| Description | Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) A large growing tropical tree often used indoors as a house plant or a landscape plant in warmer climates. It can be finicky to grow, or it will grow like a weed. Bright-lit areas grow on the dry side. |
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| Pronunciation | (FI-cus)(ee-LASS-ti-cah) |
| Plant Type | Indoor Foliage, Broadleaf evergreen, Trees Tropical |
| Hardiness Zone | 10-12 |
| Sunlight | Prefers bright but will tolerate some shade. I have read in some sources this plant likes full sun. When I have put them in full sun the leaves will burn for me. |
| Moisture | Approach dryness since over watering is one of the main cultural practices that do this plant. |
| Growing Media | average house |
| Temperature | average house, does not like drafts |
| Flowers | seldom flowers unless in the wild or greenhouses |
| Leaves | large leathery olive green |
| Stems | stems will become woody with age. |
| Dimensions | In its native India, the plant can reach 50 feet. it is slow growing and can become large. |
| Maintenance | Pruning to control its size. Be aware that when this plant is pruned, it will bleed a white sticky sap. |
| Propagation | leaf mallet cuttings, air layering |
| Native Site | Himalayas to Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java. |
| Misc Facts | This plant produces a white sap that will ooze out of any cut or leaf that breaks off. This is not the primary source of rubber that was used in tires. The sap from Hevea brasiliensis is the primary source of rubber. (AKA: rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber) |
| Notes & Reference | #158-Plantepedia (Maggie Stuckey), #274-Site Authors' observations and growing experiences |
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