Delta Fig Ficus deltoidea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ficus diversifolia
- Phonetic Spelling
- FY-kus del-TOY-dee-uh
- Description
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Mistletoe Fig is an evergreen large shrub or small tree to 23' with a spreading and rounded growth habit and is sometimes epiphytic in its native habitat in SE Asia.
In cooler climates, it is commonly used as an indoor houseplant and will grow to 3 feet in a container. This is an unusual plant with shiny, waxy, green leaves and yellowish undersides that have triangular black glands in between the leaf veins. The plant also produces yellowish, non-edible figs year-round. It is also used as a bonsai specimen.
Mistletoe Fig prefers medium to high light, dry soil and medium relative humidity with a temperature of greater than 55 degrees F. It can tolerate low light conditions and temperatures to 30 degrees F. for short periods. It withstands heavy pruning with flowers and fruit appearing on both new and old growth. It has few pest/disease problems.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves have a DELTOID shape
- Leaf underside bears several black glands
- Fruit is present year-round
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Golden Form
small golden leaves - 'Variegata'
small green leaves edged with creamy yellow - 'Variegatus'
small triangular green variegated leaves with splashes of white
- Golden Form
- Golden Form, 'Variegata', 'Variegatus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Golden Form
small golden leaves - 'Variegata'
small green leaves edged with creamy yellow - 'Variegatus'
small triangular green variegated leaves with splashes of white
- Golden Form
- Golden Form, 'Variegata', 'Variegatus'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ficus
- Species:
- deltoidea
- Family:
- Moraceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant is used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeast Asia
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A globose to ellipsoidal fig, in pairs, green maturing to yellow and orange to red, 1/2 diameter.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Minute, axillary, unisexual flowers are enclosed in a fleshy receptacle (fig) that is pollinated by fig wasps.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Deltoid
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, deltoid, truncate or rounded apex, base cuneate, entire, stiffly coriaceous, with several black glands at vein joints underneath; the juvenile leaf is narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, acute, penniveined. Leaves are 1-3 inches long by .5 to 2 inches wide
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Bark Description:
- Light grey bark
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Slender, multibranched, stiff and short.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
