Family: Moraceae
Ficus elastica, commonly known as the Indian rubberplant, is a striking tropical tree valued for its glossy, broad leaves and dramatic growth habit. Native to Southeast Asia, this species can grow into a large tree in the wild but is often cultivated as a houseplant or landscape specimen in tropical and subtropical regions. Its thick, leathery leaves are deep green, sometimes with reddish new growth, and its aerial roots can give the tree a sculptural, architectural appearance. While it can thrive in a range of soil types and tolerates occasional dry conditions, it prefers bright, indirect sunlight and consistent moisture when grown in gardens or containers.
In Hawaii, Ficus elastica is widely planted as an ornamental tree and is admired for its low maintenance and aesthetic appeal. Although it has traits commonly associated with invasive figs, such as vigorous growth and aerial roots, it is not considered invasive in the Hawaiian Islands because its specific pollinating fig wasp is absent, meaning the tree does not produce viable seeds. As a result, it remains a safe and attractive choice for landscaping, providing shade, greenery, and an exotic tropical feel without posing a risk to native ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized as an environmental weed on Christmas Island.
- Widely introduced and cultivated in tropical regions.
- Other Ficus species are invasive.
- Toxic to humans if ingested.
- Tolerant of shade and a range of soil types.
- Seeds, if produced, are bird-dispersed.
Low Risk Traits:
- Requires a specific, often absent, pollinator wasp for seed set.
- Rarely produces viable seeds outside its native range.
- Does not reproduce vegetatively via fragmentation.
- Slow to reach maturity (4+ years).
- No persistent seed bank.
- Not a weed of agriculture or forestry.
- Lacks spines, thorns, and allelopathic properties.
