Plant Profile: Ficus deltoidea

Names

Delta Fig, Fig Shrub, Mistletoe Fig

  • Photo of Ficus deltoidea (Ficus deltoideas)

Phonetic Spelling:FY-kus del-TOY-dee-uh

Genus:Ficus

Species:deltoidea

Family:Moraceae

Mistletoe Fig is a large evergreen shrub or small tree that can reach heights of up to 23 feet, characterized by its rounded and spreading growth habit. In its native Southeast Asian environment, it sometimes grows as an epiphyte.

In cooler regions, this plant is often cultivated as a houseplant, typically growing to about 3 feet when kept in a container. Notable for its striking appearance, the Mistletoe Fig features glossy, waxy green leaves with yellowish undersides adorned with triangular black glands nestled between the leaf veins. It also produces small, yellowish figs throughout the year, which are not suitable for consumption. Additionally, it is popular as a bonsai specimen.

This plant thrives in medium to bright light and prefers dry soil with moderate humidity, ideally in temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. While it can endure low light and brief exposure to temperatures as low as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, it is resilient to heavy pruning and generally faces minimal issues with pests or diseases.

**Quick Identification Tips:**

Ficus deltoidea Feature Summary

Ficus deltoidea Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#small tree
#year-round interest
#large shrub
#ornamentals
#figs
#fantz
#indoor tree
#indoor
#evergreen shrub
#evergreen tree
#problem for cats
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses

Similar Plants

Ficus deltoidea is often confused with:

Ficus deltoidea Feature Summary

Attributes
The plant is used in herbal medicine
Fruit
A globose to ellipsoidal fig, in pairs, green maturing to yellow and orange to red, 1/2 diameter.
Red/Burgundy
Gold/Yellow
Orange
< 1 inch
Flowers
Minute, axillary, unisexual flowers are enclosed in a fleshy receptacle (fig) that is pollinated by fig wasps.
Leaves
Alternate, simple, deltoid, truncate or rounded apex, base cuneate, entire, stiffly coriaceous, with several black glands at vein joints underneath; the juvenile leaf is narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, acute, penniveined. Leaves are 1-3 inches long by .5 to 2 inches wide
Green
Gold/Yellow
Elliptical
Lanceolate
Deltoid
Cuneate
1-3 inches
1-3 inches
Bark
Light grey bark
Light Gray
Stem
Slender, multibranched, stiff and short.
Gray/Silver
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Tree
Houseplant
Erect
Mounding
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
Landscape
Container
Patio
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses

Ficus deltoidea Attributes

Ficus deltoidea: Uses (Ethnobotany)

The plant is used in herbal medicine

Ficus deltoidea: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southeast Asia

Ficus deltoidea: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ficus deltoidea Fruit

Ficus deltoidea: Fruit Description

A globose to ellipsoidal fig, in pairs, green maturing to yellow and orange to red, 1/2 diameter.

Ficus deltoidea: Fruit Color

grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Orange
grass
Red/Burgundy

Ficus deltoidea: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ficus deltoidea: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ficus deltoidea Flowers

Ficus deltoidea: Flower Description

Minute, axillary, unisexual flowers are enclosed in a fleshy receptacle (fig) that is pollinated by fig wasps.

Ficus deltoidea Leaves

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Description

Alternate, simple, deltoid, truncate or rounded apex, base cuneate, entire, stiffly coriaceous, with several black glands at vein joints underneath; the juvenile leaf is narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, acute, penniveined. Leaves are 1-3 inches long by .5 to 2 inches wide

Ficus deltoidea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ficus deltoidea: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Ficus deltoidea: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ficus deltoidea Bark

Ficus deltoidea: Bark Description

Light grey bark

Ficus deltoidea: Bark Color

grass
Light Gray

Ficus deltoidea Stem

Ficus deltoidea: Stem Description

Slender, multibranched, stiff and short.

Ficus deltoidea: Stem Color

grass
Gray/Silver

Ficus deltoidea: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ficus deltoidea Whole Plant Traits

Ficus deltoidea: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ficus deltoidea: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Ficus deltoidea: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ficus deltoidea: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ficus deltoidea Cultural Conditions

Ficus deltoidea: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ficus deltoidea: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ficus deltoidea: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b

Ficus deltoidea Landscape

Ficus deltoidea: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Ficus deltoidea: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy