Species · genus Ficus · Moraceae
Fiddle Leaf Fig
Ficus lyrata Warb.
Also known as: Banjo Fig · Fiddleleaf Fig · Lyre-leaf Figtree
Cultivars of F. lyrata
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under F. lyrata yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.
Guide
The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.
A bold-leaved indoor tree
Ficus lyrata, the fiddle leaf fig, is grown as a houseplant for its large, glossy, violin-shaped leaves. Given a good balance of light, water, warmth, and drainage, it settles in well indoors.
Source: Costa Farms
An African forest giant
Unlike many popular houseplants that hail from South American or Southeast Asian jungles, the fiddle leaf fig traces back to tropical West and Central Africa. In its native setting it is a full-size tree capable of reaching around 100 feet, and outdoors in cultivation it can still grow into a substantial specimen of several metres.
Source: RHS
Light, water, and steady warmth
This plant wants bright, indirect light, ideally near an east-facing window or a bright south- or west-facing one with filtered sun, though a little direct morning light is fine; it is not suited to low light. Let the top half of the potting mix dry before watering again, roughly weekly in spring and summer and every two to three weeks in fall and winter depending on pot size, and always pour water evenly over the mix rather than the leaves. Keep temperatures above 60°F, away from drafts and vents, and offer average to above-average humidity, feeding only in spring and summer with a time-release fertilizer.
Source: Costa Farms
From seed or cuttings
Fiddle leaf fig can be propagated by seed, by leaf-bud cuttings, or by semi-hardwood cuttings.
Source: RHS
Leathery, fiddle-shaped foliage
The signature trait is the big, bold, fiddle-shaped leaf with a thick, almost leathery texture that reads as a strong decor statement. Growth is relatively slow, and over time the plant tends to develop into a bushy form with multiple trunks that can be trained or pruned, eventually reaching eight feet or more indoors.
Source: Costa Farms
Watch for sap-sucking pests
Under glass or indoors, fiddle leaf fig can be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips, mealybugs, and scale insects.
Source: RHS
Reading leaf trouble
Sudden or heavy leaf drop usually signals stress from too little light, watering extremes, cold drafts, or a sudden change in conditions, though some lower leaf drop is normal as the plant matures and it may also drop leaves in response to being moved. Yellow leaves or brown spots with a yellow halo tend to point to too much moisture or poor drainage, while dry, crispy edges suggest underwatering, dry air, or too much direct sun; leaves stretching or leaning simply ask for more light.
Source: Costa Farms
Repotting on its own schedule
This plant does not need frequent repotting; wait until roots emerge from the drainage holes, water runs through too quickly, the mix dries out unusually fast, growth slows even in the growing season, or the plant becomes top-heavy. When the time comes, move up just one pot size, about 1–2 inches wider, using a well-draining houseplant mix.
Source: Costa Farms
Care recipe
The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.
Care notes are early — not yet verified
- Light
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Water
- ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-12d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Bright, indirect
≈ every 12 days
Medium
16–29 °C
Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
Stem cuttings or air layering
Balanced liquid feed monthly in the growing season
Moderate
Does not flower indoors
Toxic to cats & dogs
Fig / rubber plant — irritant latex (ficin); GI upset, dermatitis. This is where toxicity lives: every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.
Reference images
Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.
PrimarySources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-12d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ASPCA
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Fiddle Leaf Fig yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.
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