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Ficus microcarpa 'Golden'

Family Name:	Moraceae
Synonyms:	Ficus nitida 'Golden'
Common Name:	Indian Laurel Fig

A variety of Malayan Banyan with golden-green leaves, Ficus microcarpa 'Golden' is commonly found along streetscapes as hedges or bonsai. It is also suitable for planting in parks and gardens.

Full Sun

Moderate Water

Bird-Attracting Plant

Butterfly Host Plant

Suitable for Bonsai

Suitable for Roadsides

Ornamental Leaves

Shrub

Tree

Name

Family Name
Genus Epithet
Species Epithet
Infraspecific Epithet
Name Status (botanical)
Synonyms
Common Names
Comments
Species Summary

Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon)
Plant Growth Form	Shrub, Tree
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Plant Shape	Rounded
Maximum Height	12 m
Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width	10 m

Biogeography

Native Distribution	India, Malaysia
Native Habitat	Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical

Local Conservation Status

Non-native

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form	An evergreen tree or shrub with glossy leaves. When the leaves or branches are crushed or broken, they exude whitish sap. The degree of yellowness in their leaf blades is correlated with the degree of exposure of sun.
Roots	Numerous brown aerial roots hanging down from the branches and twigs. These roots eventually develop into stout, pillar roots.
Foliage	Younger leaves tend to be more yellowish or golden. Leaves are alternately arranged along the stems. Each leaves has a leathery leaf blade that are oval to elliptic with pointy tips.

Stems	Light grey. Many aerial roots hanging down from the branches. Some of these roots will develop into woody, pillar roots that help to support the spreading tree crown.
Flowers	The plant is monoecious, producing unisexual flowers on the same individual. Both male and female flowers are stalkless. However, flowers are hardly seen in the landscape due to consistent pruning to maintain its preferred hedge/ bonsai shape.
Fruit	Its round syconia (figs) develop singly, or in stalkless pairs, and are 5–7 mm wide. They ripen a dark pink to deep purple at maturity.
Cultivation	Easy to grow. Tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions. Very hardy, can withstand repeated pruning and shaping - good choice for hedges and bonsai.
Etymology	The genus Ficus is an ancient Latin name, ficus, fici for the fig. The species microcarpa means small-fruited.

Landscaping Features

Landscaping	Grown as general plant along roads, hedges for screening as well as bonsai and topiary.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage
Landscape Uses	Suitable for Bonsai, Container Planting, General, Hedge / Screening, Parks & Gardens, Suitable for Roadsides

Thematic Landscaping

Golden Garden

Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal

Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna	Bird-Attracting (Fruits), Butterfly Host Plant, Bat Food (Fruits)
Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp))
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Bat), Vertebrates (Other Mammal))

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference	Full Sun
Water Preference	Moderate Water
Plant Growth Rate	Moderate

Rootzone Tolerance	Easy to Grow, Moist Soils, Polluted Air, Well-Drained Soils
Propagation Method	Stem Cutting, Air-Layering

Foliar

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery

Prominent Young Flush Colour(s)	Yellow / Golden, Green - Light Green
Young Flush Texture(s)	Leathery
Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Oval)
Foliar Venation	Pinnate / Net
Foliar Margin	Entire
Foliar Apex - Tip	Acute
Foliar Base	Acute
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy)

Non - Foliar and Storage

Stem Type & Modification	Woody
Root Type	Aboveground (Aerial Root), Underground

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Grouping	Cluster / Inflorescence

Flower Location	Axillary
Inflorescence Type	Syconium

Fruit, Seed and Spore

Mature Fruit Colour(s)	Pink, Purple
Fruit Classification	Multiple Fruit
Fruit Type	Fleshy Fruit , Accessory / False Fruit (Pseudocarp)

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Images

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Master ID	1620
Species ID	2913
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.