Ruby Rubber Plant

Ruby Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica 'Ruby') is the pink variegated rubber tree: thick, glossy leaves marbled in cream, green and a genuine rose pink, strongest on the new growth. In a pot it makes an upright plant to about 2m tall and 1m wide. It has the same tough constitution as the plain green rubber plant, which separates it from most pink foliage plants.

Why you'll love it

• Pink that actually holds. New leaves open a deep rose and keep their colour as they harden, provided the light is bright enough.
• Thick leaves, forgiving nature. The leathery foliage stores moisture, so a missed watering does no lasting harm.
• Upright and narrow. About 2m by 1m on a single trunk, so it fills a corner without spreading across the room.
• You control the height. Cut the leader where you want it and the plant branches below the cut.

Where it works best

Indoors. Bright indirect light is the whole game with this plant. In a dim room the pink fades back towards plain green.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A sheltered balcony out of wind suits it, since the large leaves tear in a strong breeze.

Feature planting. Keep it in a pot. Planted into the ground in a tropical or subtropical garden a rubber tree becomes a very large tree with vigorous roots.

Growing Ruby Rubber Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light, roughly a metre or two back from a well lit window. Direct sun burns the cream sections, and low light costs you the pink. It is frost tender, so outdoors it is limited to tropical and subtropical gardens in a sheltered shaded spot. Anywhere colder, grow it inside.

Soil. Free draining premium potting mix with added perlite, in a pot with a drainage hole. Repot every two or three years in spring.

Water and feed. Water when the top 3 to 4cm of mix has dried, roughly weekly in warm weather and every two to three weeks in winter, then tip out the saucer. Liquid feed monthly through spring and summer. Wipe the leaves occasionally, because dust dulls the colour and cuts the light.

Pruning. Prune in spring, cutting the stem back to the height you want. The sap is a milky latex that stains and irritates skin, so wear gloves and cover the floor.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown as 140mm plants in packs of ten, 200mm in packs of six, 250mm in packs of three, and single plants in 300mm and 400mm pots. The small sizes are single stemmed and roughly knee high. A 400mm plant is well grown, often already branched, and ready to drop into a decorative pot.

A crease or a rub mark on a leaf after transit is normal and does not spread. New leaves emerge from a red sheath that drops away as the leaf unfurls, so expect three to four weeks between leaves in warm weather. 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

• Read our fig and ficus care guide.
• Browse the wider indoor plants range.
• Compare other variegated foliage plants.
• See how to keep your indoor plants alive.

Common questions

Is it safe around pets?

Not really. The milky latex in the stems and leaves irritates cats and dogs if chewed, and irritates skin too. Keep it away from a pet that chews foliage.

Why is the pink fading?

Not enough light, nine times out of ten. Move it closer to a bright window, out of direct sun, and the next few leaves should come through with better colour.

How often should I repot it?

Every two or three years in spring, moving up one pot size. It tolerates being slightly snug, while an oversized pot holds water and invites root rot.

Can it live outside?

Only in a sheltered, shaded position in a tropical or subtropical garden, and best kept in a pot. It is frost tender, so any frost will damage the foliage.