Weeping fig

Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), also called Benjamin fig, is an evergreen plant of the mulberry family (Moraceae) native to South and Southeast Asia. It may be a large tree up to 15–20 m with a broad crown or a large shrub; notably it is often epiphytic, growing on other trees and producing many hanging aerial roots. The simple ovate leaves are 5–10 cm long, glossy, entire and end in a drip tip. The small figs, 1–1.5 cm across, are borne in the leaf axils and ripen from orange to red; they are pollinated by specialised fig wasps. The plant has white latex. Weeping fig is widely planted throughout the tropics as an ornamental, bonsai and shade tree.

Weeping fig is widely used as an indoor ornamental, bonsai, hedge and topiary plant because it is easy to train and prune, and as a shade tree in parks and streets. In folk medicine the leaves and bark are decocted or applied externally to reduce inflammation, relieve pain and treat some skin conditions, and the latex is applied as a poultice. The light wood is used for packaging and fuel, and the leaves serve as fodder. The tree prefers a humid tropical or subtropical climate, likes light, grows fast and tolerates hard pruning. It is propagated by cuttings, air-layering or seed. In Vietnam it is very familiar in pots and gardens.