Can I grow this indoors?

It is generally too large for indoor spaces unless you have a massive conservatory.

How fast does it grow?

It is a fast growing tree once established in its preferred climate.

Plant guide

Strangler fig.

Ficus aurea

Pronounced FY-kus AW-ree-uh

Also known as Florida Strangler, Florida Strangler Fig, Golden Fig

Florida Strangler Fig — Photo by Judy Gallagher (CC BY-SA) via iNaturalist

The strangler fig starts its life as an epiphyte growing on another tree. It eventually sends roots down to the ground, thickening around the host until it stands on its own. It is a fascinating native tree that provides a home for many birds and insects.

Another photo of Strangler fig — Photo by Jill DeVito, PhD (CC0) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: 50 to 60 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 11
Bloom time: Year round

Care

Give this tree plenty of space as it grows quite large and needs room for its roots. Keep an eye out for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Ensure it gets consistent warmth and high humidity to mimic its natural tropical home.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches during the dormant season.
Repotting: Repot when the roots have filled the current container or the growth slows down.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 5 to 35°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for many decades.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: The milky sap contains latex which can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: The milky sap is irritating if it gets into eyes or mouth, so keep children away from broken stems.
Contact allergens: The white latex sap is a known skin irritant.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is generally not considered a major allergen.
Edibility: The fruit is technically edible but often flavorless or unpalatable, and consumption is not recommended.

How to identify it

Glossy leathery oval leaves
Aerial roots hanging from branches
Small round yellow or red figs
Thick trunk made of fused roots

Height: 15 to 30m
Spread: 10 to 25m
Leaves: dark green, yellow green, evergreen
Flowers: green, yellow, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: yellow, orange, red, Year round

Problems to watch for

Scale InsectsCommon
ThripsCommon
Leaf DropUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed, layering
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Protect from frost, as it is sensitive to cold temperatures.
In containers: It is not suitable for long term container growth due to its massive size.

Stem cuttings

Take a 15cm cutting from a healthy branch.
Remove lower leaves.
Place in moist potting mix and keep in high humidity.

Plant shade tolerant native shrubs beneath the canopy to create a layered forest effect.

Grows well with

Beautyberry · They thrive in similar warm, humid conditions.
Wild Coffee · It handles the dappled shade provided by the fig canopy well.

Similar species

Shortleaf Fig · It is another native Florida fig with similar growth habits.

Science

Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Florida, Caribbean, and parts of Mexico.
Conservation: This species is common and not of conservation concern.

It begins life as an epiphyte, sending roots down to the ground to eventually strangle the host tree.

Value to wildlife: essential food source for birds, provides nesting sites
Pollinators: wasps
Uses: shade tree, wildlife habitat, ornamental specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 9/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Can I grow this indoors?: It is generally too large for indoor spaces unless you have a massive conservatory.
How fast does it grow?: It is a fast growing tree once established in its preferred climate.

Where the name comes from

The specific epithet aurea means golden, referring to the color of the fruit or sometimes the foliage.

Good to know

It is a keystone species in Florida ecosystems.
The roots can eventually encase and kill the host tree.
It produces tiny flowers inside the fruit structure called a syconium.
It is highly adaptable to different soil types.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.