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Banana Leaf Fig

Ficus maclellandii

Banana Leaf Fig
Photo: Alialb, CC BY-SA 4.0

Ficus maclellandii, the Alii fig or banana-leaf fig, is an evergreen fig tree from tropical Asia that is widely grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. It does best with bright light, steady moisture and warmth, and avoiding cold drafts and sudden changes.

Family
Moraceae (Fig & mulberry family)
Grows as
Tree
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Water when the top few centimetres of soil are dry, and let excess drain away.
Soil
Well-draining peat-based potting mix with some perlite or bark.
Temperature
18–30 °C; protect below 10 °C
How easy
Moderate
Safety
Toxic: Sap from cut stems and leaves can irritate skin and mouth, as with other figs (Ficus), and is harmful if eaten.. Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA).
Native range
Assam to China (Yunnan) and Pen. Malaysia (Kedah)
Climate
wet tropical

About

Ficus maclellandii (common name Alii fig or banana-leaf fig) is a species of fig plant in the family Moraceae. It is native to eastern India, Bangladesh, Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia, and Yunnan in south-central China. It is an evergreen often grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. The leaves are 8–13 cm and uniquely dimorphic; with narrow leaves on the lower, sterile branches and broader leaves on the higher branches.

The species was described by George King in 1887.

Other Ficus plants

Ficus annulata · Mosaic Fig · Ficus atricha · Florida strangler fig · Roxburgh fig · Indian banyan · Weeping fig · Longleaf Fig · Ficus brachypoda · Fig · Ficus caulocarpa · Ficus celebensis

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ficus maclellandii by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.

Pet safety from the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plant lists.

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