You may find this plant labeled either as a rubber tree or rubber fig.
What does a rubber tree plant look like.
A rubber tree plant is also known as a ficus elastica.
How it looks and displaying.
The rubber tree or plant ficus elastica decora is a favorite houseplant.
In its native jungle habitat in india and malaysia the plant can grow up to 100 feet tall.
Ficus elastica which is what rudy is is considered the most common type of rubber tree.
The rubber aspect of its name comes from the rubber white sap that oozes out of the glossy leaves and woody stems if they re scratched or cut.
Be still my heart.
The rubber plant is also known as ficus elastica and rubber tree.
If you re new to plant parenting a rubber tree is the plant for you.
Rubber plants have large thick glossy green leaves.
But indoors a rubber tree typically tops out at 6 to 10 feet tall.
These large trees can grow up to 50 feet 15 m tall.
Rubber trees will grow well in most homes with just a little care.
As a domesticated houseplant rubber plants grow anywhere between six to ten feet tall.
Caring for rubber trees.
In its native environment it s normal for a rubber plant to grow to over 100 tall.
With its glossy leathery leaves and upright form it s a striking addition to almost any room in your house.
The ficus benjamina or weeping fig drops leaves like it s fall every day.
New leaves have a rosy colored sheath.
The variegated ficus tineke pictured below is a really pretty rubber tree in the ficus family their leaves start out pink with painted green and they turn mostly green and white once they fully open.
Its sap is used to produce rubber hence the name.
The most common variegated type is pictured further above resembling army khaki.
With careful pruning you can shape your rubber tree to be exactly as tall as you want.
When learning how to care for a rubber tree plant there are a few key things to remember but rubber plant care isn t as difficult as one might think.
Rubber plants can grow up to 100 feet in their native homeland of southeast asia.
Ficus elastica more commonly known as a rubber plant rubber tree or rubber tree plant is a popular houseplant because of its waxy leaves and larger than life appearance.