and 250mm packs of three for a commercial fit out. A 300mm plant is usually knee to waist height with several established leaves, and the smaller 200mm plants catch up within a season.

Large soft leaves can mark in transit, and the odd lower leaf may drop while the plant adjusts to new light. Both are normal. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse the wider ficus range
• Repotting an indoor plant properly
• Compare other indoor plants

Common questions

Is it safe around pets and children?

The milky sap irritates skin, eyes and mouth if a stem breaks or a leaf is chewed. It is fine to live with, but not one to put within reach of a pet or toddler that chews.

Why are the lower leaves dropping?

Usually too little light or too much water. Move it closer to a window and check the mix dries between drinks. Losing a few leaves after a move or repot is normal.

Can I plant it in the garden?

In frost free areas it will grow, but the roots are invasive and it becomes a large tree, so it is a poor choice near a house or driveway.

How do I stop it getting too tall?

Cut the main stem back to the height you want in spring. It shoots from below the cut and thickens up, and the trimmings strike easily.