India rubber plant (Ficus elastica 'Burgundy')

Overview

The Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’, widely known as the India rubber plant, is prized globally for its dramatic, architectural foliage, making it a staple in interior landscaping. This broadleaf evergreen selection is characterized by its thick, leathery, dark green leaves, which often display striking red mid-veins and emerge with a reddish tint before maturing. While it can develop into a substantial tree in tropical climates, the India rubber plant serves exceptionally well as a popular, easy-to-manage houseplant in cooler regions.

Its value lies in its structural form and rich color contrast against lighter decor, offering year-round visual interest with remarkably low care requirements. Cultivating the Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ is straightforward, provided its basic needs for bright, indirect light and consistent, yet moderate, watering are met. Gardeners appreciate this plant for bringing a touch of the exotic tropics indoors without the demanding attention required by more delicate tropical species.

This cultivar is a robust choice, capable of growing significantly tall even when containerized, eventually forming an impressive specimen plant. For those planting outdoors in suitable zones, the mature stature of the India rubber plant creates a bold, statement feature in the landscape.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Moraceae
• Plant Type: Broadleaf evergreen
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-12
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 10-40 ft
  • Spread: 10-40 ft
• Bloom Time: Rarely flowers indoors
• Bloom Description: Rarely flowers indoors
• Sun Exposure: Part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

When growing the India rubber plant as a houseplant or outdoors in warmer climates (Zones 10-12), providing the correct environment is key to maintaining the deep color of the Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ leaves. These plants prefer a soil-based potting mix that drains well. Indoors, site your plant where it will receive bright indirect light; direct, intense afternoon sun should be shielded to prevent leaf scorch.

Watering consistency is vital. Water regularly throughout the active growing season to keep the soil appropriately moist, but strictly avoid overwatering, which is the fastest route to root issues. As temperatures drop in fall and late winter, significantly reduce the frequency of watering.

Pruning can be used to customize the shape of your Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’. If you desire a bushier, more compact habit, selectively prune the main branches. Conversely, allowing the plant to grow unpruned will encourage a tall, narrow, tree-like structure.

Landscape Uses

In suitable tropical or subtropical landscapes (USDA Zones 10-12), the India rubber plant can anchor broad landscape designs, functioning effectively as a significant specimen tree or used in mass planting for screening due to its dense, broad leaf canopy. It provides excellent vertical accent where bold structure is needed.

When grown as a container plant, which is common for the Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ in cooler regions like St. Louis, it performs excellently on patios or near entryways, offering a dramatic touch of dark foliage. It pairs well visually with lighter green ferns or variegated foliage plants that enjoy similar part shade conditions. As an interior plant, its large scale makes it an essential focal point in large rooms or open-plan settings.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Insignificant

Noteworthy Characteristics

Ficus elastica, commonly called India rubber plant, India rubber tree or India rubber fig, is native from the Himalayas to Malaysia, Sumatra and Java. It is a broadleaf evergreen shrub or tree that may grow to 50-100’ tall in its native habitat. It is widely grown in the tropics as an ornamental tree. Mature trees develop banyan-like aerial roots that form trunks. In colder climates, this is an extremely popular houseplant that typically grows to 2-10’ tall. It is noted for its thick, leathery, glossy, dark green leaves (to 12” long and 5” wide) and pink to purplish stipules. Milky sap from these trees was used to make an inferior rubber in the early 1900s. Small oblong axillary fruits (1/2” diameter) in pairs are rarely seen on plants outside of its tropical native habitat.Genus name comes from the Latin name for the edible fig.Specific epithet refers to the milky sap that can be used to produce rubber. ‘Burgundy’ is a dark leaved selection of India rubber tree that features very dark green, nearly black leaves with red mid-veins. The leaves can reach up to 12” long and 4” wide. The new foliage emerges red before maturing. Mature plants can reach up to 40’ tall with a similar spread. As a potted houseplant, plants can reach around 10’ tall with a similar spread.

Potential Problems

Gardeners should vigilantly monitor the India rubber plant for common houseplant pests, particularly when grown indoors where air circulation is limited. Watch for scale insects, which appear as small, immobile bumps on stems, and mealybugs, which cluster in leaf axils. Aphids and thrips can also occasionally target new growth. Spider mites are a constant threat, especially in dry winter indoor air; increasing humidity can help mitigate their presence. Regular inspection and wiping down the large leaves will help keep pest populations low.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is India rubber plant suitable for?

The Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ is winter hardy in USDA Zones 10 through 12. Outside of these zones, it is best maintained as a container plant that can be brought indoors.

How large does India rubber plant grow?

When mature in its ideal tropical habitat, the Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ can reach heights of 40 feet with a similar spread. As a restricted houseplant, it typically matures around 10 feet tall indoors.

What sun exposure does Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ need?

The ideal location for this plant is in part shade. Indoors, this translates to bright, indirect light but always ensure protection from harsh, direct afternoon sun exposure.

When does India rubber plant bloom?

As houseplants, Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ rarely flowers. When grown outdoors in tropical environments, it rarely flowers indoors.

Conclusion

The Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ remains a highly desirable plant due to its dramatic, dark foliage and wonderfully low maintenance profile, earning its reputation as a reliable India rubber plant specimen. Whether you aim for a towering outdoor feature or an imposing indoor accent, understanding its preference for bright, indirect light and moderate watering is key to success. Before planting, confirm that your climate or indoor space meets the USDA Zone 10-12 requirement for thriving specimens.

Companion Planting

Since the India rubber plant requires bright, indirect light and medium water, pairing it with other tropical understory plants that share these needs promotes a cohesive microclimate. Consider using lower-growing foliage plants like large-leaf Philodendrons or certain large-leaf Calatheas beneath it if planting outdoors or in a large mixed container. These companions appreciate similar protection from harsh sun and prefer soil that dries slightly between thorough waterings, mimicking the jungle floor environment where the native Ficus thrives.

Container Growing Tips

Growing the Ficus elastica ‘Burgundy’ in containers is often necessary outside of Zones 10-12 and allows for easy relocation. Use a well-aerated, soil-based potting mix to ensure good drainage and prevent the root rot that medium moisture needs can otherwise encourage. When potting, select a container that is only slightly larger than the current root ball to encourage stability without inviting excess retained moisture. Repotting is usually only necessary every two to three years, allowing the roots to become slightly pot-bound, which naturally helps manage overall size indoors.