Can I grow this indoors?

Yes, it makes a popular indoor plant if you have enough light.

How fast does it grow?

It is a fast grower in warm, humid conditions.

Plant guide

Bodhi tree.

Ficus religiosa

Pronounced FY-kus reh-li-jee-OH-suh

Also known as Bodhi tree, Peepul Tree, botree, peepultree, sacred fig

Ficus religiosa — Photo by S.MORE (CC0) via gbif

The Bodhi tree is a beautiful, sacred fig known for its heart shaped leaves and long, slender tips. It grows into a massive tree in its native habitat, so it needs plenty of room if you are keeping it indoors. It is a spiritual symbol in many cultures and makes a striking statement plant.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Tropical tree
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 5 to 10 days
Mature size: Up to 100 feet in nature
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Rarely flowers in cultivation

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root issues. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. It loves high humidity, so misting the leaves or using a pebble tray helps keep it happy.

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: Trim back long branches to maintain a manageable shape and encourage fullness.
Repotting: Move to a larger container once the roots begin to circle the bottom of the pot.
Soil: Well draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 50 to 90%

Safety

People: The milky sap can cause skin irritation upon contact.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: Keep away from small children as the sap is irritating and the plant can grow quite large and heavy.
Contact allergens: The latex sap may cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no significant airborne allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: The fruit is technically edible but generally considered unpalatable and not a food source.

How to identify it

Heart shaped leaves with long drip tips
Smooth gray bark on mature trunks
Small round figs ripening to purple
Prominent light colored leaf veins

Height: 10 to 30m
Spread: 5 to 20m
Leaves: green, evergreen
Flowers: green, 0.5 to 1cm
Fruit: purple, black, Year round in tropics

Problems to watch for

Leaf DropCommon
Scale InsectsCommon
Spider MitesCommon
Brown Leaf EdgesUncommon
Root RotUncommon
Sooty MoldUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, seed
When to plant: spring, summer

Group with other tropical plants to create a microclimate that maintains higher humidity levels.

Grows well with

Croton · They share similar requirements for high humidity and warmth.
Peace Lily · It thrives in the shade provided by the large canopy.

Similar species

Rubber Plant · It is a closely related species with similar care needs.
Weeping Fig · It shares the same genus and general growth habits.

Science

Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southwest China, Indochina, and the Indian subcontinent.
Conservation: This species is widely cultivated and not currently threatened in its native range.

It often begins life as an epiphyte in the canopy of other trees before sending roots down to the ground.

Value to wildlife: provides shelter for birds, fruit feeds local wildlife
Pollinators: wasps
Uses: ornamental, shade tree, bonsai specimen

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
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?: Yes, it makes a popular indoor plant if you have enough light.
How fast does it grow?: It is a fast grower in warm, humid conditions.

Where the name comes from

The name religiosa refers to its sacred status in Buddhism and Hinduism, while Ficus is the ancient Latin name for fig.

Good to know

It is known as the Bodhi tree.
The leaves have a distinct drip tip to shed water.
It is a hemiepiphyte that often starts life on another tree.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your bodhi tree growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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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.