Ficus Triangularis-how big do they get??

[Gbarce]

I have this variegated Ficus Triangularis and I am thinking of planting it in the ground. But I have a number of questions about the species

[Gbarce]

I have always kept it either indoors or under shade cloth and I was wondering how much sun exposure it can take. Will those variegated leaves burn ?

More importantly-- How big do these get and will the roots be invasive? I've has a lot of problems with a different Ficus species before because the tree got too big and and the roots were spreading agressively around teh property.

[ariscott]

I have a normal green one... Nobody can tell me how big they get, so mine is still in pot too. I lost the variegated one

[fastfeat]

  On 4/14/2011 at 12:14 AM, Gbarce said:

I have always kept it either indoors or under shade cloth and I was wondering how much sun exposure it can take. Will those variegated leaves burn ?

More importantly-- How big do these get and will the roots be invasive? I've has a lot of problems with a different Ficus species before because the tree got too big and and the roots were spreading agressively around teh property.

Gene--

I ran a quick Google photo search, and came up with very few large plants in the sun, though Merry Horticulture in Malaysia has what they call variegated F. triangularis growing in the sun. (I don't know how much different your climates might be?)

Also listed here as suitable as a shrub in Hawaii.

The variegated Ficus that I've seen used in landscapes-- F. benjamina, F. microcarpa, F, rubiginosa, F. altissima, F. aspera-- have almost all eventually adapted to sun. I've heard that the white-variegated form of F. religiosa can't take sun though. (I could only grow F. triangularis'Variegata' (now listed as F. natalensis) only as a SoCal houseplant (too cold here, and I seldom saw the in SoFla landscapes either). http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-2811436

You should consider revitalizing the plant (looks rather sparse/stunted) with some good fertilizer before planting in the ground so it can get off to a quick start. Good luck.

Edited April 14, 2011 by fastfeat

[virtualpalm]

Gene, here are a few photos of the specimen that we have here at our nursery. As you can see, they can get quite large.

Jody

[ariscott]

How old is that Jody? Thanks for posting that....

[Gbarce]

wow. ok so they do get big.

for some reason I have never seen the varigated form in the ground over here

looks like the roots are not as agressive as other Ficuses

[virtualpalm]

  On 4/15/2011 at 9:31 PM, ariscott said:

How old is that Jody? Thanks for posting that....

I honestly don't know how old it is. We got it as a specimen.

Jody