Mistletoe Fig is an evergreen large shrub or small tree to 23feet with a spreading and rounded growth habit and is sometimes epiphytic in its native habitat in SE Asia. It is in the Moraceae family. Mistletoe Fig prefers medium to high light, dry soil and medium relative humidity with a temperature of greater than 55 degrees F. It can tolerate low light conditions and temperatures to 30 degrees F. for short periods. It withstands heavy pruning with flowers and fruit appearing on both new and old growth. It has few pest/disease problems. This is an unusual plant with shiny, waxy, green leaves and yellowish undersides that have triangular black glands in between the leaf veins. The plant also produces yellowish, non-edible figs year-round. In cooler climates, it is commonly used as an indoor houseplant and will grow to 3 feet in a container. It is also used as a bonsai specimen. Quick ID Hints : Leaves have a DELTOID shape Leaf underside bears several black glands Fruit is present year-round More information on Ficus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding; Spreading
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cuneate; Deltoid; Elliptical; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Waxy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Alternate, simple, deltoid, truncate or rounded apex, base cuneate, entire, stiffly coriaceous, with several black glands at vein joints underneath; the juvenile leaf is narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, acute, penniveined. Leaves are 1-3 inches long by .5 to 2 inches wide
Flower detail
Minute, axillary, unisexual flowers are enclosed in a fleshy receptacle (fig) that is pollinated by fig wasps.
Fruit color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
A globose to ellipsoidal fig, in pairs, green maturing to yellow and orange to red, 1/2 diameter.
Bark color
Light Gray
Bark detail
Light grey bark
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Slender, multibranched, stiff and short.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Southeast Asia
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
The plant is used in herbal medicine
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio
Garden tags
#small tree #large shrub #evergreen shrub #indoor #evergreen tree #indoor tree #fantz #year-round interest #evergreen #figs #problem for dogs #problem for horses #problem for cats #ornamentals #houseplant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Banded Greenhouse Thrips; Fern Scale Insect
Problems
Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses