Species · genus Ficus · Moraceae
Ficus vaccinioides
Ficus vaccinioides Hemsl. & King ex King
Cultivars of F. vaccinioides
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under F. vaccinioides 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 Small, Vining Fig
Creeping fig is one of the smallest members of the ficus family, a close cousin to fiddle leaf fig, weeping fig, and edible fig. Rather than growing upright as a tree or shrub like its relatives, it behaves as a groundcover or a climbing vine, depending on how it is trained. It is sometimes sold under the name Ficus repens.
Source: Costa Farms
Light, Water, and Feeding
Give creeping fig medium to bright light, enough that it casts a shadow for much of the day, and either natural or artificial light will do. Water it as the top inch or so of the potting mix dries, since it tolerates drying out less well than many of its ficus relatives and will drop leaves prematurely if kept too dry. Coming from warm, tropical climates, it appreciates average to above-average humidity, and it responds to feeding with a water-soluble fertilizer in spring and summer or a once-yearly time-release granular product in spring.
Source: Costa Farms
Form, Foliage, and Versatility
Creeping fig comes in a number of varieties, some with extra-textured leaves and others with variegated edges or centers. Its small scale and vining habit make it a natural for hanging baskets, and it takes readily to being trained over a moss form for topiary. It also does well in the enclosed, humid air of a terrarium.
Source: Costa Farms
Reading the Leaves
Leaves that drop early usually point to the plant having been allowed to dry out too much between waterings. Brown, crispy leaf edges tend to signal air that is too dry for this humidity-loving plant. Yellowing or browning leaves that drop off can also come from drafts, especially cold or hot air near exterior doors, windows, or heating and cooling vents.
Source: Costa Farms
Pruning and Repotting
Creeping fig asks little in the way of pruning, and it can be pinched or cut back at any time of year without harm to the plant. It tolerates being somewhat rootbound, but it grows best when repotted once its roots have filled the pot. Note that the plant is not meant for human or animal consumption, and its milky sap can irritate sensitive skin.
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 5-10d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Bright, indirect
≈ every 10 days
Medium
15–28 °C
Well-draining potting mix with added grit
Stem cuttings or layering
Dilute balanced feed monthly in spring and summer
Slow
Rarely flowers 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 5-10d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ASPCA
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Ficus vaccinioides 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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