Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina
Family Moraceae
Weeping fig is the houseplant that actually looks like a tree: a graceful trunk — often braided — under a dense, elegant canopy of small glossy leaves. It brings genuine indoor-tree architecture to a bright corner, which is why decorators and hotel lobbies have never let it go.
Its personality quirk is loyalty to place: change its light or location and it sheds leaves in protest, then regrows once it settles — so choose the bright spot once and let it stay. Keep it clear of chewing pets, since sap and leaves don't agree with them. Commit to one corner; it will too.
Bright indirect — the brighter the better
Moderate water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing weeping fig? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries weeping fig — Ficus benjamina, print Nº 505, “Weeping Fig.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what weeping fig actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Weeping Fig · Common problems
Common weeping fig problems
Pests
3 problems on file
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Leaf drop from ANY change (light, water, drafts, moving)
Weeping Fig · Growing & propagation
Growing weeping fig
- Light
- Bright indirect
The brighter the better
- Water
- Moderate, consistent
Sudden change = leaf drop
Soil- Well-drained mix · pH 6.0 - 6.5
Fertilizer- Monthly spring-summer
Pruning- Spring
Prune to shape (it takes it well, even braided/topiary); wear gloves — it bleeds latex.
Spacing- One per pot
How to plant & propagate weeping fig
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Weeping Fig · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The weeping fig growing playbook
When to spray weeping fig
Growing season. Wipe leaves; steady conditions prevent shedding.
Weeping Fig · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Weeping Fig · Yearly calendar
The weeping fig year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
PrunePruneMarch to May
What each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Weeping Fig · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Ficus benjamina
Weeping Fig in the garden system
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What weeping fig is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesToxic to cats/dogs; latex sap irritates skin
Use- Indoor tree
- Use
- Braided specimens
- Use
- Bright corners
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Weeping Fig · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a weeping fig variety
Standard green; 'Starlight' (variegated); braided-trunk forms
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Weeping Fig
Ficus benjamina
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Ficus benjamina
- Plant family
- Moraceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- FIBE
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Weeping Fig
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions
Weeping Fig questions, answered straight.
Is weeping fig safe for kids and pets?
With care. Toxic to cats/dogs; latex sap irritates skin Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate weeping fig?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where weeping fig sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron