Ficus dammaropsis
dinner plate fig
Dinner plate fig has MASSIVE corrugated evergreen leaves up to two feet across! From the highlands of New Guinea; rare and unusual!
 Height | 12–15ft |
|---|---|
 Width | 15–20ft |
 Tolerates | Pots |
 Water needs | Moderate – High |
This ficus is from an area with ample rainfall and your watering should reflect that. This plant wants water when the top of the soil is dry, but you can still feel moisture just below the surface. This plant will often fall into a once-a-week watering cycle, but remember that your watering should be based on the moisture left in the soil, which will depend partly on the moisture in the room and the weather outside. The soil 'surface'' goes a bit deeper for larger pots; for example, a plant in a 14-inch diameter pot should dry out a couple of inches deep before you water it, while a plant in a 4-inch pot will only want to dry out in the top ½ inch or so of soil. | |
 Hardy to | 28°F |
 Exposure | Direct Sun – Bright Indirect |
 Plant traits | Foliage Feature, Sculptural, Solitary, Tree, Trunking |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Planting Mix, In Pots: Potting Soil |
 Fertilizing | All Purpose |
 Origin | New Guinea |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 16, 17, 23, 24 |
Growing Notes
All ficus respond well to pruning, allowing even very large ficus to be maintained at a modest size. They do exude white sap, often containing latex, so if you have a latex allergy avoid the sap.
Special Interest
Ficus make figs, which at first don't seem to be flowers. The trick is that the flowers are on the inside of the fig, which is why many figs are hollow and so unusual inside.
More Info
This plant has been raised to live indoors; however, it can also grow outdoors in mild areas of California. Keep in mind that the plant will go through a stressful transition, especially if moved outside in particularly hot, cold, or wet weather. Even if this plant will eventually thrive in direct sunlight, it has not been grown in this level of light, so if you plant it in direct sun, just expect that the leaves may burn at first, then happily regrow as they acclimate to the new levels of light. Planting in the spring or fall will help with this transition.
Links
The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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