Ficus Tineke Rubber Plant

Ficus Tineke (Ficus elastica 'Tineke') is the variegated rubber plant, and the one to reach for when a room needs a single bold plant rather than a shelf of small ones. Indoors it settles at about 1.8m tall and 90cm wide, with broad leathery leaves marbled in cream, grey green and deep green. New growth unfurls from a pink sheath.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The cream and green marbling carries a room all year rather than for one short season.
• Upright and space efficient. At roughly 90cm across it fills a corner vertically instead of spreading into the walkway.
• Low maintenance in practice. Water when the top few centimetres of mix dry out, wipe the leaves occasionally, and that is the job.
• You control the height. Cut the leading stem in spring and it branches, so a 1.8m plant can sit at 1.2m indefinitely.

Where it works best

Indoors. A bright living room, entry or office corner near a window but out of direct sun. Inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts with a frost tender plant.

Pots and containers. Start in a pot 300mm to 400mm wide with a drainage hole, then step up every second or third year.

Balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it suits sheltered tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens with morning sun, where it grows well past its indoor height.

Growing Ficus Tineke in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light is the one thing that matters: too little and the cream fades to green, too much direct sun and the pale sections scorch. It is frost tender, so outside the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate zones it lives indoors or moves under cover for winter.

Soil. A quality free draining indoor mix, opened up with perlite or coarse bark. The pot needs a drainage hole and the saucer needs emptying, because wet feet kills more rubber plants than anything else.

Water and feed. Water once the top 3cm to 5cm of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. A balanced liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is enough.

Pruning. Prune in spring to control height or force branching. Cut stems bleed a milky sap that irritates skin and eyes, so wear gloves and keep offcuts away from children and pets.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in 200mm pots in packs of six, 250mm pots in packs of three, and as single 400mm plants. The smaller sizes are single stemmed and around knee height, and they suit anyone covering several rooms at once. A 400mm plant can go straight into a decorative pot.

Thick leaves travel well, though a leaf or two may drop in transit and that is normal rather than a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee. Allow a fortnight in its new light before expecting new leaves.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The complete ficus care guide
• Browse the full ficus range
• Compare other indoor plants
• More variegated foliage plants

Common questions

Is Ficus Tineke safe around cats and dogs?

No. The milky sap is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, and it irritates skin on contact. Keep it out of reach of pets that nibble foliage, and wear gloves when you prune.

Why is my plant losing its cream markings?

Almost always light. Move it closer to a bright window, out of direct sun, and the new leaves will come through variegated again. Leaves that have already greened up will not change back.

How fast does it grow?

Steady rather than quick indoors, generally 20cm to 40cm a year in good light. Growth is faster in a warm humid room and near enough to stopped over winter.