Ficus microcarpa 'Green Island'
Not sure how many you need? Use the hedge calculator below.
Plants travel upright in enclosed trucks - not general couriers. Learn more
Enter your hedge length to estimate how many plants you’ll need.
Tight = faster privacy, more plants upfront
Green Island Ficus
Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa 'Green Island'
Family: Moraceae
Origin: Tropical Asia (cultivated compact selection)
Plant Type: Evergreen compact shrub
Overview
A compact, slow-growing ficus perfectly suited to Adelaide's warmer microclimates, Ficus microcarpa 'Green Island' forms dense, mounded growth of small rounded glossy deep green leaves that create year-round structure and elegance. Unlike the large invasive Ficus microcarpa species, 'Green Island' remains naturally compact and manageable, making it ideal for low hedging, borders, containers and bonsai. Exceptionally tolerant of pruning and shaping, it responds beautifully to clipping while maintaining pristine foliage. Ideal for formal low hedges, containers, feature plantings and sheltered gardens, 'Green Island' brings refined tropical elegance to protected South Australian landscapes.
Key Features
- Mature Size: 0.9–1.5 m H × 0.9–1.5 m W (naturally compact; easily kept smaller with pruning; can reach 2-2.4 m if unpruned in ideal conditions)
- Growth Rate: 15–30 cm per year under good conditions (slow to moderate growth—much slower than standard Ficus microcarpa)
- Foliage: Small, rounded, glossy deep green leaves; very dense, compact mounding habit; evergreen year-round
- Flowers: Inconspicuous; rarely flowers; may produce small ornamental figs in warm climates (not the main feature)
- Fragrance: Not fragrant
- Seasonal Interest: Evergreen glossy structure year-round; consistent deep green colour through all seasons
- Wildlife Value: Dense foliage provides shelter; occasional figs (if produced) may attract birds
- Tolerance: Moderate drought tolerance once established (prefers consistent moisture); heat-tolerant; frost-tender (cannot tolerate frost—protect from freezing temperatures or grow indoors/in containers that can be moved); wind-sensitive (needs sheltered positions); coastal-tolerant in sheltered positions; non-invasive root system (unlike standard Ficus microcarpa)
- Planting Density: 2–3 plants per m²; Low hedge: 60–90 cm apart; Feature/specimen: 1 plant per focal point or container
- Pet Friendly: No—toxic if chewed; milky sap can cause skin irritation in pets and humans
Where It Works Best
- Sunlight: Full sun to part shade (adapts to a range of light conditions; tolerates deep shade indoors or in sheltered positions)
- Soil: Well-drained loam, sandy loam, or premium potting mix; prefers moist, well-drained soil; avoid waterlogging
-
Water Needs:
- Establishment: Deep soak twice weekly for 8–12 weeks
- Established: Deep soak 2–3 times weekly in summer for best appearance (more water-loving than drought-tolerant natives); reduce watering in winter
- Maintenance: Moderate maintenance; prune anytime to maintain desired shape and size—responds excellently to clipping; feed with balanced slow-release fertiliser in spring and summer; mulch to retain moisture; repot container specimens every 2–3 years; generally pest-free (occasional scale or mealybugs—easily managed); avoid heavy clay soils
- Lifespan: 20–50+ years with proper care
- Climate Zones: Best for warm temperate and subtropical South Australia—Adelaide plains in sheltered, frost-free microclimates; sheltered coastal gardens; can be grown as indoor/conservatory plant in cooler areas or moved indoors over winter
- Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (pH 6.0–7.0); adapts to a range of soil pH levels
Landscape & Design Ideas
- Low formal hedges and borders for refined tropical structure
- Containers and pots for patios, courtyards, and sheltered outdoor areas (can be moved indoors in winter)
- Bonsai specimens—responds excellently to training and shaping
- Foundation plantings in sheltered, frost-free positions
- Indoor/conservatory plants in cooler climates
- Feature plantings near entries and outdoor living spaces
- Contemporary and tropical landscapes requiring compact evergreen structure
- Formal parterre and knot gardens for low structured hedging
Why You Will Love It
'Green Island' ficus delivers refined tropical elegance in a compact, manageable form perfect for Adelaide's warmer sheltered gardens. The dense glossy foliage provides year-round structure, while the naturally compact habit and non-invasive roots make it safer and easier to manage than standard ficus species. Slow-growing, beautifully responsive to pruning, and perfect for formal low hedges and containers—it's the ultimate compact ficus for protected South Australian landscapes.