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Ficus pseudopalma: the fig that thinks it's a palm

PalmatierMeg

By PalmatierMeg
in TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

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PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
Posted

We went to a flower show/plant sale at the Naples Botanical Garden last Friday. Other people stood in line to see a bunch of flowers. I headed for the plant vendors. One guy was selling palms but they were expensive and I had many of those species anyway. My husband scarfed up several flowering tropical trees.

I didn't find anything until I reached the last vendor where I saw the most amazing palm-like non-palm I'd ever seen. The vendor told me it was a Ficus pseudopalma and it was the only one she had. It comes from the Philippines, where it is fairly common but considered vulnerable. But it is very rare in the US and found mainly on Maui in HI - at least according to my sparse research results. And it will stay very rare because it doesn't produce viable seeds and must be reproduced via airlayering. In its native range it is pollinated by only one species of wasp, which is barred from this country for obvious reasons.

So, having boundless curiosity and little sense, I bought this Ficus. It had just been potted up to a 7g pot and should be okay for a while. Right now I have it sitting beside the house where it gets limited afternoon sun. It is 4-5' tall sans pot and its knobby stem is 1" diameter. Can anyone give me some growing tips for this plant? Can it take sandy, alkaline soil if I plant it? Will strong winds tear its leaves apart? Help, please.

I took the following photos today.

Ficus pseudopalma, Cape Coral, FL

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  • Upvote 2

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
  • Author
Posted

More photos

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Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

Xenon Grand Master

Xenon

Posted
Posted

I saw one at the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead, FL...it looked kind of sparse like a really tall clump of Cordyline

Jonathan

Katy, TX (Zone 9a)

Dr. George Mentor

Dr. George

Posted
Posted

These are pretty neat. Fist saw one in a garden at a PSSC meeting in July 2012, and fell in love:

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They are propagated from seed on the Big Island in Hawaii, and not too difficult to obtain. There are some found in the wild in HI so something there is pollinating (and disbursing) them. Picked up 4 from a nursery in Hilo Fall 2012.

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gmp

Dypsisdean Grand Master

Dypsisdean

Posted
Posted

Picked up 4 from a nursery in Hilo Fall 2012.

Well, if they are not all in the ground you will have to trade me one for something. :)

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Kona, on The Big Island
Hawaii - Land of Volcanoes

Dr. George Mentor

Dr. George

Posted
Posted

Picked up 4 from a nursery in Hilo Fall 2012.

Well, if they are not all in the ground you will have to trade me one for something. :)

Have them all planted, but can tell you where to get one - gmp

The Silent Seed Grand Master

The Silent Seed

Posted
Posted

I'm in love! That's a beautiful tree. The leaves and (trunk) remind me of a Loquat - a young one anyway.

Mandrew968 Grand Master

Mandrew968

Posted
Posted

I think a person should always be warned before they plant a ficus...

The Silent Seed Grand Master

The Silent Seed

Posted
Posted (edited)

ESPECIALLY one like this!

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Edited by santoury
PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

Posted
  • Author
Posted

This species is supposedly "non-invasive" because it doesn't produce viable seeds. But if they do in HI all bets are off. Perhaps a native wasp figured out how to pollinate it or - my guess - someone imported the illegal wasp anyway. If so, the HI Native Plant Society will be apoplectic. But until it becomes more comonly available that someone stands to rake in some coin.

My impression from what I've been told and have seen, this Ficus doesn't attain the monstrous size of its overwhelming kin. It may stay with only one head or branch into additional ones. I'd like mine to stay single.

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

BS Man about Palms Grand Master

BS Man about Palms

Posted
Posted

I have 3 Ficus.. I think I have reached the limit of Ficus to fit on my property.. Ficus dammeropsis, , abeautifolia and newcaledonica.

And oh yeah, they root from pots sitting on the ground real easy..

Meg, that thing looks great!!

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

Bennz Experienced

Bennz

Posted
Posted

I think a person should always be warned before they plant a ficus...

Agreed, ficus addiction can become a serious problem! Why do I want 600 Ficus columnaris seedlings? And yet I continue to propagate them!

Waimarama New Zealand (39.5S, 177E)

Oceanic temperate

summer 25C/15C

winter 15C/6C

No frost, no heat

Justin Veteran

Justin

Posted
Posted

Picked up 4 from a nursery in Hilo Fall 2012.

Well, if they are not all in the ground you will have to trade me one for something. :)

Have them all planted, but can tell you where to get one - gmp

Can you tell me as well???

Resident of Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, San Diego, CA and Pahoa, HI.  Former garden in Vista, CA.  Garden Photos

Dr. George Mentor

Dr. George

Posted
Posted

Picked up 4 from a nursery in Hilo Fall 2012.

Well, if they are not all in the ground you will have to trade me one for something. :)

Have them all planted, but can tell you where to get one - gmp

Can you tell me as well???

Check your PM's - gmp

Justin Veteran

Justin

Posted
Posted

Mahalo.

Resident of Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, San Diego, CA and Pahoa, HI.  Former garden in Vista, CA.  Garden Photos

  • 3 weeks later...
Rory Community Regular

Rory

Posted
Posted

Anyone have any idea how much S Florida sun these can take? I saw in an old topic that Len had one in shade that rotted but came back fine when he moved it into full sun. So it sounds like they prefer sun, but I know Florida and California sun can differ somewhat in intensity. Any input from someone who has experience with these in Florida would be great.

  • 2 years later...
Cindy Adair Grand Master

Cindy Adair

Posted
Posted

I noticed this beautiful tree for the first time during the Biennial in Florida. Interestingly to me, when I did a brief internet search I found this topic started by Meg, whom I had the privilege to meet at the 2014 Cuba IPS post tour and a photo taken at Fairchild on another site by Scott Zona who co edits PALMS journal and who I also met through the IPS.

Such a small world.

Recently a plant collector in PR gave one to me (Thank you!) after hearing me talk about this tree. I do not know where he got it but not from PR.

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I am contemplating the best spot on my farm for this beauty. Any suggestions from those that have (or have had) one are appreciated greatly!

There are several other interesting posts on this forum such as these: 

Any updates on yours Meg and George and Justin? I believe I read that Len has one too? 

Cindy Adair

Peter Grand Master

Peter

Posted
Posted

People in Socal (and Florida) who like the look of this Ficus should consider Meryta balansae as an alternative. 

  • Upvote 1

San Fernando Valley, California

Cindy Adair Grand Master

Cindy Adair

Posted
Posted

Sounds like another I'd enjoy trying! Another for my wish list perhaps.

Cindy Adair

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