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Ficus sansibarica
Ficus sansibarica, the knobbly fig, is a tree species from tropical and subtropical Africa that often starts life as an epiphyte and strangles its host as it grows. Grown outdoors in frost-free climates; it is a large tree rather than a typical houseplant.
The Ficus sansibarica, known as knobbly fig, is an African species of cauliflorous fig. It is named after Zanzibar, where Franz Stuhlmann discovered it in 1889. They often begin life as epiphytes, which assume a strangling habit as they develop. They regularly reach 10 m, but may grow up to 40 m tall as forest stranglers.
It occurs in the African tropics and subtropics from coastal elevations to 900 m above sea level. The nominate subspecies has an easterly distribution, but extends westwards up the Zambezi Valley.
The raw figs are used for food, and are locally believed to promote fertility. Stems are torn apart to obtain fibers for basket weaving. Locally it is also deemed sacred.
Large-leaved rock fig · Figwood · Ficus adhatodifolia · Ficus albert-smithii · Abbey tree · Council tree · Ficus amazonica · Ficus americana subsp. greiffiana · Jamaican cherry fig · Ficus ampelos · Indian Bat Fig · Ficus andamanica
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Ficus sansibarica 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.
