Weeping Fig, Chinese Banyan (Ficus benjamina)

Weeping Fig, Chinese Banyan
Ficus benjamina

The leaves up close. Shiny, florescent texture due to camera flash.

Fast growing non-native. Don't plant too close to your house the surface roots will tolerate pruning but if they aren't, have the plumber's phone number handy.

These are nice indoor plants. When used outdoors, they lose all their inhabitions and grow huge very quickly. Some extra large specimins can be found growing alongside the turnpike in Broward county.

approx 1" bright orange round fruit balls.

To TREEHUGR,
Large specimens of this very common and overplanted shrub thrive in much of central and southern Florida (from zone 9b and possibly 9a) southward. It is very fast-growing, like you said, and needs very constant trimming that can add up to be expensive. It is very commonly used as a hedge here in southern and also central Florida, from zone 9b southward. Here it is one of the most commonly used, ubiquitous and inexpensive hedges. However, it is very invasive and fast-growing and the roots are nearly impossible to remove, and if some of the root is left after it is removed, it can quickly regrow. Even though it is an attractive and inexpensive shrub, it is used almost too often and is fast-growing and not native. Also, maintaining and trimming this hedge to within it's boundaries adds up to be expensive and this shrub (if left alone it grows into a huge ficus tree providing dense shade) grows very, very quickly, so it must be trimmed frequently. There are native hedges to choose from, such as Cocoplum (see my comment on it), as alternatives. Do is grow in your area? Also, what do you think about this ficus? Please respond!

P.s.: However, it is also a good and popular indoor houseplant like you said. It is also widely used in malls and large shops in courtyards with sunlight, as well as in shade and inside the building or buildings.

But it makes people feel like they're in a tropical paradise so I guess that makes the people that plant them happy.

Yes they grow here. They're everywhere.

I agree very much on what you said, TREEHUGR. It looks tropical so many people in central and southern Florida, from 9b southward especially, plant it. They also are great privacy hedges for just about any residence or buildings and can be trimmed into tunnels in the front entrances of mansions and rich estates, especially on oceanfronts and waterfrontages and along golf courses in central and southern Florida, from zone 9b southward. That is definately why, like you said, they are EVERYWHERE in my area and yours as well as throughout much of central and southern Florida, and why they are so overplanted in those areas from zone 9b southward throughout the rest of the state.

Still, native plants are much, much better than this invasive and fast-growing exotic!

NativePlantFan9

You're right. I've seen a really impressive arbor or tunnel made with them. They're actually pretty versatile when you think about it... You can grow them inside or outside, you can braid the trunks, you can hedge them. You can even cut off all their branches and they apparently come right back (as is the case in a hurricane damaged tree nearby). They are good climbing trees and good shade trees, and you can find one in just about any supermarket.

There are some pests/diseases that effect this plant.

You're right. Some diseases effect this plant. Other than that, they thrive in central and southern Florida. They do grow back well, like you said... it dosn't matter if you even "butcher them", as people say... they will grow right back and fill in extremely quickly. Soon you will again have a dense ficus hedge or tree, not very long after trimming (about a few months or so, maybe shorter). I agree with everything what you said.

NativePlantFan9

P.s.: I've also seen Weeping Figs that have been braided together, especially in nurseries and plant sales or trades. It makes it look very attractive, to see two Weeping Fig trunks "braided" together... they can also be braided outside in central and southern Florida. In the luxurious island of Palm Beach on Florida's southeast coast, many oceanfront mansions have this hedge trimmed into huge arbors or tunnels at the entrances or front gates of the mansions and estates. They are EXTREMELY versatile, like you said. You can grow them indoors, braid them, trim them into hedges, they provide good privacy screens, they can be trimmed into tunnels and arbors in front of mansions... you can even create miniature bonsais or trees out of them. You can do just about anything with them. I agree with you!

NativePlantFan9

However, they are invasive and not native to Florida.

If I had millions of dollars and lived in the island of Palm beach, I wouldn't mess with ficus!!! I would bring in truckload after truckload of pinus clausa. :-) Not to be confused with Santa Clausa.

That was funny...

I agree with you, although it would be neat to trim it into all kinds of shapes and forms, though! I agree, I would bring in all native species such as Sand Pine (Pinus clausa). Only one problem... P. clausa does not survive well on the barrier islands directly by the ocean because of too much salt, usually.

NativePlantFan9

Come to think of it, you're right. I've only seen it along the river/intracoastal. In that case I would have to construct a huge bio dome for all of my trees to live in.

That would be a great idea... if you had the money and supplies to do it and if you lived directly don the ocean. In fact... do you live on the Intracoastal Waterway, a canal, lake, other body of water or directly on the ocean or on the barrier island/highway A1A? Please respond!

NativePlantFan9

Maybe I can give suggestions on good native plants to plant by your home, depending whether you live in east, central, or west parts of Port St. Lucie, zone 9b, your area.