How to Grow and Care for Weeping Fig Trees in the Landscape

Ficus benjamina

Elegant, evergreen, and fast-growing, weeping figs have become incredibly popular in warm regions. But growing these tropical treasures requires a bit of finesse.

They can falter in the wrong location, or even worse, become so robust that they destroy your plumbing – or even your neighbor’s.

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Whether you want to care for an existing tree or you’re interested in bringing the beauty of the Benjamin fig to your yard, a little knowledge goes a long way towards preventing heartache down the road.

Coming up, we’ll talk about how to keep your tree contained, happy, and healthy. Here’s what you can expect:

You’ve probably seen the popular Ficus benjamina growing indoors as a houseplant.

It’s pretty ubiquitous in offices, malls, and homes. But it grows equally well – better, actually – outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 12b.

In cooler zones, plants can be grown in containers and brought indoors when the temperatures drop.

These plants have a reputation for being fussy, but that really only applies to those grown as houseplants. Outside, it’s a different story.

These trees can become massive – we’re talking up to 100 feet tall, 60 feet wide, and hundreds of feet in diameter. And they grow quickly.

While people in cold climates often turn to Lombardy poplars for fast privacy screens, those in warmer climates appreciate the quick-growing nature of the various ficus species.

But a major problem is that they also have furiously invasive roots.

Sidewalks, fencelines, and lawns are common victims of their insidious spread, and woe betide any nearby sewage lines, irrigation systems, or swimming pools.

Growing them in pots can contain the situation, keeping roots in check and their overall size more reasonable.

If you opt to grow yours in a pot that you move inside and back outdoors, know that the tree will never do as well as it would if left in one place.

Each time you move it, it’s likely that some of the leaves will drop.

How to Grow

As mentioned, weeping figs seem to have a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde situation going on.

Indoors, they are mild-mannered and a little fussy. Outdoors, they can become invasive and grow extremely large.

However, this depends partially on where you’re growing them.

In California and Arizona, the plants tend to be better behaved. The fruits don’t grow as large and you won’t see as many of them.

The plants themselves don’t grow as large either, and they rarely spread wide and take over nearby trees.

The roots also tend to stay more contained, though they can still become invasive.

In Hawaii and Florida, however, it’s a different story.

Don’t put yours anywhere near concrete, plumbing, sewer lines, or swimming pools unless it is fully contained within a large planter.

You should also take care not to plant somewhere that falling fruit will be a problem.

How large should the container be? One that holds about 50 gallons is a good size, though you should make sure the container is on casters if you plan to move it.

Plastic, concrete, stone, or steel are ideal materials.

Alternatively, install a root barrier when you plant the tree.

This involves digging a foot-deep trench just outside the anticipated drip line and filling it with a barrier material like high-density polyethylene, which should last throughout the life of the tree.

Other materials might need to be replaced as they break down.

If you decide to plant in a container, use a 50:50 mixture of compost and all-purpose garden soil. For in-ground planting, this tree prefers well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.

That said, it’s extremely tolerant of a range of soil types, so long as whatever it’s planted in drains well.

Weeping figs also need water regularly, but they can tolerate some occasional drought.

If the top few inches of soil dry out, no matter what time of year it is, give them a good soaking.

If you live in Zone 9, provide them with some protection so those unexpected cold snaps don’t harm them.

An area near a building where they can have south or west exposure, for instance, provides protection and additional warmth as it radiates off the building.

They also need plenty of sun. Bright sunlight for about six hours a day is about right. Any less than that and they might become leggy.

That said, if you don’t care about dense growth, they can survive in shade.

Southern Ag All Purpose Granular Fertilizer

From April through September, fertilize once a month with a 10-10-10 (NPK) granular fertilizer, like the one manufactured by Southern Ag, sold by Amazon in five-pound bags.

Cultivars to Select

Any variety of “indoor” weeping fig can also be grown outside in a suitable climate.

However, some cultivars lend themselves to outdoor growing better than others. You’ll find a few suggestions below.

Most standard-sized trees will grow between 30 and 100 feet tall depending on the environment, unless otherwise noted.

Bushy King

‘Bushy King’ is an excellent option if you want a tree that will stay small, under about 14 feet tall.

The compact growth habit combined with the overall size also makes this cultivar perfect for topiary.

Golden Monique

‘Golden Monique’ has leaves with a rippled margin, and golden and green leaves that start out lime green when they’re young.

This cultivar should only be grown outdoors in Zone 10 and up because it is less hardy than other types.

Monique

‘Monique’ is similar to ‘Golden Monique,’ but it has narrow, rippling leaves with a dark green color.

It is also slightly more delicate than many others, only suitable for growing outdoors in Zones 10 and 11.

Pandora

Lovely ‘Pandora’ has intensely curved leaves that arch so far back on themselves that the tips can touch the undersides of the leaves.

The growth habit of this variety is particularly dense.

Starlight

For a variegated variety that seems to sparkle, ‘Starlight’ is the perfect choice. The margins of the leaves are creamy yellow, while the centers are medium green.

Maintenance

Depending on your climate, the trees will generally fruit in the late winter or early spring and again in the early fall.

You can leave them on the tree for wild animals to enjoy, but know that when they fall, they make a ridiculous mess.

The adventitious roots can become a problem because they will raise sidewalks and crack concrete.

These are the roots that you see popping up out of the soil and bullying your sidewalk.

Use a saw, loppers, pruners, or all three as needed to cut away the offending roots.

Don’t be shy when you prune. I promise you, the risk of harming a tree that is established enough to destroy concrete is hardy enough to withstand some severe pruning.

When you’re done, cover the roots again with soil.

Aerial roots emerging from higher up on the tree can be left in place unless you dislike their appearance, or they start to grow somewhere that you don’t want them.

Note that this tree, like most in the Ficus genus, exudes latex when cut that can be irritating to the skin. People with a latex allergy are particularly susceptible.

Weeping figs can tolerate heavy pruning and you can shear them to encourage dense growth or to shape them into a topiary or a hedge.

In California or Arizona, your biggest job will be routine annual pruning to maintain a nice shape or remove any deadwood, which may only be required every few years or so.

In tropical climates with lots of humidity and the right soil, pruning the canopy is the least of your concerns. It’s the roots that you need to watch for.

Find more tips on pruning ficus trees here.

Propagation

These trees can be propagated from transplants, seed, stem cuttings, and by air layering.

For more information on each method, our guide to growing weeping figs indoors has all the details. You can also purchase seedlings or transplants.

Unless you plan to keep the tree constrained in a container on a patio or deck, don’t purchase one with a braided stem.

The braided stems are lovely on plants that stay small, but larger trees given room to grow and ideal conditions outdoors won’t do well.

Pests and Disease

Once these trees become large and well-established, nothing much bothers them.

But those that are constrained through shearing and pruning are more susceptible to problems, as are young trees.

Herbivores

Fortunately, deer don’t seem to be interested in this pretty plant.

Rabbits like to eat the leaves that they can reach, so they’re really only a problem when the trees are young.

To protect young trees, cover them with mesh or enclose them in fencing. Our guide to protecting plants from rabbits has more information.

Insects

The types of insects that attack weeping figs outdoors are totally different than the ones that may bother indoor plants.

Depending on the severity of an infestation, the problem can range from completely ignorable to deadly.

Psyllid Flies

There are two species of psyllids that may attack F. benjamina.

These are the ficus leaf rolling psyllid (FLRP) Trioza brevigenae and the curtain fig psyllid Macrohomotoma gladiata.

The first roll up the leaves of ficus plants to make little nests inside, while the latter lay eggs at the base of young leaves, causing deformed growth and covering the leaves in a waxy secretion that attracts sooty mold.

Colonies of the curtain psyllid look like big, cottony white tufts among the leaves.

Pirate bugs and lacewings are both natural enemies of these pests, so if you don’t have them in abundance already, it can pay off to purchase and release some in your yard.

Green Lacewing Eggs

Arbico Organics carries eggs, larvae, and adult lacewings.

Adults are best if you’re trying to introduce populations to your entire yard, but eggs are better for our purposes here. You can pick up the eggs in containers ranging from 1,000 to 250,000.

Then, spray down the tree and sprinkle the eggs and bran that they’re packaged in on the foliage, trying to cover as much of the tree as possible.

A treatment using a product containing the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana can also help.

BotaniGard ES

Our friends at Arbico Organics have a product called BotaniGard ES that can be sprayed on your plants to control these pests whenever they are present.

Thrips

Weeping ficus thrips (Gynaikothrips uzeli) are fairly new to the US, but they are making an impact.

So far, this pest has primarily been seen in Florida, but it has also popped up in Texas, California, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii.

Damage starts appearing in the spring, when the thrips start rolling up the edges of the trees’ leaves, making them somewhat resemble a pea pod.

The leaves may drop, especially in heavy rain or wind, and they may show some brown spotting.

The adults are dark brown or black and about three millimeters long. They usually only attack younger leaves.

Unless you have a very heavy infestation and your plant is young, you shouldn’t have to worry. The damage is just cosmetic in the case of mature plants.

Neem oil or products containing B. bassiana work to eradicate this pest as well.

Learn more about how to deal with thrips here.

Whiteflies

Whiteflies (Singhiella simplex) use their piercing mouthparts to stab and suck the juices out of plant tissue.

These tiny invertebrates are a serious problem for weeping figs in Florida, and plants are often completely defoliated by the pests in just a matter of weeks.

Spray once a week, and be absolutely sure to get the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops.

Learn more about how to deal with a whitefly infestation.

Disease

You’re far more likely to run into pest problems than diseases, but that doesn’t mean you can let your guard down completely.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

Bacterial leaf spot is a disease caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas campestris.

The first sign that your plant is infected is small, angular, yellow spots on the foliage. Eventually, these spots merge and the infected leaf turns brown and falls.

It’s spread by water, so ensuring that you water at the soil level can help to limit spread.

Once your plant is infected, there’s nothing you can do. It’s best to pull it and dispose of it. Don’t plant anything in the Ficus genus in the area for at least a year after removal.

Phomopsis

This disease is fungal in nature, caused by pathogens in the Phomopsis genus.

At first, you’ll see leaves turning brown and dropping off the tree, which can look like any number of diseases, pests, or problems.

But as the disease progresses, the branches start to die off as well. If you peel away the bark on the tree, you’ll notice that the wood underneath is black.

This disease won’t typically kill an entire plant, especially a large tree, but it can be unsightly and it spreads easily.