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Fastest growing ficus species?


moponike

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What is the fastest growing ficus out there and how fast is it per year? 

 

Edited by moponike
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My 2 Ficus palmeri went from 6' to 10' in height last summer.

Hi 88˚, Lo 48˚

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Casas Adobes - NW of Tucson since July 2014

formerly in the San Carlos region of San Diego

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On 3/7/2019 at 4:29 AM, Tom in Tucson said:

My 2 Ficus palmeri went from 6' to 10' in height last summer.

Hi 88˚, Lo 48˚

Where did you get them from, Tom? Any pics?

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1 hour ago, Josh76 said:

Where did you get them from, Tom? Any pics?

Desert Survivors Native Plant Nursery. They're here in the Tucson area, and are having a plant sale next week (10% off). It is a non-profit organization with there sales supporting adults with disabilities.

No pics.

Hi 65˚, Lo 46˚ (so far)

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Casas Adobes - NW of Tucson since July 2014

formerly in the San Carlos region of San Diego

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On 3/6/2019 at 6:09 AM, moponike said:

What is the fastest growing ficus out there and how fast is it per year? 

Ficus is such a big genus with native species on multiple continents, so I would think this is a rather difficult question to answer.  Perhaps more insight into the reason for the question might be helpful, or additional questions.  Are you trying to avoid a fast growing species or want a fast growing species?  Are you looking for something that becomes enormous like Ficus macrophylla? 

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33.0782 North -117.305 West  at 72 feet elevation

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I'm currently growing 14-15 species of ficus trees. Hands down, Ficus altissima 'variegata' is the fastest of all of the species I'm growing, now about 50 feet in height after about 20 years in the ground from a sapling.  The second fastest species I'm growing is Ficus rubinginosa.  

My Ficus macrophylla so far has been a fairly slow grower: https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pueblo-tree-falls-20190309-story.html

 

 

 

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Mad about palms

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7 hours ago, Walt said:

I'm currently growing 14-15 species of ficus trees. Hands down, Ficus altissima 'variegata' is the fastest of all of the species I'm growing, now about 50 feet in height after about 20 years in the ground from a sapling.  The second fastest species I'm growing is Ficus rubinginosa.  

My Ficus macrophylla so far has been a fairly slow grower: https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-pueblo-tree-falls-20190309-story.html

 

 

While I don't have a Ficus altissima 'variegata' for comparison, I do have a Ficus rubiginosa 'variegata'  and it does grow extremely fast during the summer months here in full sun. This winter, instead of frost cloth, I kept it up against the outside of my sunroom and that seems to have given it enough protection from winter lows. To the right of it is my largest (and frost-frazzled) Beccariophoenix alfredii. I also have a couple of Ficus obliqua (formerly eugeniodes) and they also grow very fast, but don't tolerate full sun where I live. 

 

Ficus_rubiginosa_variegata.png

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18 hours ago, Hillizard said:

While I don't have a Ficus altissima 'variegata' for comparison, I do have a Ficus rubiginosa 'variegata'  and it does grow extremely fast during the summer months here in full sun. This winter, instead of frost cloth, I kept it up against the outside of my sunroom and that seems to have given it enough protection from winter lows. To the right of it is my largest (and frost-frazzled) Beccariophoenix alfredii. I also have a couple of Ficus obliqua (formerly eugeniodes) and they also grow very fast, but don't tolerate full sun where I live. 

 

Ficus_rubiginosa_variegata.png

My Ficus rubinginosa (I have four of them in the ground) have lots of aerial roots, and the lower branches are sprawling on the ground and taking root. I like your variegated F. rubinginosa (nice leaf color).

Below is a photo of my Ficus altissima variegata when I first planted it out in April of 2000.  In January of 2001 my ficus was frozen down to the roots by a severe radiational freeze (22 degree low), which also killed my small royal palm planted to the left of the ficus. I thought it was dead so I cut the trunk off flush with the ground. But after a few weeks I started to notice new growth. The rest is history!

In essence, my Ficus altissima has grown to about 50 feet in height in 18 years, not counting outer crown die back from 2-3 bad freezes over the years, especially in 2010 when I had three 8" diameter branches on the north side of my ficus killed, when my all-time low of 20.8 degrees (in front yard) was recorded (another radiational freeze).

Ficus atissima 'variegata' April 2000.jpg

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Mad about palms

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Ficus auriculata is very fast growing but only grows 15-20 ft tall. North of zone 9b it is used as a diebacke perennial. It freezes down below about 27f and can grow 6-7ft in a season.

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Eric

Orlando, FL

zone 9b/10a

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On 3/9/2019 at 4:28 PM, Tracy said:

Ficus is such a big genus with native species on multiple continents, so I would think this is a rather difficult question to answer.  Perhaps more insight into the reason for the question might be helpful, or additional questions.  Are you trying to avoid a fast growing species or want a fast growing species?  Are you looking for something that becomes enormous like Ficus macrophylla? 

I want a fast one and wont mind huge ones like the one you mentioned. Is there any big ficus tree that can be expected to grow faster than 3 ft per year? 

Thanks for the responses everyone! Much appreciated.

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Here's a photo of my Ficus altissima 'variegata' after four years growth (January of 2005) after being totally frozen down to the ground in January of 2001. Note the Sabal palmetto to the ficus's right -- then notice the same Sabal palmetto in the far above photo I posted the other day, as it looks today. I can't say just how high my ficus was when I took this photo, but you will have to judge for yourself. In any event, I think this is relatively fast growth.

4 years ficus growth.JPG

Mad about palms

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Well, it does depend quite a bit on which type of ficus as well as where you will be growing it. Do you want a fruiting or non-fruiting variety? I bought and planted my ficus carica (hardy chicago fig) in a pot in either 2014/15, and it’s given me lots of lovely growth each year. I let it live outside in the summer and bring it in in the fall. As long as it doesnt get too windy for leaves to stay attached, my fig stays happy! (Knock on wood; something is going on with every other plant I own but if my ficus is harmed I will just die.) It does go through a dormancy around Nov or Dec each year—no idea if it’s normal or not—and then starts to give lots of new growth, starting in Jan or Feb. This past summer it produced figs for the first time, and they did remind me of the juicy, delicate treats I used to enjoy when living in the Mediterranean. 

Side note: mine is so sparse on the trunk and leaning like a cocos on the beach because it has led a very adventurous life, moving around from place to place and habitat to habitat. Normally they’re much bushier, but even though it has a permanent French poodle haircut and my fiance calls it a palm tree due to its looks, it’s currently happy and healthy. 

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  • 9 months later...

Reviving this for a relevant question:  What "big leaf" fast growing ficus would be good for a borderline 9b/9a area?  It sounds like the Ficus Auriculata would be a good bet, based on Eric's description.  I'm not looking for a monster 50' tall tree, but more 15-20' with large leaves and a dense growth pattern.  I'm considering it for a sound block for highway noise along with a couple of Magnolia and Bamboo species.  They sell Lyrata everywhere as a house plant, but UFL has it listed as a 10B plant.  

If you prune a ficus will it split branches to become bushier?  I do this with my viburnum hedge, it slows down the rate of growth but ends up with a much denser plant.

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I grow many species in California. The Moreton Bay Fig is still the fastest and biggest. I grew one from 2’ to 15’  in four years.

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Rock Ridge Ranch

South Escondido

5 miles ENE Rancho Bernardo

33.06N 117W, Elevation 971 Feet

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  • 2 weeks later...

 To piggy back onto moponike's question, which is the fastest-growing ficus species which can ALSO can tolerate USDA zone 9a..... if any?  Aren't ALL ficus trees zone 10 and warmer? 

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  • 5 months later...

Just hopping in here with a positive experience with Ficus palmata. I've grown 'Icebox' from Plant Delights Nursery as well as 'Iraqi', which appears to be an F.carica x F. palmata hybrid and both are very fast. My 'Icebox' has grown about 4 feet so far this season with no sign of stopping. Also, nice big round blue-green leaves.

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  • 7 months later...
On 7/13/2020 at 1:50 AM, matthedlund said:

Just hopping in here with a positive experience with Ficus palmata. I've grown 'Icebox' from Plant Delights Nursery as well as 'Iraqi', which appears to be an F.carica x F. palmata hybrid and both are very fast. My 'Icebox' has grown about 4 feet so far this season with no sign of stopping. Also, nice big round blue-green leaves.

I was thinking of trying PDN's Icebox down here in the Orlando area.  I've grown sea grapes but they drop all of their leaves around 28F with frost.  Small Ficus Benghalensis and Elastica did the same, but seem to be growing back already in February.  Do you have any freeze tolerance experience with Icebox or Iraqi?  I'm hoping to find a "big leaf" ficus that can stay evergreen into the upper 20s.

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  • 1 month later...
On 2/13/2021 at 5:24 AM, Merlyn said:

I was thinking of trying PDN's Icebox down here in the Orlando area.  I've grown sea grapes but they drop all of their leaves around 28F with frost.  Small Ficus Benghalensis and Elastica did the same, but seem to be growing back already in February.  Do you have any freeze tolerance experience with Icebox or Iraqi?  I'm hoping to find a "big leaf" ficus that can stay evergreen into the upper 20s.

Well, let me get back with you a few weeks to see if 'Icebox' buds out from the stems or the roots. I would think it would do just fine in Orlando climate wise, although I have heard that it's somewhat susceptible to nematodes. My 'Iraqi' is probably much more cold hardy, but a little less visually interesting.

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On 3/10/2019 at 8:48 AM, Walt said:

Hands down, Ficus altissima 'variegata' is the fastest of all of the species...

 

 

 

 

 

This really surprises me. I always assumed that the variegated form of a species, because of its reduced chlorophyll, is always slower than the solid-green form. In fact, I've acquired the variegated form of certain garden plants because the green form tends to be rampant. Do you also have the non-variegated Ficus altissima? I wonder how it compares.

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17 hours ago, matthedlund said:

Well, let me get back with you a few weeks to see if 'Icebox' buds out from the stems or the roots. I would think it would do just fine in Orlando climate wise, although I have heard that it's somewhat susceptible to nematodes. My 'Iraqi' is probably much more cold hardy, but a little less visually interesting.

I did buy a couple of Ficus Roxburghii / Auriculata from Woodlanders.net in January, on the recommendation of @mulungu.  They are already throwing some pretty decent sized leaves.  I just planted one Friday in the SE corner of the yard.  I dug up a frostburned sea grape and moved it to the front yard.  So this will be a good hardiness test in that area, there is a sea grape on the left, white bird of paradise in the middle, and tiny stick of Auriculata on the right (in the shadow of Bambusa Lako).  The whole area got mangled in early January when the tree cutting morons dropped a 40' long top of a pine on it.  The 30+ year old Dioon Edule in the bottom center was completely defoliated, but it's working on several new flushes.  So far everything is recovering though, which is incredibly lucky!

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