UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail:  dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu 

January 26, 2006

Quick Links:   Strangling Figs    Native figs     Exotic Figs   Fig trees in landscape  References

Feature Article - for release the week of January 29, 2006

Dan Culbert & Gene McAvoy - Extension Horticulture Agents

Fantastic Figs  

Newcomers are amazed at the size on some of the trees found growing in our Florida Yards.  Most of our trees don’t get  very tall, but some will spread outwards and fill in large areas of the landscape.  Today’s column from Hendy County Extension Director Gene McAvoy will introduce the Figs, a commonly used plant in and around our Florida homes.

Among trees, the figs (Ficus spp.) have bizarre growth forms and unusual ways to produce fruit and seed.  Many have numerous snakelike, aerial roots growing downward from the limbs and aggressive growth habits that can strangle other trees. 

Exotic figs in the landscape eventually form a massive, buttressed trunk with huge surface roots that spread in all directions. Although many know the shrub-like edible fig (F. carica), most figs grow into large trees in the tropics that remind us of a "Tarzan" movie.

Ficus trees are part of the Mulberry family (Moraceae), one of the largest groups of woody plants.  With the exception of Hawaii, every tropical continent and island group has one or more native figs.  Figs have been introduced into many areas, and in some cases have escaped and become problems in natural areas.

Each species of fig has a unique species of "in house" wasp pollinator. The wasps live inside these hollow fruits. And help to pollinate the tiny flowers inside the small inconspicuous fig flowers.   

Many figs are called "stranglers." Fig fruit are filled with sticky seeds that are spread by birds and bats.  They begin to grow high on the moist branches of rain forest trees, sending numerous aerial roots to the ground.  

Like botanical boa constrictors, the serpentine roots gradually wrap around the host's limbs and trunk, crushing the hot tree’s bark and constricting vital layers in the trunk. The network of roots, resembling a tangle of snakes, fuse together, forming a massive "straight jacket” around the tree trunk.  As the host tree trunk grows bigger, it will push against the outer strangling roots, speeding up the death grip and subsequent girdling process.  

Eventually the host tree dies of strangulation and shading, and the strangler fig stands in its place. In many cases the host tree may actually succumb from shading and root competition rather than strangulation.   Strangler figs can also start in the ground with their trunks  growing  upwards like other "conventional" trees.

Here in south Florida, we have two native Florida Strangler figs (Ficus aurea and F. citrifolia).  They commonly grow around Cabbage palms, bald cypress, oaks and many other trees.  Because they lack a conventional ringed bark structure, palms can generally survive the death grip of a strangler fig -  until they are gradually shaded out.

In spite of this sinister common name, strangler figs are important in the forest ecosystems.  Many birds, bats and animals feed on the sweet fruits by day and retire to these trees at night.  Fig trees may produce three or more crops of fruit a year, providing food when other sources are in short supply. The fleshy, juicy fruits are full of small seeds which readily pass through the digestive tract of animals. In fact, the purgative effect of fig fruits encourages the seeds to be widely dispersed -- a good way to get a stranglehold on a new place to grow.

In addition to supplying wildlife food, animals make their homes in the trunks of figs. The cavities provide housing for many creatures, including frogs, lizards, bees, wasps, beetles and ants. These trunk dwellers are in turn eaten by other critters higher up the fig food web.

Exotic species of Ficus, such as the commonly cultivated Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), Indian laurel fig (F. microcarpa), rusty-leaf fig (F. rubiginosa), and Moreton Bay fig (F. macrophylla) have been planted in Florida.  Other exotic figs like the banyan (F. bengalensis) produce enlarged aerial roots that give the tree the appearance of being supported by pillars.  

Fig trees spread outwards, and may grow to be very large if not toppled by storms or frozen back. One of the largest covers an area of four acres. They are among the most spectacular trees in parks and botanical gardens.

Unfortunately, most of these introduced species have proved to be a nuisance.  In fact, some of the alien strangler figs are a nightmare due to their aggressive nature.  The massive, spreading roots of these enormous trees buckle pavement and concrete swimming pools, plug drainage and sewer lines, and can pose a serious threat to underground utilities.

Although the native Strangler fig has its place in nature, most introduced fig species are best kept as potted houseplants and out of our Florida Yards.  After our recent storms many homeowners regret planting that innocent houseplant out of doors, as it becomes an large expensive item that will be expensive to remove if toppled over. As a large landscape plant, their use should be confined to parks and botanical gardens.

I’ve placed more information on our Okeechobee web page,  http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on figs, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  

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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.  Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida.  Larry A.  Arrington, Dean Last update: 10/13/2008 .  This page is maintained by Dan Culbert

References

Anonymous.   Strangler Fig Ficus aurea.   Gainesville: University of Florida, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, 2002. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/ficaur.html 

Armstrong,  W.P. Stranglers and Banyans (Wayne's Word article). San Marcos, CA: Palomar Community College, October 1999. http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ploct99.htm Great photos of strangling Ficus trees! 

Crocker, Tim.   Edible Fig (Fact Sheet HS-27) .  Gainesville: UF/IFAS Extension Service, May 2003. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG214 

Gilman, Ed. Southern Tree fact Sheets: Ficus aurea Strangler Fig  (ST-250)  Ficus benjamina Weeping Fig (ST-251),Ficus retusa Cuban-Laurel (ST-255),  Ficus rubiginosa Rusty Fig (ST-257).  Gainesville:  UF/IFAS Extension Service, November 1993

McAvoy, Gene.  Fantastic Figs (Hendry County Horticulture News) Labelle:  UF/IFAS Hendry County Extension Service,  March 2001. http://hendry.ifas.ufl.edu/HCHortNews_Figs.htm 

van Noort, Simon and Rasplus, Jean-Yves.  Fig web home page. http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/index.htm  Cape Town: Iziko South African Museum, 2005