Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

wild banyan-tree

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Ficus citrifolia

Family:

Moraceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

30-40 (70) ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

red,purple

Phenology:

Evergreen.

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage, Interesting Bark

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Use as a specimen tree.  May be large.  May produce aerial roots, but less frequently than F. aurea.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

alkaline

Suitable to Grow In:

10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for ruddy daggerwing ( Marpesia petreus ) butterflies, Edwards' wasp ( Lymire edwardsii ) and fig sphinx ( Pachylia ficus ) moths.





It is pollinated by a host-specific wasp ( Pegoscapus tonduzi ).

Many birds and other wildlife consume the fruit and find cover in this plant.

Native Habitats:

Dry-moist sites. Tropical hammocks.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: