Hardiness zones
Sunset 9, 13, 16-24
USDA 9-11
Landscape Use: Dense shade tree, street tree only in sites with wide medians, large courtyards and interior malls, large containers, a prop for dummies, and of course there's the famous "The Cabo Chicken" (topiary)
Form & Character: Potentially massive evergreen trees (see these Indian laurel figs in the middle of Highway 15 in downtown Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico) with a dense rounded canopy, spreading with age, heavy looking, formal
Growth Habit: Moderate and spreading to 50 to 80'. Width generally slightly greater than height
Foliage/texture: Lustrous, glabrous oval leaves tapering to acuminate tip, leaves very persistent, trunk and branches have thin, smooth, grayish white bark with lenticels on small branches, latex producer, medium texture
Flowers & fruits: Both small, auxiliary, inconspicuous, fruit a small yellowish green rounded nut
Seasonal color: None
Temperature: Generally hardy outdoors in the temperature range of 25oF and to 115oF. Foliage and young branches can be injured during cold winters in Phoenix. Indian laurel fig across Phoenix experienced freeze damage in January 2007. And here is the same tree 11 months after the freeze of January 2007 in November 2007. Extreme summer temperatures (above 115oF) and intense sunlight will also damage exposed foliage on the upper canopy of trees. Trees injured by extreme Phoenix cold or heat usually recover quickly (except for the sudden freeze event of January 2007).
Light: Full sun to full shade, avoid reflective western exposures because tree trunks are prone to sun scald injury.
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: Regular
Pruning: Elevate canopy base gradually as the tree matures. Trees propagated from cuttings need to be rigorously staked and pruned to train as standard or the 'Mexican box look'.
Propagation: Easily propagated by vegetative cutting or air layering
Disease and pests: Thrips
Additional comments: Indian laurel fig is taxonomically confusing in the horticulture industry because it's scientific name has been changed so many times in the last 30 years (I remember first learning Indian laurel fig as Ficus retusa back in the 1970s). F. m. nitida 'Green Gem' has thickest, darkest leaves and is apparently resistant to thrips insects. Encourage deep rooting around paved areas because Indian laurel fig can grow an extensive matrix of surface roots. Can be maintained as a slow growing interior container plant for some time.
