Ficus lyrata

Natural range and habitat of Ficus lyrata

Ficus lyrata is native to western and west-central tropical Africa, where it grows in wet tropical forest.

It can begin life above the ground on another tree and later send roots down into the soil, eventually developing into an independent tree.

Growing Ficus lyrata indoors

• Position: Keep the plant close to a bright window with abundant indirect light. Introduce gentle direct sun gradually so the broad leaves have time to adjust.
• Temperature and humidity: Temperatures of about 16–24 °C suit routine growth; extended cold below 10 °C should be avoided. Provide about 50–60% humidity.
• Water: When the surface is dry and the pot has lost a noticeable amount of weight, soak the mix thoroughly. Let water leave the drainage holes and empty any collected water afterwards.
• Potting mix: Use a chunky bark-rich houseplant mix with pumice or another coarse material so the potting mix wets evenly and excess water drains freely.
• Feeding: Feed with a balanced houseplant fertiliser while new leaves are forming. Pause when the growing tip stops growing, then start again when new growth appears.
• Trunk and crown: The woody stem normally carries the foliage on its own. Turn the pot a little at a time if the plant leans strongly toward the window. To encourage branching, remove the top of the main stem just above a healthy leaf node.
• Large leaves: Wipe dust from the broad surface with a soft damp cloth when it starts to look dull.
• Repotting: Repot when crowded roots slow the drainage or the potting mix no longer stays moist for as long as it used to.
• Propagation: Propagate with a healthy stem cutting that includes a node. Air layering is also possible on an established stem.

Common trouble signs on Ficus lyrata

• A fresh leaf opens with small reddish-brown dots: This is often oedema, which can happen when the roots supply water faster than the expanding leaf can release it. Let the surface dry and wait for the pot to feel lighter before watering again.
• Large dark patches spread while the potting mix stays wet: Root rot may be developing. Unpot the plant, trim every soft brown root back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rotten material and repot in fresh free-draining mix.
• A tan patch develops on the side facing the window after stronger sun: The leaf has scorched. Move the plant out of intense midday sun and increase direct sun gradually.
• Green leaves fall soon after moving the plant: A sudden change in light, temperature or watering can make leaves drop. Leave the plant in one stable bright position while it settles.
• Fine pale speckles and webbing spread across the leaves: Spider mites are likely. Isolate the plant, clean both sides of the broad leaves where practical, then use a product labelled for spider mites on indoor ornamentals at the repeat interval given on the label.

Ficus lyrata 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.

About the name Ficus lyrata

Classical Latin ficus means fig. Lyrata means lyre-shaped and describes the leaf outline.

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

Otto Warburg first described Ficus lyrata in 1894 in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, volume 20, page 172.