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Species library › Ficus › Ficus thonningii
Other Well documented

Ficus thonningii

Common wild fig

A widespread African fig that grows as a tree up to about 20 m, sometimes starting as a strangler or clinging to rocks, from West Africa to South Africa. It tolerates drought and light frost better than most tropical figs, and in South Africa it is a popular bonsai subject. It needs full sun, warmth in summer and a drier, cooler winter, and is best grown outdoors or as bonsai.

At home, aim for
Day IntermediateTargets in Plantistry
Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry
Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry
Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry
Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

Forest margins, open woodland, riverine bush and rocky outcrops, often on boulders or starting as a hemi-epiphyte on other trees. It is also widely planted and protected around villages, and its foliage is valued as dry-season livestock fodder.

Sea level to highland. The 4 records with an elevation span 307–1927 m (median 1557 m); many South African records are on the Highveld at about 1200–1600 m.

West Tropical AfricaWest-Central Tropical AfricaNortheast Tropical AfricaEast Tropical AfricaSouth Tropical AfricaSouthern AfricaCape Verde

🔒 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

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