Large Ficus Elastica in Clearwater

[JJPalmer]

I haven't seen this one posted here yet, but I drive by this large ficus elastica almost every day in Clearwater.  Surprising too, because I figured that this portion of Pinellas would be one of the cooler spots, and this to be well older than the 2010/2011 freezes.  How would the hardiness of f. elastica compare with f. benghalensis?  I wonder how many more ficus specimens are in Northern Pinellas.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9900074,-82.7370669,3a,49.5y,1.84h,96.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8ZKH1OACcBM2jA9uScgOZg!2e0!5s20181201T000000!7i16384!8i8192

 

Edited December 27, 2019 by JJPalmer

[Silas_Sancona]

49 minutes ago, JJPalmer said:

I haven't seen this one posted here yet, but I drive by this large ficus elastica almost every day in Clearwater.  Surprising too, because I figured that this portion of Pinellas would be one of the cooler spots, and this to be well older than the 2010/2011 freezes.  How would the hardiness of f. elastica compare with f. benghalensis?  I wonder how many more ficus specimens are in Northern Pinellas.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9900074,-82.7370669,3a,49.5y,1.84h,96.32t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s8ZKH1OACcBM2jA9uScgOZg!2e0!5s20181201T000000!7i16384!8i8192

 

Nice find..

Know this area pretty well since the nursery/landscape co. i worked for when i lived in Largo awhile back had several maintenance accounts up this way, inc. Dimmit Chevy just north of the pic's location on 19. Funny story.. At the start of the 2009/2010 freeze, we'd just arrived at the dealership to install some winter annuals, & trim some of the trees in front of the property when, while getting stuff out of the trucks.. there were snow flakes flying. Of all the places i have lived, never thought i'd see snow at sea level, for the first time in my life.. ..in Florida..  I see the Chinese Fans planted in front of the apartment complex across from the dealership have grown quite a bit in the length of time since i lived in the area.. Anyway..

While i can't speak for Florida, large sized F. elastica and benghalensis can be seen in/around Phoenix and seem to handle our winters fine. Between the two, biggest Ficus elastica i have seen w/ my own eyes are located up in Old Town Scottsdale though. Might be a few at the Zoo as well.  That said, i myself would say they're both pretty close on the hardiness scale, with F. benghalensis being slightly more cold tolerance, at least here since you see many more of them around town. That's subjective though.. It could be that F. elastica just isn't planted as much  since many might assume they couldn't tolerate our summer heat since they're offered as house plants vs. landscape trees..   Beautiful trees regardless, just have to have the space for them.

[RedRabbit]

Great ficus, thanks for sharing! 

I think F elasticia are somewhat cold tolerant once established. Frank Tintera has a much bigger one in his garden in Town N Country, which is further north and further from the water. There’s another big one growing on a lake in the Lago Vista neighborhood in Tampa. I think those are proof they can be grown in 9b areas, but I’ve seen a lot of young ones die too so they’re certainly not bulletproof.

Regarding Northern Pinellas, I’m just aware of some F aurea in places like Safety Harbor, Dunedin, etc. I haven’t spent much time in N Pinellas, but my new house is only about a mile from Oldsmar so I’m looking forward to getting to know the area better.

Edited December 28, 2019 by RedRabbit

[Bennz]

Interesting shape to that tree, do you think it has been cut down (or frosted) resulting in multiple trunks? Could it be multiplanted? Did you get any close up pictures?

[kinzyjr]

We have a few large ones in our neighborhood.  This is one that is roughly 50 ft. currently.

From 2024 (2 photos)

From 2025:

It's larger than other trees in the neighborhood, other than a few of the old oaks.

[Than]

They do fine in zone 10a here, even though our 10a is more like 9a in the US, so it wouldn't be surprising to see them thrive in US zone 9b.