Fiddle Leaf Fig

Ficus lyrata

Synonyms: Fiddle Fig, Ficus pandurata.

The Fiddle Leaf Fig has become a staple indoor plant in recent years, loved for it’s bold appearance and lush foliage. It’s quite an adaptable species, performing well in dim indoor conditions or in full sun (once adapted). Like most Ficus species, the Fiddle Leaf Fig is very easy to grow as an indoor plant or potted specimen. They will happily grow in the ground too, but this is not recommended as they will get quite large (10m+) and can develop invasive root systems.

Care for a Fiddle Leaf Fig is easy. Choose a bright spot close to a window if growing indoors. Outdoors, they do well on patios or verandas in shade or part sun. Over-watering appears to be an issue for some growers. Like many indoor plants, Fiddle Leaf Figs do best if allowed to dry out somewhat between waterings. If kept permanently wet while in a low-light situation, they often shed leaves and eventually begin to rot out. We recommend watering around once per week. This may need to be reduced in winter, or increased if the plant gets more sun exposure. If you’re unsure when to water, test with your finger or a moisture metre before rewetting.

This plant is so named for its large, violin shaped leaves. However, there is also a small-leaved cultivar available called ‘Bambino’. This variety is sometimes called the Dwarf Fiddle Leaf Fig, however we suspect it probably gets just as big if planted in the ground! It tends to be more compact in it’s growth form. Care is identical to the regular form.