Ficus Dammaropsis - size and controllability

[Micha.]

Hi all,

New to posting, but long time reader since embarking on my palm journey.

Now that I have filled my garden with palms, I might have the opportunity to get my hands on a ficus dammaropsis. 

I live in Sydney about 3km from the ocean, so from my understanding reasonably similar to coastal SoCal.

I’ve gone through the previous topics on this plant, but couldn’t quite find an answer. In this type of climate, what is the growth rate and typical mature height/width of this one? Can it be kept under control with a relatively low amount of pruning, say once a year?

I’ve got a spot for it, but it is not very big. I’m reading articles that they get to 20-30+ (7-10m) feet and pretty wide, but can’t see that on any of the photos here in the forum. 

The one in the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens is huge obviously, but so is every other plant there compared to the average garden. It also doesn’t give an insight of how well size can be controlled.

Fyi: Photo of the back fence in my garden (back fence is about 6 feet high). Space i’m thinking of is the right corner behind the monstera in a pot. The lilly pilly would go.

Cheers,

Michael

 

Edited December 1, 2023 by Micha.
Typo

[Micha.]

Adding to the above, would also be interested to hear whether it can handle some shade in winter. In summer that spot gets 6 hours of sun, but i can be full shade in winter (until it starts getting above the fence height).

[Tracy]

  On 12/1/2023 at 1:04 AM, Micha. said:

Hi all,

New to posting, but long time reader since embarking on my palm journey.

Now that I have filled my garden with palms, I might have the opportunity to get my hands on a ficus dammaropsis. 

I live in Sydney about 3km from the ocean, so from my understanding reasonably similar to coastal SoCal.

I’ve gone through the previous topics on this plant, but couldn’t quite find an answer. In this type of climate, what is the growth rate and typical mature height/width of this one? Can it be kept under control with a relatively low amount of pruning, say once a year?

I’ve got a spot for it, but it is not very big. I’m reading articles that they get to 20-30+ (7-10m) feet and pretty wide, but can’t see that on any of the photos here in the forum. 

The one in the Sydney Royal Botanical Gardens is huge obviously, but so is every other plant there compared to the average garden. It also doesn’t give an insight of how well size can be controlled.

Fyi: Photo of the back fence in my garden (back fence is about 6 feet high). Space i’m thinking of is the right corner behind the monstera in a pot. The lilly pilly would go.

Cheers,

Michael

 

Expand  

My observation is there is a difference between the red frit and green fruit varieties.  I have the red fruit which seems more temperamental.  In 8 years I have never had to prune mine.  It periodically dies back to a main growth point and grows anew.  Only in the last couple of years does it seem to have a permanent trunk.

The green fruit variety that I have seen in other gardens seem less likely to exhibit this trait.  Any idea which you have access to acquire?

[Micha.]

Hi Tracy, not sure whether it is red/green fruited. It is named as being from the highlands.

Edited December 1, 2023 by Micha.

[ASHCVS]

This is a definitive article on the topic:
 

https://geo.cbs.umn.edu/Ezedin&Weiblen2019.pdf

 

and here is mine:

 

[Micha.]

@ASHCVS thanks for sharing that paper. Good read, but it doesn’t really address its growth behaviour and pruning ability in a typical home garden. 
 

Certainly a decent size at your place. What climate/location are you in? How long in ground? Do you ever prune it?

[ASHCVS]

I live beachside, Santa Monica California. Obviously a very strong grower with few requirements. Planted about 10 years ago although my wife wishes I would prune it, I haven’t done so. It does occupy a lot of space but it truly is a wonderful accent to the palms. 

[Than]

I am in zone 9b, get light frost few nights.. do I stand a chance?

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 12/2/2023 at 5:09 PM, ego said:

I am in zone 9b, get light frost few nights.. do I stand a chance?

Expand  

Trial worthy? sure.  Roxburgh Fig is hardier, with a similar look..https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/361868-Ficus-auriculata

[Than]

  On 12/2/2023 at 5:29 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Trial worthy? sure.  Roxburgh Fig is hardier, with a similar look..https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/361868-Ficus-auriculata

Expand  

I bought seeds, they all germinated and then all died one after the other. 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 12/2/2023 at 5:33 PM, ego said:

I bought seeds, they all germinated and then all died one after the other. 

Expand  

Try try again. I'm sure someone there is growing it and could send cuttings / rooted cuttings

[Than]

  On 12/2/2023 at 5:56 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Try try again. I'm sure someone there is growing it and could send cuttings / rooted cuttings

Expand  

Greeks are only now starting to discover more unusual stuff. Most gardens here are: oleanders, fig trees, orange trees and olive trees. 98% of palms are CIDP and Washies. So I bet I won't find anyone growing it domestically but I may find smth in the EU.

[Merlyn]

Auriculata/Roxburghii have done ok for me here in a cold 9B.  They got burnt to the ground at around 24.4F minimum, and the next year at the upper 20s.  Both of my plants grew right back in the spring.  They defoliate anywhere around freezing, or with any significant frost.  But they seem fairly tough so far!

[Than]

  On 12/2/2023 at 7:13 PM, Merlyn said:

Auriculata/Roxburghii have done ok for me here in a cold 9B.  They got burnt to the ground at around 24.4F minimum, and the next year at the upper 20s.  Both of my plants grew right back in the spring.  They defoliate anywhere around freezing, or with any significant frost.  But they seem fairly tough so far!

Expand  

If only I could find here the variety you find in US nurseries...

[Tracy]

  On 12/1/2023 at 5:01 AM, ASHCVS said:

This is a definitive article on the topic:
 

https://geo.cbs.umn.edu/Ezedin&Weiblen2019.pdf

 

and here is mine:

 

Expand  

Thank you for the link to the article and you have a very nice specimen.  Reading the article didn't clarify one question I have, which is regarding fruit color on Ficus dammaropsis (not Ficus brusii). I have seen a few Ficus dammaropsis specimens that appear relatively vigorous like yours but all have green fruit.  The largest red fruit bearing Ficus dammaropsis I saw was on a Palm Society tour of a garden in University City.  My red fruit bearing plants tend to be very leggy.  The article you referenced mentioned gall fruit remaining greenish, but I don't think most that I have seen with green fruit are gall fruit and they clearly were not Ficus brusii. The dammaropsis fruit description is below:

Figs axillary, cauliflorous, solitary or paired,
subsessile or with peduncle up to 1 cm long, basal bracts often indistinct, passing into
the lateral bracts, when distinct up to 5.3 cm long; receptacle ovoid to ellipsoid, 5–9 ×
3.5–6 cm when dry and up to 22 × 18 cm when fresh, walls up to 1 cm thick when dry
and with noticeable rumination of the central cavity, internal hairs absent, covered in
numerous obtuse bracts, apex ± convex, at maturity deep red to dark purple (seed figs)
or remaining greenish (gall figs); lateral bracts 1–4 × 4–6 cm, subcircular and rounded
to broadly ovate and subacute, imbricate, appressed but often slightly raised upon
maturity; ostiole 1–1.5 cm in diam. when dry, surrounded by suberect apical bracts;
galls 2.5 × 1.9 mm.

So the follow up question is have you seen any discussion in papers about this, or am I missing something.  Photos of my very leggy plant, which is sparsely branched, along with the trunk with old growth points that at various times it has died back to.  Extremes of weather never seem to have correlated with mine dying back.  Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

[Billeb]

  On 12/4/2023 at 12:27 AM, Tracy said:

Thank you for the link to the article and you have a very nice specimen.  Reading the article didn't clarify one question I have, which is regarding fruit color on Ficus dammaropsis (not Ficus brusii). I have seen a few Ficus dammaropsis specimens that appear relatively vigorous like yours but all have green fruit.  The largest red fruit bearing Ficus dammaropsis I saw was on a Palm Society tour of a garden in University City.  My red fruit bearing plants tend to be very leggy.  The article you referenced mentioned gall fruit remaining greenish, but I don't think most that I have seen with green fruit are gall fruit and they clearly were not Ficus brusii. The dammaropsis fruit description is below:

Figs axillary, cauliflorous, solitary or paired,
subsessile or with peduncle up to 1 cm long, basal bracts often indistinct, passing into
the lateral bracts, when distinct up to 5.3 cm long; receptacle ovoid to ellipsoid, 5–9 ×
3.5–6 cm when dry and up to 22 × 18 cm when fresh, walls up to 1 cm thick when dry
and with noticeable rumination of the central cavity, internal hairs absent, covered in
numerous obtuse bracts, apex ± convex, at maturity deep red to dark purple (seed figs)
or remaining greenish (gall figs); lateral bracts 1–4 × 4–6 cm, subcircular and rounded
to broadly ovate and subacute, imbricate, appressed but often slightly raised upon
maturity; ostiole 1–1.5 cm in diam. when dry, surrounded by suberect apical bracts;
galls 2.5 × 1.9 mm.

So the follow up question is have you seen any discussion in papers about this, or am I missing something.  Photos of my very leggy plant, which is sparsely branched, along with the trunk with old growth points that at various times it has died back to.  Extremes of weather never seem to have correlated with mine dying back.  Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

Expand  

The growth habits between the two varieties are night and day. My green fruit version has been a rocket. Growing almost too much honestly. I’ve cut it back many many times and it keeps growing with vigor. This was planted out less than 3yrs ago and had two stems no bigger than broomsticks and 5ft tall. It’s at least 12’x12’ now. 
 

Average water and fertilizer. Facing West so it gets blasted with as much sun as I can give it. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

  On 12/4/2023 at 5:41 PM, Billeb said:

The growth habits between the two varieties are night and day.

Expand  

The article:

 

  On 12/1/2023 at 5:01 AM, ASHCVS said:

https://geo.cbs.umn.edu/Ezedin&Weiblen2019.pdf

Expand  

discusses the fig size for Ficus dammaropsis as being the largest which again the green variety and red variety are essentially indistinguishable on size if one were color blind.   Photo below is pretty typical range for my red fruit.  I picked these up off the ground this morning.

[iDesign]

@Billeb - Can you post an updated photo of yours when you get a moment?

I'm (shockingly) at the point where plants are getting ready to hit the dirt... and this is one I'm especially anxious to get in the ground (mine is the green fruit form).

Three quick questions for anyone growing one...

1. Am I giving it enough space?
The potted lutescens are just temporary “shade providers,” but I’ll be adding a bunch of small-to-medium palms in the area. But the dammaropsis will be the main focal point.

2. Anyone else deal with floppy branches?
I know @Tracy mentioned this happening with the red fruit form, but I’m hoping the branches on the green fruit version firm up over time. Currently I'm staking the branches (I need to fix the one on the left again).

3) Is it too close to the drainpipe?
I know palms are usually fine near pipes, and Ficus in general can be pipe terrors—but where does Ficus dammaropsis fall on that spectrum? I’ve heard it’s not as aggressive as other Ficus, but we're really hoping for good drainage here. The pipe runs from left the right in the second photo, where the hole is.

* The grass is being significantly reduced. This is just one of the spots where we’re making new planting beds.

[Billeb]

  On 4/12/2025 at 2:04 AM, iDesign said:

@Billeb - Can you post an updated photo of yours when you get a moment?

I'm (shockingly) at the point where plants are getting ready to hit the dirt... and this is one I'm especially anxious to get in the ground (mine is the green fruit form).

Three quick questions for anyone growing one...

1. Am I giving it enough space?
The potted lutescens are just temporary “shade providers,” but I’ll be adding a bunch of small-to-medium palms in the area. But the dammaropsis will be the main focal point.

2. Anyone else deal with floppy branches?
I know @Tracy mentioned this happening with the red fruit form, but I’m hoping the branches on the green fruit version firm up over time. Currently I'm staking the branches (I need to fix the one on the left again).

3) Is it too close to the drainpipe?
I know palms are usually fine near pipes, and Ficus in general can be pipe terrors—but where does Ficus dammaropsis fall on that spectrum? I’ve heard it’s not as aggressive as other Ficus, but we're really hoping for good drainage here. The pipe runs from left the right in the second photo, where the hole is.

* The grass is being significantly reduced. This is just one of the spots where we’re making new planting beds.

Expand  

Stacey,

here’s a few pics. I regularly cut off a ton of low hanging branches to give it more of a crown look and the ability to walk under. If I was to guess, I’d say it’s 15ft tall and at least as wide. It grows so fast for me it’s crazy. Now it’s only 4yrs old from a plant about the size of yours. 
 

regarding your questions…..

-I think the space you provided is fine. If it’s anything like mine, you can constantly cut branches off to shape. 
-when my branches get too long and heavy, they start to sag. I simply cut the branch back 4-5ft and it will grow back immediately. I do remember supporting my young plant but that didn’t last long. That’s what I’d recommend to you too. 
-I cannot confirm root aggressiveness either but from what I’ve read (same as you), the roots are not typical Ficus roots. 
 

Put it in the ground already! As much sun as you can give it, ample water and feed regularly.  That’s my routine and it’s seemed to thrive. Good luck. 
 

-dale