why are you guys so in love with the Ficus ?

I am wondering too

Don't look at me.

LOL! Best comment I've seen in a long time!

And don't get me wrong, I love Ficus, but give me a well-grown F. auriculata over this one any day.

why are you guys so in love with the Ficus ?

I started this but am not in love with the plant. I like big leaves and plants that are easy to grow. But after reading all the comments from some folks who are good growers, I've decided to look for another species.

Ficus auriculata should be grown more. It does great in FL and very fast growing. It doesn't get tall, maybe 20ft but has a wide canopy. But not an aggressive root system like the banyan-type Ficus.

Ficus auriculata's biggest issue for me is the massive leaf litter when it drops it's leaves. Other then that if you have patience it can be trained into a nice, smaller tree.

Ficus shmicus, they all belong in the fire pit, along with eucalyptus!

I love the huge tropical looking leaves. I can't grow many of the large leaf tropicals because of my very hot summers and frosty nights. This ficus has that big beautiful leaf that I love plus the interesting fruit. Throw on the fact that it's a rare plant to get ahold of and I fall head over heels for it...

Because I will soon have an evergreen canopy that I can walk and plant underneath that looks like this.

Because it looks like this:

Ficus shmicus, they all belong in the fire pit, along with eucalyptus!

I love it! That sounds like something my dad would say

I love figs,all monkeys love figs,who does not love figs,ficus is base of whole civilization.

agree with Pogobob.

Long live the Ficus dammmy! Give it to um Peter!

The orangatan and I are gonna chainsaw a bunch of ficus, Pines, and eucs at the new place when escrow closes. Can't wait to holler TIMBER!!

Stone the crows

Don't spit the dammy

Because it looks like this:

These photos convince me that this tree should stay on my "wish list." Anybody heard of any for sale that can be shipped, please let me know... I'll add a note in the "plants wanted" section too.

Passed by this one on my way to take some other pics. In my mind, they have a place in any garden.

Nice Dean!

Nice Dean!

Peter,

That was planted as a small one gal. bought from the nursery on Oahu you told me about during your visit here - along with an Amherstia and Mangosteen that you recommended I try. So you can get some idea of the growth rate. I have no idea what year you visited. It went in the ground about 6 months after you were here.

Hey Dean, I think it was about 4 years ago. How are you Amherstia and mangosteen doing? I need to get back over there one of these days.

Hey Dean, I think it was about 4 years ago. How are you Amherstia and mangosteen doing? I need to get back over there one of these days.

Well, that particular Amherstia is about head high (another I found is about 8ft tall now). Both the original Am. and Man. suffered a bit from the "too long in pot" syndrom - choosing to put palms in the choice spots instead. As you can see, the Dammaropsis got planted right away, and did not.

But the Mangosteen will have a new home soon. But now I have acquired some other of your recommendations, and they need spots too. (Browneopsis and Saraca)

More pots than spots.

BTW - you're cleared for a visit any time.

Ficus, because size matters.

They really look nice planted near palms.

Don't look at me.

I try

I still see people growing huge tracts of ivy, junipers, and hedges trimmed to look like....well, not like hedges.....That just goes to show that taste (or lack of taste) is widely variable. Ficus dammaropsis isn't going to impress some people, but for those of us who like the various aroids and tropical look, it is a fantastic plant that can be a centerpiece in your garden.

I have to admit I was wrong.

that plant is pretty cool !

Edited June 11, 201411 yr by trioderob

I actually like ficus auriculata equally with dammaropsis. My auriculata is about 15 feet and growing up over my rock in my backyard, very pretty plant. There are two forms of auriculata, the one i have here and one that is fast growing and has leaves with serrated edges which is maybe some other plant.

I think many people love Ficus because most are fast growing with lush, tropical evergreen leaves. I have several...the only drawback is that they grow too quickly.

The only two species I grow which are are very controllable as far as size are: F. palmeri and buxifolia. My Ficus cyathistipula, craterastoma and thonningii grow so very quickly all year long.

Here's s a few photos I took recently. Sorry the giant 'Thai Dwarf' papaya is in the way of the F. craterastoma in photo number one.

The F. cyathistipula between the African Tulip tree and Jacaranda tree was started from a 4" cutting back in fall of 2008 from the mother tree which is in the last photo.

I am a Ficus fan but F. dammaropsis doesnt do it for me,too xerophytic looking with its upcurved, serrated leafs. I like droopy leafs and preferably roots hanging from the branches I must admit i have never seen it in person but the photos of it are not too ''wow'' for me. The banyans are though,both in photos and in person!

And i love the huge growing Eucalyptus as well,especially the ones with droopy leafs and hanging branches...Definitely not for the fire pit and they recover much better from fire than many trees...They have naturalized here and their forests are among the most amazing ones you see,true closed rainforest-like forests Only Archontophoenix are missing growing from beneath! I should plant some one day as such forests are next to swamplands and Archontophoenix would survive there!

"why so much love for the Ficus dammaropsis ?" -

Trioderob

any of you guys like these titles I come up with ?

Whooo, the new leaves are nice! This is 48 hours after starting to open.

Edited June 18, 201411 yr by Pando

Palms and ficus just seem to go together.

Here is my 10 year old d. Baronii with one of my smaller f . Dammaropsis.

Jeff

Hmm I wonder if this thread hasn't turned more people on to Ficus dammaropsis than away from it.

My new lovely one from Jeff Rood (thanks so much!!) is growing very well and awaiting its turn to escape to Puerto Rico. If I didn't read Palmtalk, I would never have found this plant to purchase. Of course before Palmtalk I'd never even heard of this one to add it to my wish list.

bump for cool thread

i like it but I prefer f. auriculata over it. Not to mention how much cheaper the auriculata is

Edited June 23, 201510 yr by raimeiken

Its a beautiful non-palm/tropical looking plant. I just planted the one I brought one back with me on a recent trip to San Diego - I packed it up and took it with me on Southwest Airlines - although the box was oversized and they charged me $75 to take it home... it was worth it - love the huge leaves!! It's now happily planted semi-shaded by a large macadamia tree.

be sure to give it enough water over the hot summer !