Ficus retusa
| latin name: |
Ficus retusa |
| common name: |
Fig |
| family: |
Moraceae (b) |
| group: |
Bonsai |
| origin: |
Taiwan |
| climate: |
tropical |
| minimal winter temperature: |
12°-14°C |
| ideal temperature: |
24°-28°C |
| light: |
bright |
| soil: |
humus-peat-loosely |
| rarity: |
yes |
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12 |
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| description: |
This is a huge tree growing to 60 feet tall and 60 to 70 feet wide. The dense, rounded canopy and gracefully drooping branches of Weeping Fig made it quite popular as a landscape tree until recently. The thick, shiny, two to five-inch-long, evergreen leaves generously clothe the long branches, and the tiny figs eventually turn a deep red. Branches will weep toward the ground forming a canopy so dense that nothing grows beneath it.
There are over 600 species of Ficus, most of them tropical and evergreen, although some, most notably F. carica, the common fig, are deciduous. Ficus produces a unique %22fruit%22 which is actually an inverted flower. Not all Ficus produce edible fruit.
Ficus is one of the most loved bonsai for many reasons. It is an excellent tree for beginners, as most species of Ficus are fast growers, tolerant of most any soil and light conditions, make fine indoor bonsai, and perhaps most importantly, are remarkably forgiving of those just learning bonsai watering techniques. Most Ficus grow %22banyan%22 roots naturally%3B; this feature is often showcased by styling Ficus in dramatic air-root and root-over-rock styles.
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| author: |
Hrovatin Dušan |
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