Ficus Pumila, the Creeping Fig

Figgy pudding? Sounds good, and yet it’s probably a little too early in the holiday season to talk about that. But Ficus pumila, the Creeping Fig... it’s a fine focus.

Some call Ficus pumila the Climbing Fig rather than the more widely used name, Creeping Fig. “Climbing Fig” highlights what many people love most about this plant. When grown as a houseplant and given the right structure either within the plant pot or off to the side of it, Ficus pumila can be trained to climb up and over, creating a blanket of attractive petite foliage.

The “blanket” of greenery appears most readily once Ficus pumila has achieved some good growth… once it is a bit mature. Those who grow this plant outdoors may eventually find that it can cover portions of fences, walls, or outdoor mechanicals. This long-term growth results in a beautiful overlapping of leaves which can provide excellent coverage given good hydration. Outdoor gardeners grow it in bright sunlight and find that it does well, achieving a bushy blanketing look; others grow it in shadier areas, and it still does its job of climbing.

I think the most important reason to consider calling Ficus pumila a “climber” rather than a creeping plant is to convey the fact that its stems truly stick to a variety of surfaces by way of tiny but mighty aerial roots. Like other plants with aerial roots, Ficus pumila has incredible clinging and staying power. So, while you might envision a number of plants creeping and spreading along a horizontal plane with ease, you can set your sights to the skies when it comes to Ficus pumila. 

If you live in a region where winter means you cannot test this plant’s climbing ability on a fence or wall, then you might want to start small. Those who engage in miniature gardening—creating fairy gardens—coax this plant into climbing toy-sized houses, tiny trellises, or other fairy garden structures. But there is really very little “coaxing” needed to get the climbing under way. Place a structure close to a stem and allow the little plant’s aerial rootlets to do their thing.

If you are not interested in fairy gardens, you might bend some pliable wire and create a simple structure for your plant to climb. Even placing a plastic lid (examples, baking powder container top or canned potato chip lid) with its rim buried so that the circular piece is sitting upright like a wagon wheel will allow Ficus Pumila to climb up and eventually cover a nice shape… sort of like modern art, right in the plant container. To me, this climbing growth on a vertical plane is incredibly impressive, whether it be in large form outdoors or miniature form inside the home.

Although the pretty green Ficus pumila is what I first think of when I consider the Creeping Fig, Variegated Ficus pumila has excellent visibility, with creamy leaf margins to set off green centers. What is great is that no matter the coloration of the leaves, after quite a bit of growth has occurred, you will see relatively few stems. Instead, you will see wonderfully overlapped leaves. Again, to my eye, this plant creates a blanket of color.

Well, on second thought, I guess we might be at an okay time to talk about figgy pudding, stollen, pannetone…. But if you haven’t made or purchased any of these yet for season’s greetings, perhaps the Creeping Fig, or Climbing Fig, will make a great gift for a friend or for yourself.