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Ficus altissima 'variegata' 18 years of growth


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The below photos show how much my Ficus altissima 'variegata' tree has grown over an 18 year period. 

I bought my tree and planted it in April of 2000 (photo 1 below). Note in the photo the Sabal palmetto and the small Philodenron selloums planted around it. The tree immediately started to grow rather fast, but on January 5, 2001 a severe radiational freeze froze my ficus down to the roots. I thought the tree was dead so I cut the trunk off flush with the ground so that it wouldn't interfere with mowing.

However, a few weeks later I noticed some new growth coming from the cut off trunk. As the weather warmed this growth continued at a rapid rate, and multiple trunks formed. I didn't mind that, I was just happy that my tree survived. 

Photo 2 shows my ficus tree about 6 years later (after it was frozen down to the roots). Note now how my ficus is moving closer to the Sabal palmetto, and note how the Philodendron selloums have grown and spread.

Photo 3 shows my ficus tree in June of 2019.  Note now that the tree is starting to grow above and into the Sabal palmetto, and how much the Philodendron selloums have grown.

Photo 4 shows my ficus tree from another angle.

My Ficus tree would probably be bigger today,  but it has been partially frozen back on many occasions. In 2010 several big branches on the north side (coldest side facing the open yard) were killed back to the trunk area, which I subsequently cut off. I will post some freeze photos later.

I've rooted cuttings from this tree and planted them, but these trees have never grown at the speed the mother tree did.

My mother tree has only produced red colored figs once, several years ago.

Ficus altissima April 2000.jpg

5-29-2007 ficus.jpg

6-14-20119_ficus.jpg

6-12-2019_ficus.jpg

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Mad about palms

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