Ficus macrophylla

Ficus macrophylla

Synonym

Ficus macrocarpa

Common Names

Moreton Bay Fig

Australian Banyan

Fig Wood

Waabie

Karrevaira

Peemith

Origin

Native to tropical Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia.

Ecology

It is a drought tolerant banyan that is hardier to cold than most banyans and can withstand temperatures 28 F (-7 C) or above, though younger trees are more susceptible to cold. Trees grown in the continental United States do not grow as large as trees in their native habitat.

Habit: Erect or Spreading and requires ample growing space.

Has Evergreen foliage.

Shape: Rounded or Umbrella

Sunset Zones: 17 and 19 - 24

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 - 11

Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Shade

Water Needs: Moist Soil

Soil Type: Clay, Loam or Sand

Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Highly Alkaline

Seaside Tolerance: Good in South Coast

Height: 75 - 180 feet

Canopy Width: 70 - 130 feet

Growth Rate: 36 Inches per Season

Longevity: Greater than 150 years

Leaves: Oval Glossy Medium Green. Evergreen.

Flowers: Inconspicuous. Flowers in Summer. Has separate male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious).

Fruit: Prolific, Purple or Yellow Follicle, Medium (0.50 - 1.50 inches), fruiting in Fall. Edible.

Pest & Disease: Susceptible to Scales

Shading Capacity: Rated as Moderately Dense in Leaf

Branch Strength: Rated as Medium Weak

Litter Issue: Wet Fruit and Leaves

Root Damage Potential: Rated as High

Health Hazard: Irritant

Biogenic Emissions: High

Fire Resistance: Favorable

Description

Ficus macrophylla is a medium to large, spreading tree 15 to 35 metres high with a similar spread. It often has a butressed trunk. In nature it is a strangler fig - the seed germinates in the canopy of a host tree where the plant grows as an epiphyte while sending down roots to ground level, eventually enlarging and enveloping the host tree and becoming free standing. The large leaves are oval-shaped to elliptical 100-250 mm long, dark glossy green above and rusty beneath. The fruits are 20-25 mm in diameter, yellowish and turning purple when ripe. They occur on stalks from 10-20 mm long.

Moreton Bay fig makes an excellent, bushy plant for a large container but it should not be planted in the ground in a normal suburban environment. In the ground it develops into a tree with a vigorous root system - it is far too large for a suburban garden and can damage pavements and house foundations. It is an excellent shade tree for parks and larger properties and is widely used as a feature tree in parks and gardens around the world. It is adaptable to a range of soils and appreciates adequate moisture.

Propagation is usually from seed which germinates well without any pretreatment. Cuttings may also strike successfully.

Uses

Australian Aborigines found a myriad of uses for the Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophylla) long before European settlement. The most obvious use is the year-round fruit, the figs, which continually drop to the ground and fill the air with a distinctive fermenting aroma. They were eaten when ripe and soft, or made into a paste. Although not as palatable as the figs we are used to buying they are edible and do contain some potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Next, the inner bark or roots were used to make a sturdy cloth and cord for bags as well as woven fishing nets. Also the branches as well as the bark were used to make waterproof dug-out canoes. Lastly, the milky sap, which exudes when the tree is cut was prepared as a medicine to treat infections and to dress small wounds. Paradoxically, it is found to be an irritant if it comes in direct contact with the skin.

Management Recommendation

With the pollinator wasp present in Hawaii, Ficus macrophylla currently is spreading and will likely continue to do so.

The distribution on Maui is currently not as widespread as other non-native Ficus species, such as Ficus microcarpa and Ficus platypoda. Control work should be done in areas with limited distribution of Ficus macrophylla trees and in areas where Ficus macrophylla could cause most severe harm, such as in watersheds and protected areas. Control methods will need to be investigated to figure out how to deal with epiphytic growth on native trees in steep and wet terrain. New locations of Ficus macrophylla should be monitored so that control work can be done before the situation gets beyond management. Ficus wasps should be prohibited from entry to Hawaii to prevent other Ficus trees from spreading beyond initial plantings and potentially causing harm to Hawaiiis native ecosystems.