Weeping fig
Ficus benjamina
Also called Benjamin fig and Ficus tree
Houseplant · Trees & big statementsDrops half its leaves whenever anything changes, then regrows them. Don't panic and don't move it.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 8 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 2.5 m tall · 1.2 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- South and Southeast Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses. Signs: irritation of the stomach, gut and skin.
PeopleIrritates skin
HandlingTake care handling it
The latex is a known contact allergen for people who prune these often.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A scatter of green — not yellow — leaves on the floor within days of the pot changing rooms.Leaf drop on being moved · disorder
- Sticky spotting on the floor and the leaves under the canopy before you find the brown bumps along the twigs.Scale insect · pest