Ficus sur

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Botanical Name

Ficus sur

Family

Moraceae - The fig and mulberry family.

Pronunciation

FY-kus s-UR

Common Name(s)

Broom cluster fig; besem-trosvy; Umkhiwane(X); Mogo-tshetlo (North Sotho); Umkhiwane (Zulu)

Plant Group

Tree A woody, self-supporting perennial plant usually with a single main stem and generally growing more than 6 meters tall.

Plant Size

Very large

Tree Over 25m

Shrub Over 4m

Perennial/ground cover Over 1m

Bulb Over 1.2m

Succulent 1.5m to 2m

Position

Partial Shade The area is in shade for part of the day and in full sun for part of the day.
Sun The area is in full sun for all or most of the day, all year round.

General Information

Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
Drought Tolerance: High The plant is well adapted to arid conditions; it can survive long periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
Evergreen Plants that have leaves all year round.
Frost: Tender A plant that will not survive any frost or low winter temperatures.
Roots Invasive Do not plant near pools, paving, walls or buildings.
Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
Wind Tolerant Plants able to withstand the effect of strong winds.

Specific Information

Ficus sur has a dense, rounded crown with large, shiny leaves and attractive purplish figs.
New growth has an attractive pinky colour.
Attracts a wide variety of fruit-eating birds, some of them rare visitors that are only seen when the figs are ripe.

Flowers

Description

The fruit is in fact an inside-out flower: the flowers bloom and seed within the fig..

Season

Spring to Autumn Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.

Colour

Growth Rate

Fast Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.

Plant Uses

Attracts bees and other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
Boundary A plant useful for planting around the edges of the property to form a green or colourful backdrop, an impenetrable hedge, to hide walls or create privacy.
Provides light / dappled shade A tree with an open to sparse canopy, through which varying degrees of sunlight can penetrate.
Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.

Ad Break

Distribution

North Africa to Western Cape in South Africa

Planting Suggestions

Due to a large and invasive root system Ficus sur is best suited to farms, large plots, golf courses and estates.
Ideal for a wildlife garden.

See this blog post for more information.

Medicinal Uses

The milky latex found in the stems is used to treat lung problems and is administered to cows to increase milk production. The inner bark is used to make rope. Ficus sur is used in many rituals as it is believed by local people to have magical properties.

Availability