They’ll be happiest in a bright room, but away from direct sunlight (it burns their leaves). Light shade is ok too.
They’re not very thirsty, so you can let them almost dry out entirely before watering them again. They hate soggy soil.
They cope quite well in rooms with dry air, but a misting occasionally will help keep the air moist and their leaves fresh.
BOTANICAL NAME
Ficus benhalensis
COMMON NAME
Audrey fig; Banyan fig; Benghal fig
PLANT TYPE
Evergreen, indoor
PLANT HEIGHT (INCLUDING POT)
80-90cm
PET/BABY SAFE?
No
NURSERY POT SIZE
21cm
The large oval leaves of the Audrey fig, with their pale green veins, make for a very handsome houseplant. Its tall, dense growth makes it a good choice for anywhere you want a bit of impact.
In the wild, this tree can become absolutely enormous, reaching a height of around 30 metres and as much as 200 metres in diameter. It grows all across India – in fact, it’s the national tree of India – and it’s valued for the shade its giant canopy provides in the extreme heat.
It’s sometimes rather gruesomely known as strangling fig because in the wild it begins its life growing in the branches of large trees. Gradually, it wraps itself around its host, until eventually it envelops it completely. Don’t worry, it won’t try to strangle any of your other plants.
It’s very easy to care for as a houseplant. It likes its soil to remain quite dry, so let it dry out almost completely, then give it a really good soak. Let any excess water drain off so it doesn’t sit in water. It likes quite a bright room, but isn’t keen on direct sun, which can burn its leaves. It can grow quite quickly, especially if you give it a monthly feed in spring and summer.
Please note: This plant's sap can be poisonous so keep it well away from pets and small children.
Did you know?
In Hindu mythology this plant is known as ‘the wish-fulfilling tree’. (We cannot accept returns if it doesn’t grant your wishes)
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