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GENERAL
Origin
:
Mediterranean,
sub-tropical
Vigour
:
fairly fast
growing
Humidity
:
semi-humid, very
humid
Propagation :
cuttings, sowing
and pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
high
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (3000
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-12°C
SHAPE
Type
:
climbers
Height
:
2.5 m-4 m
Spread
:
2 m-12 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
pale red
Size
:
0.5 cm
Period
:
March - May
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
drupe(fleshy/
juicy)
Fruit size
:
5 cm
Toxicity
:
inedible, fruit
A very common creeper in tropical countries originating in Asia, the Creeping Fig is a vigorous,
self-clinging, evergreen vine that attaches itself to surfaces via aerial rootlets. Its small leaves are
heart-shaped in their juvenile state, forming an interesting pattern on a wall, while the plant is
still young; later, the leaves become much larger, up to 10 cm long, oblong and leathery, when ma-
ture. The vine will then cover large areas of the wall completely and quickly. A mature plant will
reach 5 metres and more and develop woody branches which stand out up to 60 cm from a wall.
Flowers are insignificant and rare, as are the fig-like but inedible fruits which occasionally appear
on plants throughout the year. F. pumila will climb on most surfaces and is good on trellises, in
shady locations especially on north- or east-facing walls, where it grows best in Arriyadh. Mor-
ning sun is tolerated. Propagation is by seed, cuttings or offsets. Best in fertile garden soil, it is
sometimes subject to root knot nematodes and root rot. Frost damage is caused at –10°C, but the
vine will survive with warmth radiated from a supporting wall. It requires moderate, but regular
irrigation. Maintenance is low, but the plant can become a nuisance if it gets out of control and
it can be difficult to remove from a wall – top-heavy plants, on the other hand, may peel away. It
can be cut to the ground to encourage new juvenile growth or to prevent it becoming too invasive.
The variety ‘Minima’ retains the small leaf form for a longer period.
150
Ficus pumila,
Moraceae
Creeping Fig