Marble Rubber Band Tree

The Marble Rubber Band Tree (Ficus elastica 'Marble') is the rubber plant for people who want pattern instead of plain green. Every leaf is a different mix of cream, soft green and deep green, thick and glossy, and indoors it settles at around 2m tall and 1m across. It is slow, forgiving and content in the same pot for years.

Why you'll love it

• No two leaves match. The marbling shifts from leaf to leaf, so one plant carries real interest on its own.
• Real presence at a manageable size. About 2m tall and 1m wide is enough to fill a corner without taking over a living room.
• Slow and low maintenance. It needs repotting only every few years and asks for little beyond light and careful watering.
• Thick leaves that forgive dry air. Heated and air conditioned rooms suit it better than most tropical foliage plants.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where almost all of them live. Your climate stops mattering once the plant is inside.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. It can spend the warm months on a sheltered balcony in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. It is frost tender, so cooler southern gardens should keep it inside year round.

One caution. The milky sap is toxic to cats and dogs and irritating to skin.

Growing the Marble Rubber Band Tree in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light, ideally a metre or two back from a north or east facing window. Direct midday sun through glass scorches the pale sections first.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with perlite or coarse bark. The pot must have a drainage hole, because wet feet cause more losses than anything else.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. Tip the saucer out afterwards. Feed a half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer only.

Pruning. Cut the growing tip in spring to force branching, wear gloves for the sap, and wipe the leaves clean each month.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in four sizes: 125mm in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, and 300mm singles. The 125mm and 200mm plants are young, usually under 40cm, and are the value option if you are filling several rooms. The 300mm singles give immediate effect and can go straight into a decorative pot.

Rubber plants travel well, though a lower leaf or two may drop in the first fortnight while the plant adjusts. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Why variegated leaves behave differently
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• Compare other ficus varieties

Common questions

Why are the new leaves coming through plain green?

Not enough light. Variegated foliage carries less chlorophyll, so the plant compensates by producing greener leaves in dim rooms. Move it closer to a bright window and the marbling returns on new growth.

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The milky sap is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed and can irritate skin on contact. Keep it out of reach if your pet nibbles foliage, and wear gloves when you prune.

How often should I water it?

Feel the mix rather than following a schedule, and water only once the top third is dry. Yellowing lower leaves almost always mean too much water rather than too little.

Can I grow it outdoors?

Only in a frost free tropical, subtropical or warm temperate garden, and in a sheltered spot out of hot afternoon sun. Anywhere that frosts, keep it in a pot you can bring inside.