Ficus lyrata 'Bambino'

From West African species to the 1992 Ficus lyrata 'Bambino' selection

Ficus lyrata comes from wet tropical forests in western and west-central Africa.

'Bambino' traces back to a whole-plant mutation discovered at a nursery in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in 1992. Cuttings from that plant kept its very short stem spacing, thick broad leaves and very short leaf stalks.

Keeping Ficus lyrata 'Bambino' healthy indoors

• Light: Give 'Bambino' strong bright indirect light close to a window. Good light helps new stem growth stay compact, with the leaves close together.
• Shape: Leave the growing tip intact for a narrow upright plant. To encourage side branches, cut the upright stem just above the highest healthy leaf node with a clean tool.
• Water: Water deeply once the surface is dry and the pot feels lighter, then allow the container to drain completely.
• Potting mix: Use an airy bark-based houseplant mix with pumice or perlite so excess water drains easily and air can still reach the roots.
• Leaf care: Hold each thick leaf gently with one hand while wiping dust away with a soft damp cloth.
• Temperature and humidity: Temperatures of about 18–27 °C support steady growth in 'Bambino'. Medium household humidity suits its foliage.
• Feeding: Feed while the growing tip is producing new leaves. If it stops making fresh leaves, pause fertiliser until the next new leaf begins to grow.
• Repotting: Move the plant into a slightly larger pot when the roots fill the pot or it starts drying out much sooner than before.
• Propagation: Root a healthy stem cutting with at least one node.

Problems that affect Ficus lyrata 'Bambino'

• The newest stem section becomes stretched and open: The plant is not getting enough light to keep its compact growth. Move the plant closer to a bright window and check whether the next leaves grow closer together.
• Small reddish-brown marks appear as a new leaf opens: Oedema can occur when the potting mix stays too wet while a new leaf is opening. Let the surface dry and wait until the pot feels lighter before watering again.
• Lower leaves yellow while the pot stays wet: The potting mix is staying wet for too long. Let the mix dry further; if yellowing continues, inspect the roots and remove every rotten section back to firm healthy tissue with a clean tool. Discard the damaged roots and repot in fresh airy mix.
• White cottony clusters gather where the leaves meet the stem: Mealybugs are likely. Isolate the plant, remove insects from these tight spaces, then use a product labelled for mealybugs on indoor ornamentals at the repeat interval stated on the label.

Ficus lyrata ‘Bambino’ 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 lyrata mean, and who first published it?

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.