Ficus microcarpa

Ficus microcarpa is a huge tree mainly due to its broad and spreading crown. It is evergreen and, accordingly, it originates from the tropical regions of Asia and the Pacific Ocean. The tree boasts a very wide crown and dark and glossy green foliage. Like all ficuses, the tree bears small fruits. They are very small and green. They ripen to black and make a lot of mess on the ground beneath the tree, forming a black, sticky layer. This is of course a product of ripening fruit by fig wasps. These wasps came to Israel in the 70s and since then, the ficuses have been messy. Before then, the fruits were small, green and unfertilized. In accordance with its tropical origin, it is very sensitive to cold and will not survive in extreme cold conditions. Therefore, it is not at all recommended for high mountain areas. On the other hand, it is very tolerant of all soil types in Israel, including saline and chalky. It grows very fast and is resistant to extreme heat conditions and requires very little water, so much so that it requires no watering when mature. Its roots are especially invasive and will reach anywhere around them that contains water. The aerial roots of the tree extend over the trunk, creating a particularly sculptural trunk appearance. This is a magnificent and popular tree, and rightfully so. It is a tree that was widely planted at the beginning of the Yishuv, especially in cities. It is very recommended to place this tree somewhere where its fruit won’t pose a nuisance.

Additional trees from the same family:
Ficus benjamina | Ficus microcarpa | Ficus sycomorus | Ficus carica | Ficus rubiginosa | Ficus macrophylla (magnolioides) | Ficus binnendijkii | Ficus religiosa | Ficus benghalensis | Ficus palmata | Ficus barteri Sprague | Ficus lyrata