Fiddle-Leaf Fig

Ficus lyrata

Family: Moraceae

Houseplant
Statement plant

Pet & Human Safety

People: Toxic to people (low severity)Pets: Toxic to pets

Hazardous parts

milky sap: skin irritant, foliage: irritant if ingested

Preparation

not applicable: this plant is not a food crop

Hazard type

oral irritation, drooling, vomiting if ingested, skin irritation from sap

Hazard route

ingestion or skin contact

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

Causes oral irritation, excessive drooling, and vomiting if ingested. The milky sap can also irritate skin on contact.

Patent / trademark

not applicable

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

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for ASPCA's page titled 'Fiddle-Leaf' (Philodendron bipennifolium, an unrelated aroid also nicknamed 'Fiddleleaf Philodendron' for its similarly lobed leaf). To tell them apart: This is a fig (Ficus lyrata, family Moraceae, a woody tree with large paddle-shaped leaves); the Philodendron is a vining aroid with a differently-lobed leaf.. That ASPCA page is for a different, unrelated plant: don't use it as a toxicity source for this species; this guide relies on NC State Extension's own exact-species page instead.

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: 10a-12b (outdoor cultivation only; grown as a houseplant elsewhere).
Water needs: moist, well-drained soil; sensitive to overwatering
Mature size: 2-10 ft tall as a houseplant (60-100 ft in native habitat); vase-shaped erect tree form.
Where it comes from: Tropical western and central Africa (Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo).

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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