Visit us:
19250 S Ellsworth Rd
Queen Creek, AZ 85142

Instagram Facebook Pinterest
Desert Horizon Nursery logo
Rubber tree with large glossy dark green leaves in a terracotta pot in a living room

Rubber Tree (Rubber Plant)

Ficus elastica
Categories:
Interior Plants  ·  
Houseplants
Light
Partial shade
Water
Moderate; regular water during active growth, let soil dry slightly between waterings.
Size
6-10 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide (indoors; far larger in tropical ground)
Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Toxicity
Toxic if Ingested; Sap Irritant
Description
The nursery Rubber Tree is Ficus elastica, a tropical evergreen grown chiefly as a houseplant for its large, glossy, leathery leaves. It is frost-tender and not suited to outdoor exposure in the low desert; keep it indoors or on a shaded patio in bright, indirect light. (Note: the commercial latex tree Hevea brasiliensis is a different plant not sold for landscaping.)
Bloom Time
Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Deciduous / Evergreen
Evergreen
Special Features
Growth Rate
Moderate
Growth Habit
Upright tree – single-trunk
Mature Size
6-10 ft tall × 3-5 ft wide (indoors; far larger in tropical ground)
Flower Color
None (grown for foliage)
Foliage Color
Glossy dark green
Landscape Use
Container / Patio, Indoor / Houseplant, Specimen / Accent
Garden Style
Shade / Indoor
Soil
Amended / Rich, Moist Soil, Prefers Acidic, Well-Drained
Companion Plants
Dracaena, Monstera, Philodendron, Pothos
Toxic if Ingested; Sap Irritant
Sap is a skin/eye irritant; toxic to pets if ingested
Care Instructions

Light: Partial shade

Water: Moderate; regular water during active growth, let soil dry slightly between waterings.

Soil: Rich, well-draining potting mix; slightly acidic; keep evenly moist but not soggy.

Mature size: 6-10 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide (indoors; far larger in tropical ground)

Bloom: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen

Growth rate: Moderate