Ficus salicaria (Willow leaf fig)

Ficus salicaria CC Berg.

Ficus neriifolia Sm.

Willow leaf fig

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Moraceae	Mulberry/fig family
Genus	Ficus	A Latin name for the fig
Species	salicaria	Willow-leafed

About plant names...

Willow leaf ficus is popular for bonsai, but its origins are murky. Some sources claim that this species is not Ficus salicaria (also called F. nerifolia). In lieu of an alternative identity, we’ll pretend we have it right. It is found in broad-leaved evergreen forests at altitudes of 1.1-1.8 mi (1.7-2.9 km), in Xizang in Tibet, southeastern China, Bhutan, northeastern India, Myanmar, and Nepal.

Identification: Plants reach 49' (15 m) in height, with a smooth, dark gray trunk and a spreading crown. Leaves are lanceolate, elliptic, ovate, or some combination thereof, and 3-7" (8-18 cm) × 1-2½" (3-6.5 cm) in size, on petioles ⅜-1½" (1-4 cm) long. They are often asymmetrical in shape. Both the top and bottom of each leaf is hairless and green, with smooth edges. Fruits are figs 3-4" (8-10 cm) in diameter, and are rounded, oval, or cylindrical, growing in pairs from older branches.

Online References:

Ficus salicaria on eFloras

Ficus salicaria on Wikipedia

Ficus salicaria on

Ficus salicaria on www.bonsaimary.com

Ficus salicaria description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

Bonsai. · 12/12/2016 · Bonsai West, Littleton, Massachusetts
≈ 10 × 15" (26 × 39 cm)

Range: Zones 10b-11:

About this map...