Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’

Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’ and its species background

‘Danielle’ was already in European cultivation by the mid-1990s. The species itself is native from tropical and subtropical Asia to northern Australia, where it grows as a woody evergreen tree in wet tropical habitats.

Keeping Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’ healthy

• Watering: Wait until the surface is beginning to dry and the pot feels lighter. Water until the potting mix is evenly wet, then let the excess drain. Slower shoot growth means the mix will also take longer to dry.
• Light: Bright indirect or filtered daylight supports steady foliage growth. After delivery or a move, keep ‘Danielle’ in one suitable position while it adjusts.
• When to repot: Choose a peat-free houseplant mix containing loam and fine bark. Move to a slightly larger container when roots crowd the pot, emerge through the drainage holes or make watering necessary much sooner than before.
• Keep the room steady: Temperatures above 13 °C and moderate to high humidity suit this fig. Leave space between the foliage and cold windows, draughty doors, radiators and other strong heat sources.
• Feeding and leaf care: Feed while new leaves and shoots are growing, using a foliage-plant fertiliser as directed on the label. Stop feeding when new growth stops. Wipe dust from the glossy leaves so they receive light evenly and early pest signs remain easy to see.
• Support, pruning, propagation and safety: A climbing support is unnecessary. Shorten selected stems just above a leaf when shaping is needed. For propagation, use a young stem that has begun to firm while remaining flexible, and keep the cutting warm while it roots. Wear gloves around the white sap and keep the plant away from children and pets because Ficus benjamina is harmful if eaten.

Solving problems with Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’

• Many green leaves fall suddenly: Look first for a recent move, reduced light, cold air, potting mix that stays wet or overfeeding. Correct the most likely cause and give ‘Danielle’ time in a stable bright position.
• Fresh leaves stay small or pale: Low light is a common cause of weak new growth. Increase filtered daylight gradually and check whether the next leaves are larger and greener.
• Yellow leaves keep appearing while the mix stays wet: Excess moisture may have damaged the roots. Inspect them if the pot remains damp for a long time. Cut every soft, dark rotten section back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the damaged material and repot in fresh, freely draining mix.
• Leaves show pale pinpricks with fine webbing: Spider mites are likely. Isolate the plant, rinse the foliage well and use a product labelled for spider mites when needed. Repeat it as directed on the label.
• Sticky foliage appears with brown shells or white cottony clusters: Scale insects or mealybugs may be feeding on the plant. Remove visible pests, keep the plant separate and use a treatment labelled for the pest you confirm. Repeat it as directed on the label.

Ficus benjamina ‘Danielle’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs, and avoid contact with its milky sap.
• The latex contains ficin and psoralens, which can irritate the mouth, digestive tract, skin and eyes.
• Exposure may cause mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting, stomach pain or a skin rash. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms develop or persist.

Why is it called Ficus benjamina?

Classical Latin ficus means fig. The epithet benjamina preserves a historical plant name used for this fig.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Ficus in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 1059; Joseph Pitton de Tournefort had proposed the name.

Carl Linnaeus first described Ficus benjamina in 1767 in Mantissa Plantarum, page 129.