Sign in Start free
Species library › Ficus › Ficus scabra
Other Partly documented

Ficus scabra

A small to medium fig tree from lowland forest across the south-west Pacific islands, with rough, sandpapery leaves (scabra means rough). It grows in forest, canopy gaps, thickets, stream banks and even on coastal sea cliffs. Treat it as a warm, bright-light tropical tree that needs a large container and no winter chill.

At home, aim for
Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry
Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
No rest periodGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Lowland tropical moist forest, including mature and secondary forest, small canopy gaps, forest edges, thickets along streams, roadsides, and basalt and tuff sea cliffs. It often turns up in disturbed forest near villages.

GBIF records with altitudes run from sea level to about 280 m; it is a lowland species.

FijiNew CaledoniaVanuatuTongaSamoaAmerican SamoaNiueWallis and Futuna

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates
✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it
✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light
✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it
✓ Substrate and airflow
✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

Grow Ficus scabra? Add it to a free garden and its full profile opens. Pro opens all 38,374 profiles in the library, plants and fungi.

Start free Sign in

More Ficus

Ficus elastica Ficus lyrata Ficus aurea Ficus macrophylla Ficus rubiginosa Ficus insipida Ficus maxima Ficus obliqua Ficus benjamina Ficus microcarpa Ficus religiosa Ficus sycomorus All 1214 →

Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.