What Is a Fiddle Leaf Fig?
Fiddle Leaf Fig, botanically called Ficus lyrata is a fig natively found in the tropical part of Cameroon in Africa. It is also called BANJO FIG or LYRE LEAF FIG.
It is usually found in hot and humid regions because it requires lots of sunlight to make its food. Ficus Lyrata has beautiful and giant green leaves.
Although it can be used to beautify the interiors, Fiddle Leaf Fig is best placed at the window or areas where the leaves will receive adequate sunlight. It is grown as trees in tropical areas and used as home plant in temperate regions.
Interesting Facts About Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant
- The Fiddle Leaf Fig Plant has giant leaves compared to other plants around. It reacts quickly to inadequate lighting and the leaves fall off at times like that.
- Ficus Lyrata is very susceptible to infections. Rarely would you find one without a fungal infection or a spot, however this isn’t a reason to fret, it isn’t beyond control.
- Despite being of the mulberry family, the Fiddle-leaf plant doesn’t bear fruits when grown indoors. This is because it doesn’t have access to adequate vitalities.
- Fiddle leaf plant can’t easily be grown from its seeds and can’t be grown from its leaves. It is often grown by stem cutting.
Types of Fiddle-Leaf Fig You Can Find in Hong Kong
Popular cultivars of the Fiddle-Lead Fig found in Hong Kong are:
- Ficus lyrata ‘Compacta’
- Ficus lyrata ‘Bambino’
- Ficus lyrata ‘Suncoast’
Choosing The Right Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant
To make the right choice of the Fiddle-Leaf fig plant for your home or office, watch out for these features:
- Length: Some fiddle-leaf fig only grows to be about 24 inches tall, with proportionally smaller leaves. Bambino is a good example of this. It is easier to grow this kinds of figs at home especially when you want to have them around for a long while.
- Growth duration: It is better to watch out for a fiddle leaf fig which grows slowly compared to others. This is because the leaves can be so big and giant.
- Variegation: Variegated fiddle leaf figs stands out among many others. They have various colours (white, green and cream), which makes them more beautiful and requires less sunlight.