Banyan

• Culture & landscape: the ancient banyan of the village gate is tied to communal houses and pagodas in Vietnam — a meeting place, shade spot and symbol of village life; planted on boulevards and in parks for its huge crown
• Ecology: the figs are a key food for birds, bats, squirrels and fig-pollinating wasps; the wide crown traps dust and cools urban streets
• Folk medicine: bark, leaves, roots and latex are used for diarrhoea, mouth sores, toothache, and as poultices for boils (Ayurvedic and folk use)
• Materials: the light, water-tolerant wood is used for tools, light boards and household items; the bark yields dye and the aerial roots are woven into traditional cordage in India

Form

Large tree with aerial roots becoming trunks

Product

Shade/landscape; light timber; folk medicine; edible figs

Hallmark

Aerial roots forming a grove of trunks; glossy drip-tip leaves; red figs

Uses

Village tree, shade, timber, medicine

Banyan prefers a humid tropical to subtropical climate with plenty of sun; it grows well in deep, moist, well-drained soil, including clay and coastal sand, tolerates drought fairly well, loves full sun and withstands strong winds. Native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia; widely planted across the tropics and subtropics, including Vietnam — where ancient banyans are a familiar sight at village gates, communal houses, pagodas, river landings, post offices and along country lanes.

Not individually assessed by IUCN but very common and widely planted, not threatened; regarded as Least Concern (LC). Mulberry family (Moraceae), genus Ficus — the same family as the sacred fig, weeping fig and cluster fig.