Rubber plant

Ficus elastica | Also known as: India rubber plant, India rubber fig, Snake tree, India rubber tree | Rating: 0 votes | Print / Pdf

Rubber Plant. Don't worry if you drop it. It'll bounce.

Made famous by the song, ‘Whoops, there goes another Rubber Tree Plant,’ Ficus elastica is a popular choice for many gardeners. The rubber plant is an evergreen tree that, when fully mature, will produce rectangular yellow fruits during the autumn months. However, it does take up to 20 years to reach full maturity. Being a sub-tropical plant it can’t cope with the frosts, wind and rain of our winters, so is best grown in a container in a conservatory or indoors, and then moved outside during the warmer months of the year.

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Plant
Known dangers?
  • yes
Dangers: comments
  • Avoid eating leaves of this plant, or you may have mild stomach upset. Its sap may irritate your skin.
Height [m]
  • 3
Spread [m]
  • 3
Dominant flower colour
  • Green
Flower Fragrance
  • No, neutral please
Flowering seasons
  • Early summer
  • Mid summer
  • Late summer
Foliage in spring
  • Green
Foliage in summer
  • Green
Foliage in Autumn
  • Green
Propagation methods
  • semi-ripe cuttings
  • seed
  • layering
  • leaf cuttings
Growth habit
  • Spreading
Environment
Acidity
  • Acidic
  • Neutral
  • Alkaline
Hardiness zone
  • Z11
Heat zone
  • H12-10
Winter temperatures [°C]
  • 4
Heat days
  • 150 - 210
Moisture
  • well-drained but frequently watered
Soil type
  • sandy
  • Clay
  • chalky
  • loams
Sun requirements
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Exposure
  • Sheltered
Usage
Standard category
  • Trees & shrubs
  • Trees
Grown for
  • Ornamental Foliage
Creative category
  • For Beginners
Garden type
  • Indoor or winter garden
Gardening expertise
  • beginner
Time to reach full size
  • up to 20 years
Found a mistake? Let us know
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