Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia (Wax Fig)

  • TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN): 0016
  • Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia
  • Common Name: Wax Fig, Taiwan Ficus
  • Variety: crassifolia
  • Family: Moraceae
  • Native To: Southern Taiwan
Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia leaves. Note the bronze to bright yellow-green young leaves. 
Photo by Matthew Gaston

Landscaping Information

  • Plant Type: Shrub
  • Texture: Dense
  • Form: Mound, Cushion
  • Height (on average, in landscape use): 1.5' - 4'
  • Height to Spread Ratio: 1:2
  • Growth Rate: Fast
  • Landscape Values: Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Space Division, Groundcover, Specimen
  • Outstanding Quality: Foliage and Form; often used for Bonsai 
Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia  as a hedge/groundcover below a tree 
Photo by Matthew Gaston

Botanical Descriptions

  • Flowers/Fruits: paired figs, sessile, 0.2"-0.4" long, glabrous, purple to black when ripe. 
  • Foliage Color: Young/immature: Bronze to Yellow-Green. Mature: Bright Medium Green to Dark Green
  • Foliage Tip: Acute
  • Foliage Base: Acute
  • Petiole: 0.25"
  • Stipules: bud scale, 0.8" 
  • Margins: Smooth
  • Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
  • Leaf Shape: oblong to elliptic to ovate
  • Leaf Type: Simple
  • Leaf Texture: Leathery, thick, Waxy
  • Leaf Special Notes: Waxy leaves with dark green adaxial surface; abaxial surface are light green and have prominent venations, sometimes a pink midrib.  

Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia adaxial leaf surface 
Photo by Matthew Gaston


Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia abaxial leaf surface 
Photo by Matthew Gaston


  • Bark and Trunk: Smooth, light brown, or light umber color. 
Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia bark 
Photo by Matthew Gaston

Horticultural Information

  • Light Preference: Semi-Sun
  • Light Tolerances: Shade, Full Sun
  • Soil Preferences: Not Particular, Organic
  • Tolerances: Compacted Soil, Salt Air, Saline Soil, Moderate Winds, Humidity, Regular Watering, Drought
  • Water Requirements: Dry to Medium Moisture
  • Notes on Maintenance: Benefits from fertilization if in nutrient poor soil. Susceptible to banyan leaf gall wasps, causing foliage deformation.   
  • Propagation: Cutting
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 9b
  • Weed Risk Assessment Score (WRA): 10, High Risk

Most Popular Plants

Bucida buceras 'Variegated' (Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0083 Botanical Name: Bucida buceras 'Variegated' Common Name: Dwarf Variegated Geometry Tree, Variegated Madagascar Almond, Spiny Black Olive, Oxhorn Bucida Cultivar: 'Variegata' Family: Combretaceae Native To: Mexico, Central America, The Caribbean, and Northern South America Bucida beceras ' Variegata' growing in a Malaysian neighborhood parkway Photo by Mahmud Yussop of Laman Kambatik Plants List Landscaping Information Plant Type : Broadleaf Evergreen Tree Texture: Fine, Open Form: Upright-Narrow to Spreading, somewhat Irregular Height (on average, in landscape use): 5'-8' (As a house plant), 30'-60' (Outdoors) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 2:1 Growth Rate: Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Street Tree, Color, Framing, Indoor, Lanai, Patio, Sculptural Form, Specimen, Windbreak, Erosion Control, Shade Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color, Variegation,
Read More»

Graptophyllum pictum (Caricature Plant)

Image
T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0002 Botanical Name: Graptophyllum pictum Common Name: Caricature Plant Cultivars: 'Igneum', 'Lurido-sanguineum', 'Tricolor'/'Waimea', 'Eldorado' Family: Acanthaceae  (Acanthus Family) Graptophyllum pictum   Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Igneum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Lurido-sanguineum'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Eldorado'  Photo by Matthew Gaston Graptophyllum pictum 'Tricolor' (believed to be the same as Graptophyllum pictum 'Waimea') Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: New Guinea Landscaping Information
Read More»

Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (Variegated False Eranthemum)

Image
T ropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0005 Botanical Name: Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii (syn. Pseuderanthemum reticulata) Common Name: Variegated False Eranthemum, El Dorado, El Dorado False Eranthemum, El Dorado Eranthemum, Yellow Veined Eranthemum Variety: carruthersii (See Additional Notes at the bottom of the page) Family: Acanthaceae Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To:   Melanesia   Landscaping Information Plant Type : Shrub Texture: Dense Form:   Upright-broad Height (on average, in landscape use):   4'- 6' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge (large one really), Mass, Screen, Space Division Outstanding Quality: Foliage Characters Pseuderanthemum carruthersii var. carruthersii growing tightly between a walkway and a wall.  Photo by Matthew Gaston
Read More»

Breynia disticha (Snow Bush)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0151 Botanical Name: Breynia disticha 'Roseopicta' Common Name: Snowbush, Snow bush, Ice-Cream Bush, Calico Plant, Sweetpea Bush, Foliage Flower Shrub, Laukalakoa (Hawaiian) Cultivar: 'Roseopicta' is likely the cultivar seen in the images on this page. Family: Phyllanthaceae Breynia disticha Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Vanuatu and New Caledonia  Landscaping Information Plant Type : Treelet, Shrub Texture: Dense Form: Upright-broad to even Weeping/Irregular, but usually seen trimmed into a hedge Height (on average, in landscape use): 2'- 4' (can reach 10' in ideal conditions) Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 to 1:2 Growth Rate: Medium to Fast Landscape Values: Accent, Background, Border, Color, Edging, Facer, Filler, Foundation, Framing, Hedge, Mass, Quick Effect, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Foliage Color Breynia disticha between a fence and
Read More»

Jatropha integerrima (Peregrina)

Image
TropPlant Accession Number (TPAN) : 0069 Botanical Name:   Jatropha integerrima Common Name: Peregrina, Spicy Jatropha, Rose-Colored Jatropha, Fire Cracker Jatropha Cultivar: N/A Family: Euphorbiaceae Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Native To: Hispaniola and Cuba Landscaping Information:  Plant Type : Treelet Texture: Medium, Open Form:  Round Headed to Upright-broad. Can be somewhat easily trimmed into a Spreading form. Height (on average, in landscape use): 10'-20' Height to Spread Ratio: 1:1 Growth Rate: Medium Landscape Values: Accent, Color, Framing, Screen, Specimen Outstanding Quality: Flower Color Jatropha integerrima  Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima  in Honolulu acting as a large hedge and screen. Note the staircase where the plant can be appreciated from above. Photo by Matthew Gaston Jatropha integerrima at UH Manoa trimmed into a spreading form Photo by Matthew
Read More»