Rubber plant ficus with large glossy burgundy-tinged dark green leaves in a ceramic pot

Rubber Plant Ficus

Ficus elastica
Categories:
Interior Plants  ·  
Houseplants
Light
Partial shade
Water
Water thoroughly when the top 2–3 inches of potting mix feel dry, then drain completely. Check outdoor containers frequently during summer heat; reduce watering in winter.
Size
6-10 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide
Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Toxicity
Toxic if Ingested; Sap Irritant
Description
A tropical tree with large, thick, glossy leaves and an upright form; best grown indoors or in a movable, protected container in Phoenix Zone 9b.
Bloom Time
Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Colorful Foliage
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Mature Size
6-10 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide
Flower Color
None (grown for foliage)
Foliage Color
Dark green to burgundy
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Indoor / Houseplant, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Shade / Indoor
Soil
Amended / Rich, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Lady palm, Philodendron, Pothos
Toxic if Ingested; Sap Irritant
Toxic to pets if ingested; milky latex sap is a skin/eye irritant
Care Instructions

Light: Bright indirect light or filtered outdoor shade. Protect from intense Phoenix afternoon sun; acclimate gradually to gentle morning sun.

Water: Water thoroughly when the top 2–3 inches of potting mix feel dry, then drain completely. Check outdoor containers frequently during summer heat; reduce watering in winter.

Soil: Well-drained, aerated potting mix amended with perlite and fine pine bark. Use containers with drainage holes; avoid dense soil and standing water.

Mature size: Typically 6–10 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide indoors; potentially larger in protected containers. Trees in frost-free tropical landscapes can exceed 50 feet.

Bloom: Rarely flowers indoors or in containers; mature trees in tropical climates produce tiny flowers hidden inside fig-like structures.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen; cold, drought, or abrupt environmental changes can cause leaf drop.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast in warm conditions with adequate light; slower indoors or during winter.