Ficus religiosa

[palmmermaid]

A friend offered to give me a nice start-up of the Ficus religiosa. I think it gets really large - up to 90'. Is it as dangerous to have as some of the other ficus species as far as invasive roots go? I don't want to turn this thing loose without knowing the implications. I can plant it pretty far from the house and septic tank but want to make sure it won't reach out and grab everything.

I like the leaves on this species with the long points. And I like free plants. I have read where you can bonsai this species - I won't be doing that.

Thoughts? Recommendations?

[Eric in Orlando]

It does get big. I'm not sure if the roots are extremely aggressive like other banyan-type Ficus. I would imagine they are nearly so. One thing is that it does not produce aerial roots.

[fastfeat]

Roots are comparable to other large Ficus species. Plant well-away from buildings, concrete, and leach lines.

[palmmermaid]

Thanks for the responses. I will need to mull this over.

[doranakandawatta]

In Sri Lanka, F. religiosa is called Bo-tree, and it is a very religious tree.

It's almost not allowed to plant one Bo-tree in your garden ( at least nobody does that!), or you have to admit that a temple will be built close to the tree!

F.religiosa is not an evergreen tree, he gets lovely new pinkish leaves

Here, in Badulla area...

[Brian Bruning]

And it is rather hardy. There are a couple here in northern CA but on Temple grounds as far as I know. I planted one of them. The local Japanese tend to trim them to keep them in bounds. No frost damage since '89/90 when all froze and they got foliar damage.

[RedRabbit]

Does anyone know what the growth rate is like on these? I've read they're fast, but I'm only aware of two in this area and both are fairly small.

Edited November 17, 2019 by RedRabbit

[Silas_Sancona]

15 minutes ago, RedRabbit said:

Does anyone know what the growth rate is like on these? I've read they're fast, but I'm only aware of two in this area and both are fairly small.

There in Florida, I'd consider F. religiosa a pretty fast grower, especially if they get lots of water.    There's a couple planted outside a house not too far from me but those are trimmed regularly to keep small. Our summer heat/ general lack of water where theyre planted likely helps to limit how fast they grow also.   Like all Ficus, don't plant where roots can ( will ) wander.  The ultimate sewer line / sidewalk destroyer. No doubt the two located here will likely get pulled once they start breaking out of the concrete planters they're in currently. 

[RedRabbit]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

There in Florida, I'd consider F. religiosa a pretty fast grower, especially if they get lots of water.    There's a couple planted outside a house not too far from me but those are trimmed regularly to keep small. Our summer heat/ general lack of water where theyre planted likely helps to limit how fast they grow also.   Like all Ficus, don't plant where roots can ( will ) wander.  The ultimate sewer line / sidewalk destroyer. No doubt the two located here will likely get pulled once they start breaking out of the concrete planters they're in currently. 

Thanks @Silas_Sancona!