PlantFiles: Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata

I have a fiddle leaf fig that grows in my basement, it is 5 feet tall and it hase formed a new leaf, I can't wait till it grows up.

I was given a fiddle leaf fig early last December from a garden shop where I shop. It had dropped all of its leaves, due to the temp change. It has grown back nicely and I too plan to chop its top to help it branch out. I have noticed though, that it has reddish-now black spots all over some of its leaves.

I bought a cutting of this plant in New Orleans. It grew over 6 feet in as many years. Ultimately it reached nearly 12 feet in the court yard. I left it outside year round and covered only when killing frost was forecast. One year while in the hospital my husband forgot to cover it and it lost many leaves and I thought it might be in real trouble but come spring all new leaves. A very tolerant plant; I've forgotten to water it, or feed it ...just neglected altogether at times. Unfortunately as w/many of our plants it did not survive the aftermath of the hurricanes. I've been looking for another so far to no avail.

Yes, topping this plant is a good choice, when it is indoors.. I've had problems too with its height.. It started to touch the ceiling and it mainly had leaves around the top of the plant, the rest is kinda bare because it has lost some of its lower leaves since it is very old... I didn't know what to do, I was scared I would have to throw it away. Well I topped it off.. And I topped it low too.. It had no leaves, just a stem!!! But about 2 weeks later, it started to sprout new branches!!! I am so happy, now I can watch it grow all over again, and when it gets too tall again, I can just cut it back!!! It works very well. And it does like Fertilizer. Likes to have some sun, a half day of sun if you can would be good for it. Outside in Los Angeles, I have seen many Fiddle Leaf Figs in full sun.. And they were doing great, and had dark green leaves... :O) I love it!!

Thank you Tropical lover 21. I purchased a fiddle leafed fig about 4 years ago. It did very well where I was living then. It has not done so well having been relocated. I thought that the heating vent was not helping it. it is now on the other side of the room. I now feel confident to "lop" it as it has gone straight up with leaves at the top. I think this is a great site.

This is a great plant! I have two growing indoors, with afternoon sun, they are doing great! And growing very fast too! I just topped one that was getting over 8 feet tall, now it is about 5 feet, and its starting to branch out just like i wanted.. The other one is about 4 feet tall.. They respond very well to fertalizer. And their leaves get a bit darker too when fertalized!

When I purchased the fiddle leaf fig for my home, it was about 4 feet tall. In four years it has grown like a beanstalk. It is now touching the ceiling and is 15+ feet tall. I am moving to a new home where the ceilings are not as tall and will keep it outdoors. I live in Southern Calfornia, and it may do just fine! I feed the plant once a month, clean off its leaves as best I can, and have repotted it only once!

I have had a Fiddle Leaf Fig in my house for 15 years. It doesn't have any figs.

My plant is about 20 ft. high and very healthy. It's in a small enclosed area and in mostly shade. When it rains, the leaves catch water and at least one branch bends down low with the weight. The rain sounds loud hitting the leaves--very pleasant!

I recently purchased a fiddle leaf fig to grow indoors. Within one month, the leaves began to turn black. I find resource materials confusing because of conflicting information. Does anyone know what i may be doing or not doing to cause the leaves to turn black?

These trees are commonly sold as house plants throughout the US, but some folks here in So Cal are able to grow them outdoors. They are pretty marignal in most areas, though. I have had one in the ground for 9 years and it still is only 4' tall. I think the frost keeps setting it back, but it also isn't getting enough sun. They rarely develop as thick a trunk as that specimen growing in Brazil, but they do climb and lean on other trees in the yard to reach for the sun.

Indoors they do well if given plenty of light and have the leaves, which are exceptionally shiny, cleaned off.

I like this fig tree a lot. The foliage is dense, and the leaves are thick, looking like a small guitar. The figs are too hard, getting red when mature, not edible, though. This is the kind of tree you can climb on easily. Also, the kind of tree you will want to have in large gardens, since its roots can grow too much and cause damage to pavements (not like other fig trees, but still, have an eye open to this).