Ficus Pumila

Wondering how to conceal an old, unsightly fence in the patio? Well, the best way to do that would be to cover it with the evergreen Ficus pumila vine. Also known as the creeping fig or the climbing fig, this is a fast growing vine that is native to East Asia. It belongs to the Moraceae family and the order Rosales. Due to its trailing growth habit, it works well as wall coverings. Though it is related to Ficus carica, which is one of the Ficus tree varieties that gives us the edible fig fruit, there are marked differences between these two varieties. The climbing fig is valued by many gardening enthusiasts due to its delicate and attractive foliage and its vigorous growth. If you want your old garden wall to look visually pleasing, growing this vine will definitely work wonders. You can also use this is a houseplant by putting it in a hanging basket. Here's some information about this vine.

Creeping Fig

As mentioned earlier, climbing fig is a self-clinging vine is fast-growing and creates dense wall coverings within no time. The heart-shaped, glossy foliage looks extremely attractive. No wonder it is used as a topiary plant. This perennial climbing plant holds on to the surface through its aerial roots. The foliage on the fine stems secures firmly to the support. As the tender leaves mature, they grow to a size of 2 to 3 inches in length and even the stems become a little coarse. These days, people are using various varieties of this plant for the purposes for concealing of masonry walls. These include F. pumila Minima, F. pumila Sonny and F. pumila Variegata. These vines can climb up to a height of 15 to 20 meters. Though this vine doesn't produce flowers, you will spot a small fruit that looks like a smaller version of fig. However, this fruit is not really edible.

Caring for the Creeping Fig

If you are planning to include this vine in your garden or patio, make sure that it is not clinging onto wooden surfaces. It might damage the wood, so use it on stone walls or fences. You must take note of the fact that this vine figures on the list of poisonous ornamental plants, so it must be kept away from children as well as pets. Let me tell you about the conditions needed for the growth of Ficus pumila vine. It could be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings as well as layering. Since this vine is a fast-grower, make sure that you select a location where it gets ample space to grow. These will survive in partial sun, but you could select a shady location as well. It is quite invasive and might kill the other plants due to its aggressive growth habit, so, you must space them properly. It needs moist loamy soil in the initial stages so don't let the soil become dry. Water it well during the dry season, but over-watering must be avoided. The soil should be well-drained and soil pH should be in the range of 5.5 to 7.5. You can also amend the soil initially with a phosphorus-based fertilizer. You could use a potting mix made from garden soil, peat and perlite. As far as temperature is concerned, temperature in the range of 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit will work well. This vine will grow well in areas with medium humidity. Since it grows fast and can be invasive, you must not allow it to overgrow and damage the other plants. So, get your pruning shears ready. Pruning is definitely a very important aspect that must not be ignored.

If you are planning to make use of this climbing plant to hide the old fences, make sure that you follow the aforementioned instructions. Also ensure that you prevent this climbing plant from killing the other plants that are growing alongside.