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

Expand all

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

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (front)

Brown-red

Juvenile Leaf Colour(s) (back)

Brown-red

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

Cross Section(s)

Wrinkled

Venation(s)

Pinnate Brochidodromous

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Base(s)

Cordate

Obtuse

Cordate,

Obtuse

Attachment

Petiolate

Stipule Length

0.5-1mm, 1-2mm

0.5-1mm,

1-2mm

Stipule Texture

Hirtellous

Petiole Texture(s)

Hairs-Fine , Hairs-Short

Hairs-Fine,

Hairs-Short

Petiole Cross Section

Terete

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Sap Colour

Cream-white

Sap Texture

Sticky / Resinous

Branch(lets) Colour

Brown, Red-brown

Brown,

Red-brown

Branch(lets) Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Fibrous

Rough / Scabrous,

Fibrous

Colour(s) Upper

Brown

Colour(s) Lower

Brown-grey

Texture(s) Upper

Rough / Scabrous

Textures(s) Lower

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

Attachment

Pedicelate

Pedicel Size (flower stem)

9-10mm

Pedicel Colour

Green

Arrangement(s)

Solitary

Axillary , Pendulous , Syconium

Axillary,

Pendulous,

Syconium

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Flower Head

Gender: Female

Time(s)

Autumn - Summer

Aroma(s)

Fruity-slight

Attachment

Pedicelate

Arrangement(s)

Solitary

Axillary , Pendulous , Syconium

Axillary,

Pendulous,

Syconium

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Male and Female Flowers, Borne

On Same Flower Head

Fruit Properties

Type

Syconium

Shape(s)

Pyriform

Outer Colour(s)

Purple-black, Yellow-green

Purple-black,

Yellow-green

Outer Texture

Leathery

Length

40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm,

70-80mm

Width

30-35mm, 35-40mm, 40-45mm, 45-50mm

30-35mm,

35-40mm,

40-45mm,

45-50mm

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.

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Seed Appendage

Flesh

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds

Animals,

Birds

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Clinging

Fibrous

Clinging,

Fibrous

Texture

Fibrous

Colour(s)

Brown Dark

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

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

0 - 2°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Indigenous Use(s)

Fruit - Dried, Stems - Traditional medicine, Fruit - Eaten cooked, Fruit - Eaten raw, Leaves - Traditional medicine

Fruit - Dried,

Stems - Traditional medicine,

Fruit - Eaten cooked,

Fruit - Eaten raw,

Leaves - Traditional medicine

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

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

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High, Very High

Medium,

High,

Very High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Fertilising Requirements

FR3, FR5, FR6, FR11

FR3,

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Soft Wood Cuttings

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

Propagation Notes

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Semi-hardwood Cuttings

Flowering

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

Cutting

Summer Early

Material Preparation

Firm wood, tip, stem cuttings. Cutting approx. 75 - 100mm long with at least 4-6 nodes, remove lower leaves, leaving the top 2-3 leaves. Mist frequently to keep hydrated or place in a bowl or water.

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

Keep hydrated during prep. Water pot of mix and thoroughly wet with Previcur fungicide. Dip end of cutting in Easiroot rooting hormone. Press gently using a dibber into pot of mix till cutting can stand by itself with at least the 2nd node and mix level. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Place on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock %

Nursery Stock %

Rooting time:- Field Stock weeks

Nursery Stock weeks

Fresh Seed

Flowering

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

Seed Collecting

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn

Sowing

Spring Early

Material Preparation

Collect fruit that is turning purple-black from the tree or off the ground. Place the fruit in a bucket of water and rub the fruit flesh off with your hands. Wash the seeds thoroughly to remove any flesh. Lay the seeds out on paper towel to dry thoroughly. Store in a cool, dark place. Sow as soon as possible.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Fill the seeding trays with mix and firm down. Sow the seeds on the surface and press into the mix. Do not cover with mix as light is needed for germination. Place on 21°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light. In tropical areas place the seed in a cold house or outside in a protected area, being careful not to wash seed area when watering, they can also be planted all year round.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 2 - 4 weeks

Pricking out:- 3 – 6 weeks after germination

Tube Mix:- Premium Potting Mix