Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, Nepal
Types
Perennial
Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig
Number of Varieties
5060
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
agricultural areas, Along Railroads, Coastal Regions, Forests, Roadsides, Scrubs, Suburban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1010-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Elliptic to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune for shortening long shoots
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
don't fertilize in winter
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Yellow Leaves
Plant Tolerance
Drought
-
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma, breathing problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
-
Part of Plant Used
Root
Latex
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Making rubber, Making tyres
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
FICUS elastica
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Rubber Plant
In Hindi
African Iris
रबड़ का पौधा
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Ficus elastica
In French
African Iris
Ficus elastica
In Spanish
Iris africano
ficus
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
ελαστικός φίκος
In Portuguese
Iris africano
fábrica de borracha
In Polish
Afryki Iris
gumy roślin
In Latin
African Iris
Flexilis herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Rosales
Family
Iridaceae
Moraceae
Genus
Dietes
Ficus
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Irideae
Ficeae
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
300800
1
27800
👆🏻