Ficus pumila L., 1753

Common name(s): Creeping Fig, Climbing Fig

Family: Moraceae Synonym(s): Ficus subg. Synoecia, Ficus hanceana Maxim., Ficus longipedicellata H.Perrier, Ficus pumila var. lutchuensis Koidz., Ficus repens var. lutchuensis Koidz., Ficus scandens Lam., Ficus stipulata Thunb. 1786, Ficus stipulata Lem. 1843, Ficus vestita Desf., Plagiostigma pumila Zucc., Plagiostigma stipulata Zucc., Tenorea heterophylla Gasp., Urostigma scandens Lam., Liebm., Varinga repens Raf.

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 16th October, 2019 at Sydney Japanese Gardens, New South Wales

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 9th November, 2020 at Adelaide, South Australia

Stem (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Plant Properties

Origin(s)

China

China: Indigenous

Japan

Japan: Indigenous

Viet Nam

Sth Vietna: Indigenous
Nth Vietna: Indigenous

Plant Type

Climber-Clinging

Evergreen Climber

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical,

Tropical Monsoon

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled

Habitat Range(s)

Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical

Rainforest - Sub-tropical,

Rainforest - Tropical

Habitat Zone(s)

Forest Margins, Exposed Stony embankments, Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Hills, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Plains, Ridges, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Understory, Varied, Well drained

Forest Margins,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Foothills,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,

Hills,

Moist areas,

Moist Slopes,

Open areas,

Plains,

Ridges,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Slopes,

Understory,

Varied,

Well drained

Mature Height

2.5-3m, 3-4m, 4-5m, 5-6m, 6-7m, 7-8m, 8-9m, 9-10m, 10-15m

2.5-3m,

3-4m,

4-5m,

5-6m,

6-7m,

7-8m,

8-9m,

9-10m,

10-15m

Mature Width

2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m, 4-5m

2-2.5m,

2.5-3m,

3-4m,

4-5m

Plant Shape

Climber

Prostrate

Climber,

Prostrate

Growth Rate

Moderate, Fast

Moderate,

Fast

Maturity

8-10 yrs

Life Span

75-100yrs.

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Green Dark

Colour (back)

Green Dark

Shape(s)

Cordate

Oval

Cordate,

Oval

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Wrinkled / Rugose

Glabrous,

Leathery,

Wrinkled / Rugose

Texture (back)

Leathery

Wrinkled

Leathery,

Wrinkled

Leaf Length(s)

10-12.5mm, 12.5-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm, 40-50mm, 70-80mm, 80-90mm, 90-100mm

10-12.5mm,

12.5-15mm,

15-20mm,

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm,

40-50mm,

70-80mm,

80-90mm,

90-100mm

Leaf Width(s)

6-7mm, 7-8mm, 8-9mm, 9-10mm, 10-15mm, 15-20mm, 20-25mm, 25-30mm, 30-40mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm

6-7mm,

7-8mm,

8-9mm,

9-10mm,

10-15mm,

15-20mm,

20-25mm,

25-30mm,

30-40mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm

Margin

Entire

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Brown

Colour(s) Lower

Brown-grey

Texture(s) Upper

Rough / Scabrous

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Wood Fibres / Solid

Wood - Soft

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Flower Properties

Gender: Male

Time(s)

Autumn - Summer

Aroma(s)

Fruity-slight

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Flower Head

Gender: Female

Time(s)

Autumn - Summer

Aroma(s)

Fruity-slight

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Flower Head

Fruit Properties

Type

Syconium

Outer Colour(s)

Purple-black, Yellow-green

Purple-black,

Yellow-green

Outer Texture

Leathery

Aroma

Fruity-Slight

Flesh Texture

Gritty, Firm

Gritty,

Firm

Flavour

Fruity

Season of Fruiting

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Spring,

Summer,

Autumn,

Winter

Maturation for Fruiting

7 yrs., 8 yrs., 9 yrs., 10 yrs.

7 yrs.,

8 yrs.,

9 yrs.,

10 yrs.

Root Properties

Type

Clinging

Fibrous

Clinging,

Fibrous

Invasiveness

Low

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Stony, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter, Premium Potting Mix

Clay-loam,

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Stony,

Hummus Rich,

Organic Matter,

Premium Potting Mix

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Condition(s)

Damp

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Shallow,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out, WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,

WR3 - never let soil dry out,

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Poor

Bird Attraction

Insect, Fruit

Insect,

Fruit

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

Poor

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

Fruit

Fire Retarding

Poor

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

None

Snow Tolerance

None

Landscape Use

Moderate

Maintenance(s)

Pruning - Shaping

Pests/Diseases

Aphid, Fungus Gnats, Mealy Bug, Passion Fruit Woodiness Virus (Potyvirus group), Red Spider Mite, Root Rot Fungus, Scale, Thrip

Aphid,

Fungus Gnats,

Mealy Bug,

Passion Fruit Woodiness Virus (Potyvirus group),

Red Spider Mite,

Root Rot Fungus,

Scale,

Thrip

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Park land, Garden-Modern, Garden-Shade, Garden-Sensory, Garden-Container, Tolerant-Low Foot Traffic, Garden-Bonsai, Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Bali, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Hanging Basket, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Woodland, Groundcover, Irritating-Sap, Lawn Substitute, Sand Binder, Shade Tolerant, Shady Moist, Soil Binder, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Garden-Park land,

Garden-Modern,

Garden-Shade,

Garden-Sensory,

Garden-Container,

Tolerant-Low Foot Traffic,

Garden-Bonsai,

Fire Retarding,

Foliage-interesting,

Garden-Bali,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Foliage,

Garden-Hanging Basket,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Rainforest,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Woodland,

Groundcover,

Irritating-Sap,

Lawn Substitute,

Sand Binder,

Shade Tolerant,

Shady Moist,

Soil Binder,

Specimen,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

Fertilising Requirements

FR3, FR5, FR6, FR11

FR3,

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

General Notes

An attractive, robust, hardy groundcover or clinging climber with small crinkly, oval leaves and attractive copper coloured new leaves. Ideal for a living green wall, close, compact to the surface of the wall. Leaves on fruiting stems become much larger than the leaves on climbing stems. It can become a problem climbing into trees and slowly strangling them. It has become a weed in some parts of the world.

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

There are several cultivars available

Ficus pumila var. awkeotsang, awkeotsang creeping fig
Ficus pumila var. quercifolia, oak leaf creeping fig
Ficus pumila 'Curly', curly creeping fig; crinkled leaf form
Ficus pumila 'Variegata', variegated foliage
Ficus pumila 'Snowflake', variegated creeping fig
Ficus pumila 'Minima', small leaves, tight growing