Fiddle Leaf Fig

The Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata) is the plant people buy when they want one specimen to carry a whole room. In a pot indoors it reaches around 3m tall and 1.5m across, on a single trunk topped with violin shaped leaves that can span 40cm. It is fast for an indoor plant, so a 300mm pot becomes a floor standing feature within a couple of years.

Why you'll love it

• One plant, whole room. Few indoor plants have leaves this large. A single specimen in a corner does the work of a shelf full of small pots.
• Fast for an indoor plant. With good light and warmth it puts on real height each year, which is unusual among large leaved figs.
• Sculptural as it ages. The bare lower trunk and high canopy of an older plant is the look, not a fault.
• Heat and humidity tolerant. It handles a warm Australian summer indoors better than most, and does well in a humid bathroom.

Where it works best

Indoors, near a bright window. The primary use. Position it within two metres of a large window in bright indirect light. A dark corner keeps it alive but it sheds lower leaves and stops growing.

Pots and containers. Choose a pot one size larger than the root ball, with real drainage holes. Snug roots are healthier than roots swimming in wet mix.

Balconies and warm climate gardens. In warm temperate, subtropical and tropical areas it lives outside year round, sheltered from hot sun and wind. In the ground in the far north it can exceed 12m, so keep it clear of paving.

Growing the Fiddle Leaf Fig in Australia

Light. Bright, indirect light all year. Midday sun through glass scorches the leaves, and too little light causes leaf drop from the bottom up. Rotate the pot a quarter turn weekly so it grows straight.

Water. Water thoroughly only when the top 3cm to 4cm of mix is dry, then let it drain completely. Never leave the pot in a saucer of water. Overwatering, not underwatering, is what kills most of these plants.

Warmth and feeding. It is frost tender, so keep it clear of cold draughts and the blast of heating or air conditioning, which browns the leaf edges. Feed monthly from September to March and repot every two to three years in spring.

Pruning, sap and pets. Cut the leader to force branching at the height you want, wearing gloves because the milky sap irritates skin. Ficus lyrata is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it away from animals that nibble houseplants.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in eight sizes, from tube and 140mm through 200mm, 250mm, 300mm, 400mm and 500mm pots up to 100L. Small sizes are young, single stemmed and the value option if you are happy to grow it on. The 300mm and 400mm plants are the usual indoor feature, and the 500mm and 100L arrive as floor standing specimens.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Expect two or three weeks of settling, and do not be alarmed if it drops a leaf while it adjusts to your light. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Indoor plant care basics for Australian homes
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• Other plants that perform in containers

Common questions

Why are the lower leaves dropping?

Almost always light or water. Move it closer to a bright window and let the top few centimetres of mix dry before watering again.

Can I grow it outside?

Only in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, with shelter from wind and hot afternoon sun. It is frost tender, so in cooler southern gardens it stays an indoor plant.

How do I make it branch rather than grow straight up?

In spring or early summer, cut the growing tip to just above a leaf node at the height you want the canopy to start. It will push two or three shoots below the cut.