Ficus Benghalensis


Meet India's national tree in sleek houseplant form! Native to the Indian subcontinent, Ficus Benghalensis—famously known as Ficus Audrey—features thick, velvety dark green leaves beautifully accented with bold, pale cream veins. Framing a smooth light-gray trunk, this chic beauty offers all the architectural height of a fiddle leaf fig, but with a far more forgiving and relaxed personality!

  • Toxic to pets and children
  • Repot once every 2 years
  • Fertilize once a month
  • Bright, indirect light
  • Average water

About Ficus Benghalensis

Origin

Native to India and Pakistan, where it is known as the sacred Banyan tree and stands as India's official national tree!

Air Purifying

This grand green amigo is a heavy-duty air filter, scrubbing common indoor toxins out of your living space while pumping out plenty of clean oxygen.

Toxicity

Toxic to cats and dogs due to gastrointestinal irritants and milky sap (ficin). Eating leaves can cause drooling, vomiting, or mouth irritation, so keep this tree-like amigo away from curious pets! 

Caring for Ficus Benghalensis

Watering

Water when the top 30–50% of the soil has dried out. These amigos love a consistent moisture balance—far more forgiving than their picky Fiddle Leaf cousin, but they still hate soggy roots or bone-dry soil!

Light and Placement

Thrives in bright, indirect light with a direct splash of soft morning sunshine! A spot near a bright east-facing window or a few feet back from a south/west window is ideal. Keep it away from cold, sudden drafts.

Nutrition

Feed once a month during spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength to fuel those large, velvety leaves. Skip the snacks in fall and winter.

Repotting

Repot every 1–2 years in spring when you notice roots filling the pot or growth stalling. Choose a well-draining potting mix with plenty of perlite and a sturdy container that is 2 inches larger.

Pruning and Flowering

Indoor flowering/fruiting is super rare as it relies on specialized fig wasps for pollination! Pruning is best done in spring to control height or encourage a bushier canopy—just wear gloves to avoid the sticky white latex sap.

Ficus Audrey SOS

Illness

Watch out for scale, mealybugs, or spider mites. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while sudden light changes or chilly drafts might cause your amigo to drop a few leaves in protest!

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