Ficus benjamina ‘Danita’

Where the species behind Ficus benjamina ‘Danita’ grows naturally

Ficus benjamina is an evergreen tree native across tropical and subtropical Asia and northern Australia, with much of its natural range in wet tropical habitats.

Everyday care for Ficus benjamina ‘Danita’

• Start with a stable place: Bright filtered daylight and an even room temperature suit ‘Danita’. Keep it above 13 °C and away from cold draughts or direct heater airflow. After delivery, let it settle before repotting or doing substantial pruning.
• Water by feel and weight: Wait for the surface to begin drying and for the pot to feel lighter. Water thoroughly and let the excess drain. When growth slows, the mix will take longer to dry, so wait longer before watering again.
• Use a mix that drains well: A peat-free houseplant mix with loam and fine bark works well. Repot one size up when roots crowd the container, show through the drainage holes or make the pot dry much faster than it used to.
• Feeding and humidity: Apply a foliage-plant fertiliser while the plant is making fresh growth, following the label for dose and frequency. Pause regular feeding during periods without fresh growth. Moderate to high humidity is suitable, and a humidifier can help if the room stays very dry.
• Support, pruning, propagation and safety: No stake or moss pole is needed. Prune a long shoot just above a leaf when shaping is needed. For propagation, take a cutting from a young stem that is partly firm but still flexible, and keep it warm until roots form. The sap can irritate skin, and the plant is harmful if eaten, so wear gloves when cutting and keep it away from children and pets.

Troubleshooting Ficus benjamina ‘Danita’

• Leaves fall after a change of room or position: Check for reduced light, cold air or a potting mix that is staying wet. Give ‘Danita’ one bright, sheltered position and check how wet the mix is before watering again.
• Lower leaves yellow while the pot stays heavy: Prolonged wetness can injure the roots. If yellowing continues, take the plant out of its pot, cut soft, dark rotten roots back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the damaged roots and repot in fresh, freely draining mix.
• Tiny pale dots and webbing appear: Spider mites are the first pest to check for. Isolate ‘Danita’, rinse the leaf surfaces and use an indoor-plant treatment labelled for spider mites if needed. Repeat it as directed on the label.
• Sticky areas develop with brown shells or white cottony growth: Inspect the stems for scale insects or mealybugs. Remove visible pests, keep the plant apart from nearby houseplants and use an indoor-plant treatment labelled for the pest you identify. Repeat it as directed on the label.

Ficus benjamina ‘Danita’ 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.

What does Ficus benjamina mean, and who first published it?

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.