Fig tree in American South West

[Josh76]

I know this is a palm forum, but as there are many members in the US, I'm hoping someone can help me locate a Ficus/fig specimen...

I remember seeing photos of a large fig tree (not F. carica) growing either in Arizona or New Mexico and I seem to recall that it was native to that area (or perhaps just over the border in México). If memory serves me right, it was growing in a Mission or similar-style building and looked quite old. Does this ring any bells for anyone?

[JasonD]

Could it be this species, Ficus insipida?: https://apps.cals.arizona.edu/arboretum/taxon.aspx?id=418

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Josh76 said:

I know this is a palm forum, but as there are many members in the US, I'm hoping someone can help me locate a Ficus/fig specimen...

I remember seeing photos of a large fig tree (not F. carica) growing either in Arizona or New Mexico and I seem to recall that it was native to that area (or perhaps just over the border in México). If memory serves me right, it was growing in a Mission or similar-style building and looked quite old. Does this ring any bells for anyone?

Would need a better idea of what the leaves look like.. besides F. insipida,  other Ficus sp. native to just to my south in Sonora / Sinaloa include:

** = Most common in cultivation. Never personally seen the others in gardens, except the campus Arboretum in Tucson.

**F. petiolaris v. palmeri

**F. petiolaris v. petiolaris

F. aurea,

F. cotinifolia,

F. maxima,

F. obtusifolia,

F. pertusa,

F. trigonata

..Plus a couple others i can't recall of the top of my head atm.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

Speaking of Ficus,  while taking a quick walk in a nearby park, found this little ( well, maybe not so little, lol ) surprise..  a free- growing Ficus religiosa

There are a couple others in a yard nearby but they're constantly trimmed and rammed into some pretty small planters that are surrounded by concrete / pavers.

This specimen is freely planted and subject to whatever weather we have each winter, our special flavor of sun/ heat thru the summer...  Can see the base is starting to flare just a little as well..

[richtrav]

Ficus religiosa is the curse here, it freely comes up in fields, concrete and asphalt cracks and abandoned areas. I can totally see it volunteering in an irrigated area in Arizona.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, richtrav said:

Ficus religiosa is the curse here, it freely comes up in fields, concrete and asphalt cracks and abandoned areas. I can totally see it volunteering in an irrigated area in Arizona.

 

Wouldn't doubt it.. I'll have to keep an eye on this one since it is loaded w/ Fruit..  Not sure the wasp to pollinate it is around - yet - though. 

That said, was talking to someone i know in Tucson and was told the wasp that pollinates F. pertusa, in southern Sonora may have made it's way north.  Apparently a mother specimen they have at the nursery has been producing viable seed over the last couple years ..Seed comes up around that specimen, in nearby pots was how he explained it.

 

[spike]

I haven't seen a ton of volunteer ficus in LA, maybe the low humidity. If the desert species were able to set seeds, I think that they would get weedy. 

[Silas_Sancona]

18 minutes ago, spike said:

I haven't seen a ton of volunteer ficus in LA, maybe the low humidity. If the desert species were able to set seeds, I think that they would get weedy. 

Species specific wasps would have to be present for fruit to produce viable seed on most Ficus sp.. 

More than likely, even the Sonoran sp. would stick to seasonal or, more likely,  perennial streams / canyon bottoms like they do in southern Sonora if they did manage to start reproducing in CA, ..or here in the warmer parts of Arizona. F. petiolaris being a possible exception since it will grow out of seemingly bone dry cracks in boulders / cliff faces.. Locally native form of Plumeria rubra in Sonora / northern Sinaloa, and the cape region around Baja Sur can be found growing in similar conditions as F. petiolaris down there as well... More often scrappy looking bushes than tall, lush looking trees outside of monsoon season.

Edited April 3, 2022 by Silas_Sancona
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