{"product_id":"ficus-rubiginosa","title":"Ficus rubiginosa","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePort Jackson Fig \u0026amp; Rusty Fig\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eFicus rubiginosa\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moraceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eastern Australia (NSW \u0026amp; QLD)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Large evergreen native tree\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Port Jackson Fig is one of Australia's most magnificent native shade trees, producing a broad, dense rounded canopy of deep glossy green foliage with the species' hallmark rust-coloured, felt-like undersides that flash silver-bronze in the breeze. A true specimen tree for large properties, parks, streetscapes, and institutional landscapes in South Australia's coastal, plains, and foothill zones, it rewards patience with dramatic scale, ecological generosity, and year-round beauty. Its tolerance of coastal salt winds, heat, and a range of soil types makes it one of the toughest large natives you can plant in metropolitan Adelaide and beyond.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15–20 m H × 10–20 m W in cultivation (can exceed 30 m H in ideal conditions)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate to fast; 30–60 cm per year once established; broadly spreading with a self-forming rounded crown and a stout, often buttressed trunk at maturity\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dense, oval to elliptic leaves 5–10 cm long; rich dark green and glossy on the upper surface, clothed in distinctive rusty-brown hairs on the underside and on new growth — creating a striking two-tone effect on windy days; evergreen and retained year-round\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Insignificant, non-fragrant; flowers are enclosed within the developing fig (syconium) and never visible externally — flowering is effectively year-round as figs develop continuously\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small round figs (1–2 cm diameter) ripen from green through yellow to red; produced prolifically across the canopy and highly attractive to wildlife; rusty new-growth flushes add seasonal contrast throughout warm months\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptional — ripening figs attract fruit-eating birds (rosellas, figbirds, silvereyes, currawongs), flying foxes, and bats; the dense canopy offers nesting sites and shelter for a wide range of native fauna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Drought-tolerant once fully established (3+ years); coastal salt-wind tolerant; heat-tolerant (suits Adelaide's 40°C+ summers); moderately frost-tender as a juvenile — protect from heavy frosts below −2°C for the first 2–3 years; wind-tolerant (dense branching structure); clay-tolerant and adaptable across loam, sandy, and clay soils\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Feature\/specimen tree: plant as a single tree with a minimum 10 m clearance from structures and services; park or boulevard avenue planting: space trees 12–15 m apart centre-to-centre; this species is NOT suitable for tight residential hedging due to its ultimate size — for screening in large properties, plant 6–8 m apart for a loose canopy screen within 8–10 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ficus rubiginosa is considered mildly toxic to dogs and cats — the milky latex sap can cause skin irritation, drooling, and gastric upset if ingested; fallen figs are generally low-risk but pets should be discouraged from eating large quantities; keep pets away from freshly pruned material and latex sap contact\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun preferred; tolerates part shade, particularly as a juvenile, but will produce a thinner canopy and slower growth in lower light\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adaptable to loam, sandy loam, and clay soils; prefers well-drained conditions with good organic matter content; tolerates Adelaide's reactive clay profiles and alkaline coastal sands provided drainage is not waterlogged\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 2–3 years): water deeply 2–3 times per week for the first 8–12 weeks, reducing to weekly deep watering through the first two summers; do not allow the root zone to completely dry out during this critical period. Established: very low supplementary watering required — one deep soak every 3–4 weeks in summer during prolonged dry spells; effectively rain-fed through Adelaide winters with no supplementary irrigation needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low once established; mulch the root zone to 8–10 cm depth to retain moisture and suppress weeds; avoid pruning aggressively as the latex sap is an irritant — formative pruning for structure in the first 3 years is beneficial; feed once annually in spring with a slow-release native fertiliser (low phosphorus); note aggressive surface roots — never plant within 10 m of foundations, retaining walls, drains, or paving\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exceptionally long-lived; 100–300+ years in suitable open conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best suited to Adelaide's coastal suburbs (West Beach to Port Adelaide), metropolitan plains, inner foothills, and northern suburbs; performs well in warm temperate to Mediterranean climates; suitable for coastal SA including Fleurieu Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula (sheltered aspects); marginal in cold Adelaide Hills locations above 400 m — juvenile plants need protection from frost below −2°C; thrives in hot, dry inland SA towns such as Murray Bridge and Victor Harbor when irrigated to establishment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Adaptable across acid, neutral, and alkaline soils (pH 5.5–8.0); most vigorous in neutral to slightly acid loam (pH 6.0–7.0)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStatement shade tree:\u003c\/strong\u003e A single Port Jackson Fig planted in a large open lawn or courtyard becomes a generational legacy — its broad canopy eventually shades an area of 150–300 m², dramatically reducing summer heat loads and creating a cool, lush microclimate beneath\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife corridor planting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ideal for acreage, farm shelterbelts, and large council reserves where it can be planted 8–12 m apart as part of a multi-species native canopy layer, providing year-round food and shelter for birds and bats along SA's coastal and riparian corridors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvenue and streetscape feature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Planted 12–15 m apart along wide roads, driveways, or park paths, Ficus rubiginosa creates a dramatic vaulted green tunnel effect within 15–20 years — a classic choice for large estates, wineries, and institutional grounds across South Australia's warm plains and coastal zones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew trees deliver the combination of sheer presence, ecological richness, and effortless resilience that the Port Jackson Fig brings to a South Australian garden or landscape. Once established, it asks for almost nothing while giving back everything — cooling shade on the harshest summer days, a constant wildlife spectacle as birds and bats work through the fig-laden canopy, and a deeply Australian sense of permanence that only a great native tree can provide. If you have the space, this is the tree that will define your property for generations to come.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"75L Grow Bag","offer_id":67804620226812,"sku":"FICU-RUBI-75LGROWBAG","price":523.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/ficus-rubiginosa-port-jackson-rusty-fig-75L-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1792644867","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/ficus-rubiginosa","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}