Ficus alii, the little sword-leaf fig tree
Ficus maclellandii 'Alii'
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 10b (1.7°C ≤ T° < 4.4°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Moraceae
- Genus
- Ficus
- Species
- Saber-leaf fig Ficus maclellandii
In Polynesia, “Alii” means chief or king. In botany, this term refers to a cultivar of Ficus maclellandii. Compact in size and easy to grow, Ficus Alii is the variety most commonly found in stores.
How can you recognize Ficus maclellandii 'Alii'?
Ficus Alii grows to 1.5 meters tall and 1 meter wide. It is an evergreen shrub with an upright growth habit.
At garden centers and florists, Ficus Alii is sometimes sold with multiple trunks braided together. The plant actually has a single, woody trunk.
Its lanceolate leaves are narrower than ficus maclellandii. They are barely 2.5 centimeters wide and 8 to 15 centimeters long. The leathery, drooping leaf blades are a glossy green.
Ficus alii produces small green berries, inside which the flowers are found. However, these berries cannot be fertilized. This is because the wasp responsible for pollination lives exclusively in certain regions of Asia. After a few weeks, the berries stop growing and fall off.
The sap of Ficus alii contains a latex that is irritating to humans and pets. Be sure to keep your shrub out of reach of dogs, cats, rabbits, and young children.
Our care tips
Ficus maclellandii 'Alii' don't like change. Once yours has been installed away from draughts, don't move it again. It could lose its leaves.
Watering
Before watering, make sure the substrate is two or three centimetres dry by dipping your fingers into the soil. If this is the case, moisten the root ball with non-calcareous water at room temperature.
To avoid drowning the roots, don't leave stagnant water in the dish.
Misting
Mist foliage to increase humidity and repel pests. Always spray with rainwater. Tap water is too hard and leaves white marks on the leaves.
Repotting
In spring, transfer your Ficus maclellandii 'Alii' to a larger pot, so that it can continue to grow.
In a pierced pot larger than the previous one, place a bed of clay balls, gravel or pebbles. Cover with the substrate. You can mix a special potting soil for green plants or houseplants with sand or compost.
Remove your plant from its container. To help the roots take hold, gently loosen the root bun. Plant in the center of the pot and top up with potting soil.
To improve humidity, place the pot on a dish filled with moist clay balls.
To improve humidity, place the pot on a dish filled with moist clay balls.
Fertilization
You can stimulate the development of your plant during its growth phase, in spring and summer, with fertilizer.
Add nutrients with a fertilizer for foliage plants.
Cleaning
Over time, dust accumulates on the leaves, slowing down photosynthesis. To remove it, clean the foliage with a clean, damp sponge.
Prune
Trim your Ficus maclellandii 'Alii', whatever its size, to make it denser. Use a clean, sharp tool. Shorten each branch by at least five centimetres, cutting above a healthy leaf. Remove dead branches too.
Caution! Sap is toxic. Wear gloves for protection.
Planting
Once the last spring frosts have passed, you can plant.
Choose a sunny location sheltered from the wind.
Start by digging a hole two or three times as wide as the root ball. Leave the root ball to soak while you work.
Place some compost at the bottom of the hole. If your soil is heavy, add some pebbles to facilitate drainage. Plant your plant in the middle and fill in with a mixture of soil, potting mix and sand. Take care not to bury the collar.
Dig a trough around the shrub and water. The water will compact the soil and eliminate air pockets.
If you want to limit weed growth and preserve moisture, mulch the base of your plant with organic matter.
Taking cuttings
Propagation by cuttings is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
To take cuttings from your Ficus alii, use a clean, sharp tool such as pruning shears to remove a branch about fifteen centimetres long.
Remove the leaves from the base, leaving only a few at the top. You can dip the other end in cuttings hormone.
Immerse your cutting in a clear glass filled with clear water at room temperature. Make sure the nodes are submerged: they are the ones that will give rise to the roots.
Choose a bright spot, away from direct sunlight and draughts.
Don't forget to change the water regularly to keep it clean.
Choose a bright spot, away from direct sunlight and draughts.
Don't forget to change the water regularly to keep it clean.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrates
- Humus soilSandy soil
- Planting methods
- Open groundIn potsIn tubs
- Tags
- BeginnerCold-sensitiveToxic
- Origins
- South AsiaSoutheast Asia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 10b (1.7°C ≤ T° < 4.4°C)
- Leaf color
- Dark green
- Fruit color
- Light green
Discover plants from the same family
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
