Ficus benjamina

The weeping fig, Ficus benjamina, carries its fine, glossy foliage on gracefully pendulous branchlets, building a dense green curtain from ground to crown. Few evergreens screen as quickly or as completely in warm climates, and few carry the same softness of outline.

In the landscape

A proven screening and avenue tree for tropical and subtropical projects, planted at 3–4 m centres it closes into a continuous visual barrier within a few seasons, and as a single specimen it matures into a broad, weeping dome. It clips well, taking formal hedging at height. Keep it well clear of paving, pools and services: like most figs its root system is vigorous, so allow generous setbacks or specify root barriers.

Growing notes

• Climate: thrives in tropical and subtropical Queensland and warm coastal New South Wales; frost sensitive, so not suited to cold inland districts or southern states
• Evergreen, fast growing in warmth
• Soil: adaptable to most free-draining soils; performs best with reliable moisture
• Mature size in the ground: typically 8–15 m tall with a similar spread if left unpruned; readily held smaller as a clipped screen
• Tolerates coastal exposure and heavy pruning

This tree

• Currently standing: 64 trees
• Field-grown ex-ground at Donkin Farm, Utchee Creek, root-pruned and basket-lifted, delivered and craned Australia-wide; price on application through the Shortlist