Fiddle-leaf fig
Fiddle-leaf fig specimen (Ficus lyrata)
Ficus lyrata is the premium interiorscape and frost-free tropical feature tree defined by large violin-shaped glossy leaves — specified as a sculptural single-stem or branched specimen in atriums and lobbies, and outdoors only where frost-free climate, root space, and stable light can be guaranteed through relocation and seasonal change.
Spec
At a glance
- Botanical name
- Ficus lyrata
- Family
- Moraceae
- Common names
- Fiddle-leaf fig, banjo fig
- Origin
- West Africa (tropical lowland forest)
- Plant type
- Evergreen broadleaf tree or large specimen
- Mature height
- Often 3–5 m indoors; 10–15 m+ outdoors in tropics
- Trunk / form
- Large violin-shaped glossy leaves; single or multi-stem
- Crown spread
- Moderate indoors; wider outdoors
- Growth rate
- Moderate with bright light and stable conditions
- Light
- Bright indirect indoors; full sun to partial outdoors when acclimated
- Water needs
- Moderate — sensitive to over-watering and drought swings
- India climate suitability
- Frost-free tropical and warm subtropical metros outdoors; widely used indoors nationwide
- Cold/heat & salt/wind tolerance
- Frost-sensitive outdoors; leaf scorch in harsh low-humidity heat; not coastal salt specialist
- Typical supply size
- 1.5–3 m specimen stems common on BOQs [Unverified]
- Lead time (sourcing)
- [Unverified] interior-grade vs landscape-grade holding differs
- Install considerations
- Stable light post-move; root barrier outdoors; no drafty lobbies without acclimatisation
- Maintenance level
- Moderate — leaf drop on change, dusting, outdoor root monitoring
- Cautions
- Notorious leaf drop after move/light change; aggressive roots outdoors; latex sap
Supply
Latest import activity
- Imported on
- 21 Jun 2026
- Source
- Tall Tree Nursery EU (sample)
- Availability
- Available
- Lot
- Ficus lyrata — multi-stem interior specimen
Gallery
Specimen visual guide
Visual context for placement, scale, handling, and landscape integration.
Section
Where it's used in premium projects
Fiddle-leaf fig earns its place in hotel atriums, flagship retail lobbies, and club lounges where a single sculptural stem must read at double-height — and on frost-free resort courts where designers want the same violin-leaf character outdoors. Procurement should name single-stem versus branched/multi-stem form on submittals, not just pot size.
Section
Climate & site suitability in India
Indoors nationwide with bright filtered light and stable HVAC — relocation and drafty entries trigger leaf drop that guests notice. Outdoors suits Mumbai, Bengaluru frost-free courts, and humid coasts; north-India winter kills unprotected stock. Low-humidity summer heat browns leaf edges unless irrigation and placement are managed.
Section
Sourcing & acclimatisation
Buy on stem architecture, leaf size, and whether stock is interior- or landscape-acclimated. [Unverified: typical lead time for 2.5 m branched specimens.] Hold in final light band before install — moving from dark nursery shade to sun-filled atrium without staging causes wholesale lower-leaf drop.
Section
Installation (pit, soil, drainage, bracing)
Indoor installs need drainage saucers and no chronic over-watering from irrigation contractors. Outdoor pits require root barriers near paving — Ficus lyrata becomes a substantial tree with aggressive roots in frost-free Indian metros. Avoid placing directly in HVAC blast paths.
Section
Establishment & AMC
AMC should budget leaf-drop cycles after any move or light change — this is species behaviour, not necessarily failure. Wipe dust on glossy leaves in atriums; outdoors monitor root heave and crown clearance. Do not rotate indoor specimens weekly; stability reduces drop.
Section
Cost drivers
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Related links
Services, segments, cost, and proof.
- Softscape & horticulture
- Irrigation & water management
- Landscape maintenance (AMC)
- Hotel & resort landscaping
- Luxury resort & spa landscaping
- Mall & retail landscaping
- Corporate campus landscaping
- Projects
- Commercial landscaping cost guide
- Pricing drivers (imported trees)
- Import compliance workflow
- Request a site assessment
- Why does Ficus lyrata drop leaves after installation?
- It reacts to light, temperature, and relocation change — stage nursery holding in final light, avoid drafts, and budget a leaf-drop cycle in AMC rather than treating it as instant failure.
- What light does a fiddle-leaf fig need indoors?
- Bright indirect light near glazing — deep shade thins leaves; harsh unfiltered south glass scorches; match placement to stable bright filtered bands.
- Single-stem versus branched specimen — what should BOQ specify?
- Name stem count and architecture on submittals — branched forms read fuller at lobby scale; single stems suit minimal sculptural briefs; do not swap at delivery.
- How large can Ficus lyrata grow outdoors in India?
- In frost-free humid metros it can become a substantial tree with wide roots — only specify outdoors where pit, paving setbacks, and ultimate height are engineered.
- Can fiddle-leaf fig replace Ficus dammaropsis in a shaded court?
- No — dammaropsis needs heavier shade and humidity with pleated giant leaves; lyrata wants brighter light and different leaf shape — match species to microclimate.
- What import paperwork applies to live lyrata?
- Follow India plant quarantine requirements for live trees — see compliance workflow (informational, not legal advice).
- How should suppliers be compared?
- Match stem form, leaf scale, acclimatisation weeks, indoor rigging, and AMC leaf-drop allowance — not headline per-pot pricing.