Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Vijayanrajapuram, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0

Weeping fig

Ficus benjamina

Pet & Human Safety

Hazard to people and pets
Hazardous parts
sap/juice
Preparation
Not yet checked.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
latex on skin, especially in sunlight; people allergic to natural rubber latex may also react to the sap
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
Toxic to pets

Tag-level evidence only; Treated as a warning, not a clearance.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones

USDA zones 10a to 12b (NC State).

Water needs

moderate

Mature size

Outdoors 5 to 30 ft tall and 3 to 30 ft wide per its table; NC State text says up to 40 to 50 ft by 25 to 30 ft. Houseplant 2 to 10 ft (NC State).

Family

Moraceae (NC State)

Where it comes from

Tropical and subtropical Asia and northern Australia (NC State).

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

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Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

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Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

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Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Ficus benjamina (Checked October 2026)
  2. Kew Plants of the World Online - Ficus benjamina L.
  3. ASPCA Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Fig (Checked October 2026)
  4. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Ficus (GENUS page)
  5. UF/IFAS Extension, Ficus benjamina: Weeping Fig (ENH410/ST251)
  6. Brehler R, Abrams E, Sedlmayr S. Cross-reactivity between Ficus benjamina (weeping fig) and natural rubber latex. Allergy 1998;53(4):402-6

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

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