Bengal Fig Tree Information
Binomial Name:
Ficus benghalensis
Special Notes:
Native to the Indian subcontinent.
This tree is known by quite a few names including Bengal Fig, Audrey Banyan, Banyan Fig, and Indian Banyan. Outdoors, it would grow aerial roots and many more leaves, but indoors as this one is, it will likely only ever grow a single trunk. However, a few aerials roots can be found along the bottom of the tree
This tree has been one of my longest lived trees thus far. I find indoor plants to be so finicky, hard to grow, and keep alive. They have to contend with issues with heater vents killing leaves, such as what happened to a few leaves from this tree during this past winter.
I bought this tree to replace a cypress that I think maybe suffered from excessive pruning and indoor conditions. I was attracted to the amazing curled root structure of this tree and thought it would look amazing tucked between some rocks. While it doesn’t seem to grow many leaves, it is quite a tall and impressive bonsai!
When I first got this tree, it was a good three or four inches shorter than it is now, but had two full levels of leaves. Currently, we are down to four leaves, and one of those just came in not long ago.
It may be some time before I see new growth on this one, as it seems to grow very slowly. It will take some time and care to grow this one into something really special.
